Marner lays playoff demons to rest as Vegas beats Utah

Howden continued his personal hot streak, with the opening goal his fourth in the last three games.

With less than a minute to go in the second period, Marner made good on another tremendous possession from his line with Howden and Mark Stone. Securing the puck, Marner would find a lane and fire a slapshot in the top corner past Vejmelka, giving the Golden Knights some cushion heading into the final intermission.

Kailer Yamamoto would give the Mammoth some much-needed life with a neatly placed goal in the middle of the third period, but it would be more of a last gasp from the home team. Two minutes later, Colton Sissons would quickly grab a rebound from Brayden McNabb’s shot and restore the two-goal lead for Vegas.

From that point on, the Mammoth gave in to frustration. Logan Cooley’s penalty would give way to another victory for the Golden Knights’ special teams with Marner landing a goal on the power play. Cole Smith would put the final dagger in the Mammoth with an empty net goal, and the Golden Knights officially punched their ticket to the second round for the sixth time in their nine seasons.

“It was his best game of the series,” said head coach John Tortorella about Marner’s performance.

“He's done a lot of little things in this series that people don't always see. He had some big plays tonight that everybody can see."

Carter Hart would also come up huge for the Golden Knights, stopping 21 of 22 shots and ultimately slamming the door on the Mammoth.

An inter-division clash comes up next against the Anaheim Ducks, with the Golden Knights holding serve first at T-Mobile Arena. The dates and times of the series are still to be determined.