LAS VEGAS (KTNV) \u2014 The Vegas Golden Knights are exactly where a playoff-tested team expects to be \u2014 in a fight, with everything still on the table.<\/p>\n
After a rollercoaster Game 4 that showcased both their strengths and their resilience, Vegas heads into Game 5 with the series tied 2-2 and belief building inside the locker room.<\/p>\n
Head Coach John Tortorella sees a group constructed for this moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see our goaltending\u2019s grown. It\u2019s a confident position right now,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cWe have parts all through our team: defensively, offensively\u2026size, star power. You have all the ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n
That identity was tested in Game 4. A fast start turned into adversity, momentum shifted, and the Golden Knights were forced to respond under pressure \u2014 something they ultimately did, reinforcing the kind of composure needed in the postseason.<\/p>\n
But as Tortorella made clear, having the pieces is only part of the equation this time of year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need a little luck to win a Stanley Cup. You need to stay healthy,\u201d he said. \u201cI need to be putting people in place for them to succeed\u2026and hopefully we get consistency with some good players at good times, and you find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
That ability to \u201cfind a way\u201d is rooted in experience, a key advantage for a roster that\u2019s been through deep playoff runs before.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of these guys have done it before, so they understand what it takes,\u201d Tortorella said.<\/p>\n
Still, expectations don\u2019t disappear \u2014 especially for a team widely viewed as a contender.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re expected to do well, right? We are a good team,\u201d he said. \u201cSometimes that puts a little bit more pressure on you. I think our guys will be able to handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, with the series essentially down to a best-of-three, the focus shifts to execution \u2014 and embracing the moment ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be some nerves\u2026I would say anticipation,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cWe\u2019re just looking forward to getting going.\u201d<\/p>\n