By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — In the end, the playoff experience and the deeper roster of the Vegas Golden Knights proved too much for the Utah Mammoth and the VGK advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs’ second round with a 5-1 win in Game 6 in Salt Lake City.
The Knights defeated Utah, four games to two, and will play the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2 in the I-15 showdown with a talented Ducks team.
Red-hot Brett Howden scored in the first period and Mitch Marner scored in the second for a 2-0 VGK lead heading into the final period.
After Utah scored to cut the lead to 2-1, the VGK piled on three goals by Colton Sissons, Marner (again) and Cole Smith (empty-netter) to clinch the game and the series.
Since the franchise’s inaugural season in 2017-18, the VGK have won 66 playoff games and 13 postseason series.
The Mammoth took a 2-1 series lead a week ago, but Vegas countered with three straight wins to move on.