Brett Howden powers Vegas into second round of NHL playoffs

Brett Howden has become one of the Vegas Golden Knights’ key contributors, as the Oakbank forward was tied for the team lead in goals following their first-round series victory over the Utah Mammoth.

Howden had no goals through three games, but came alive with his team down 2-1 in the series, finding the back of the net in three straight Vegas wins to clinch the series.

“I just try to put pucks to the net,” Howden said in a post-game five news conference.

“Sometimes they go in, and sometimes they don’t but right now they’re going in.”

Howden, who signed a $2.5 million per season five year extension with Vegas in 2024, is now playing on a line alongside Mitch Marner and Mark Stone. He finished the regular season with 22 points in 58 games.

His best performance of the playoffs so far came in game four, nabbing two goals and an assist in a 5-4 overtime win. The Golden Knights built a 3-0 lead, only for the Mammoth to storm back to take a 4-3 lead.

Former Steinbach Pistons forward Cole Smith is a teammate of Howden’s, netting his first Stanley Cup playoffs goal in game four of the series against Utah, tipping home a point shot from Noah Hanifin to give his team a 3-0 lead.

Howden tipped home another Hanifin point shot later in the third period to tie the game, and won a puck battle on the forecheck to spark the game-winner.

His goal in game five was even more dramatic, as Howden netted a double-overtime winner to give his team a 3-2 series lead. He stole the puck in the corner, took it to the faceoff dot and sniped a shot high glove past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka to set off jubilant celebrations inside the T Mobile Arena.

“(Marner) did a good job getting his stick in there, interrupting the play,” Howden said, remembering the goal.

“It just popped out and I tried to get a shot and I kind of blacked out after that.”

Vegas tied the game with under a minute to go in the third period.

“I think it just shows the maturity of our group,” Howden, who now boasts more than 500 total NHL games played in the regular season and playoffs combined, said when asked about a pair of third period comebacks.

“We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience. I feel like there’s a sense of calmness in our locker room and on the bench in those situations.”

Howden continued his strong form into game one of the Golden Knights series against Anaheim, potting The opening goal of a 3-1 win, tapping home a great pass through the slot from Marner.

PWHL

Howden isn’t the only player who grew up playing hockey in Oakbank playing professionally in the hockey playoffs, with Kati Tabin’s top-seeded Montreal Victoire taking on the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs. The Victoire finished the regular season tied with Boston, as both teams finished with 62 points.

The Frost drew first blood, stealing game one 5-4 in overtime in Montreal May 2 to take control of the best-of-five semi-final series. The Victoire responded in game two, with Marie-Philip Poulin netting an overtime winner to give her team a 1-0 win.

Game three will take place May 7, with game four the next night. If a game five is needed it will be May 11.

The Ottawa Charge, with Ste Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque, are tied 1-1 with the Boston Fleet after two games of the other PWHL semi-final series. Larocque even found the back of the net in game one, opening the scoring with two minutes left in the first period.

Larocque circled around the zone during a Charge powerplay, before filtering back to the point to get the puck back and snipe home her second PWHL playoff goal. She has three points across the first two games.

The series will return to Ottawa for game three May 8, with game four May 10th and game five scheduled for the 12th.