Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring against the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 | 2 a.m.
There were many season-defining moments in the Golden Knights’ run to winning the Stanley Cup.
If goalie Jonathan Quick doesn’t win four starts in March, only giving up nine goals in those games, then maybe Vegas doesn’t have home ice advantage in the postseason.
The same could be said for Michael Amadio and William Carrier, both of whom had career seasons.
Jack Eichel was great, as expected for one of the league’s marquee players, all season. Same for Mark Stone when healthy. And nobody was better than Jonathan Marchessault in the playoffs.
Simply put: Everyone up and down the roster contributed to the success — not only the playoff run, but all season.
We picked a defining moment for each player.
Michael Amadio
Had a career-best 16 goals during the regular season — not bad for a waiver wire pickup two years ago.
Ivan Barbashev
The trade deadline pickup had 18 points in 22 games to fit in nicely.
Teddy Blueger
The reserve center saw action in six playoffs games in recording a goal and assist. He entered the lineup for Game 5 against Edmonton and was steady as the Golden Knights fought off their fiercest playoff competition in the Oilers.
Laurent Brossoit
In his third game back from hip surgery, Brossoit made a ridiculous diving save Feb. 25 against the Stars. Vegas played five goalies on the season, and Brossoit had five playoff wins.
William Carrier
An original “Golden Misfit,” he had 16 goals in the best season of his career.
Paul Cotter
Had two goals against the Bruins in coach Bruce Cassidy’s return to Boston.
Jack Eichel
Led the Golden Knights with 26 playoff points in his first postseason trip, solidifying his status as one of the league’s elite players.
Nicolas Hague
Scored a game-winning goal on New Year’s Eve in a thrilling 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators at home. The New Year’s game is always one of the franchise’s most anticipated of the season.
Adin Hill
If Hill doesn’t get hot in goal, you can argue the Knights aren’t champions. Hill won 11 of 15 postseason starts in only surrendering 2.17 goals per game. And that stick save in Game 1 against Florida, when Hill stretched the stick across the open net, will long be considered the best save in team history.
Brett Howden
Had a two-goal effort in Game 4 against the Jets in the first round of the playoffs to propel Vegas to its third straight win in the series.
Ben Hutton
Went from being inactive to filling in admirably for two playoff games for the injured Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb.
William Karlsson
Had 11 postseason goals and is credited with providing the defense to help shutdown the Oilers’ Connor McDavid in the closely contested series against Edmonton.
Phil Kessel
Played in his 1,000th straight game on Nov. 17 against the Coyotes in extending a consecutive games streak dating to 2009.
Keegan Kolesar
Had a goal and an assist in the Western Conference Final series clinching game against Dallas.
Jonathan Marchessault
Was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.
Alec Martinez
Scored a goal in Game 5 on the 9-year anniversary from when he had the game-winning goal for the Los Angeles Kings in their Stanley Cup winning season in2014.
Brayden McNabb
The best defensive defenseman on the roster, McNabb led the charge in a 6-0 win against the Stars in the series clinching game of the Western Conference Final. It was Vegas’ best defensive effort of the season.
Alex Pietrangelo
Was absent from the team for nine games tending to his hospitalized daughter, ultimately returning for a 54-point season in being one of the team’s leaders. Even better: Evelyn, 4, recovered from a virus that prevented her from eating, walking or talking for a week.
Jonathan Quick
The veteran filled a need in goal with back-to-back stellar games to start his Golden Knights career, beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 9 and two nights later recorded 33 saves in a shutout win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Nicolas Roy
Scored twicein the Stanley Cup Final.
Reilly Smith
His second period goal in the Stanley Cup-clinching game was ultimately the game winner — a fitting honor for one of the franchise’s original players.
Chandler Stephenson
Had two multiple goal games in the playoffs, including Game 4 in Florida to give the Golden Knights a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Mark Stone
Had a hat trick in the Stanley Cup-clinching game to conclude a playoff run that included 24 points on 11 goals and 13 assists.
Shea Theodore
His highlight-reel goal in Game 1 against the Panthers is one that won’t soon be forgotten. Theodore broke out of a personal slump by twisting away from Anthony Duclair — one of the Panthers’ top skaters — and firing in a shot from the blue line.
Logan Thompson
The rookie entered the year in a goalie competition, and then became an all-star before being lost for the season to injury.
Zach Whitecloud
Scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final.
