Lawless: Game 5 was an Organizational Win for VGK

Down on the ice, Mark Stone and his teammates were literally putting their blood and sweat into Friday's Game 5 win. As the final buzzer sounded, they flocked to the center circle to salute one another and then their fans. High above in a center ice suite, the two architects of the organization and roster were also deserving of a bow.

President of Hockey Operations George McPhee and General Manager Kelly McCrimmon don't accept praise - they'd much sooner celebrate other members of the organization besides themselves - but they had their fingerprints all over this 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers.

Vegas won the game and took a 3-2 series lead leaning on its star power and its depth all at once. VGK hockey operations has diligently moved its roster forward through blockbusters, waiver pickups, under-the-radar trades as well as selections from the expansion and amateur drafts.

Vegas has built one of the league's very best hockey operations staffs as evidenced by the team's 45 playoff wins since its inception in 2017, second only to the Tampa Bay Lighting over that period.

Every win is a team win. And this was clearly that. But with the mix of depth players such as Adin Hill, Ben Hutton and Teddy Blueger playing a role in the win at the same time as stars like Stone, Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault, this victory smacked of organizational prowess. Or, as some of the folks in the desks that surround mine would say, "that slapped, Gary. That win absolutely slapped."

Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, for one, is thankful for the work of McPhee, McCrimmon and their staff.

"Yeah, I mean, listen, we've got good players. I think all the teams left would say that," he said. "You don't get this far without good players. Coaches don't just sprinkle dust over and that's it. It's the players that drive the bus. It's our job to get them in good spots to be able to do that. Find a few things here or there.

"When it comes to Crim and I, we talk about our team, where can we be better, etc. Not in terms of an individual player; we don't say, 'Go get this guy.' It's more, here's where could be better and we thought interior presence would be good for us. Especially with the uncertainty of Stone at the deadline. So Barabshev fills a need very well. Blueger, we had lost Nicolas Roy, a guy that can check down the middle and we rely on four centermen. I love that about our team that we can play anybody. So that's a real good add for us too.

"(Jonathan) Quick at the deadline was a good add as well with the goalie injuries. Hill, I think that was more Crim and Sean Burke at the start of the year what was going to play out with Robin Lehner. Where's the goalie depth?

"It's worked out well for us. Everybody we've added has come in and I think they feel like part of a team. That's where I think the coaching staff deserves their credit, making them come in and feel part of the team. And the players in the locker room are very welcoming. So now these guys come in, they want to be part of it. They want to help the team win, not just be a guy, one of 23 on the roster. They feel part of it, they want to be part of it. And that's a credit to everybody."

Leadership

After Game 4 of the first round in Winnipeg, Stone took control of his teammates' mental preparation for Game 5 and the result was one of the team's best games of the season as they closed the Jets out in surgical fashion.

Cassidy expects a similar approach from his leadership group heading into Game 6.

"I stayed out of the room last night. They do their Elvis thing. I always want to kind of peek my head around to see what's going on. I think they know what's at stake. And (mental preparation) should have started in some way shape or form," said Cassidy.

"We'll let them relax today on the plane. The guys that skated this morning weren't guys that played last night. And tonight, we'll talk about it at dinner, what's at stake. You still have to mentally check out a little bit. Enjoy your day. Play some cards, do what you do. But start realizing the opportunity that is in front of you. And tomorrow we'll dive into a little more with the X's and O's in video. But yes, I'm sure the leaders have started talking about opportunity in front of them."

Proud Petro

Alex Pietrangelo missed Friday's Game 5 due to suspension but was thrilled to watch his teammates go out and get the win.

"Oh man, I was, I was excited. Ask the guys that watched with me," said Pietrangelo. "They thought I was crazy. I love it. I love the emotion. It's just tough when you're watching you can't do anything about it. I was at the skate in the morning. After that you go home and go throughout your day and you're sitting there and watching. It's kind of out of your hands but it's an emotional roller coaster when you watch it, that's for sure."

Hutton moved in and played 12 clean minutes, took a high stick and didn't lay down. Pietrangelo was bursting in his description of Hutton.

"Well, every time he stepped into the lineup he's played well, and you know it's not easy to come in. He played 12-to-14 minutes, whatever it was, it's not easy to come in at this part of the season and play, especially against a high offensive team," said Pietrangelo. "Hutton did a great job. And you know, I saw in postgame he got cut pretty good. His face was pretty cut up and it didn't deter him from keeping going for that shift. So, he's a tough guy. I mean, our whole group is, so you've got to be proud of him coming in and playing that way."