Golden Knights’ Howden breaks franchise single-season playoff goal record

A rather unlikely player has made history at a time of year when it matters most.

With his goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden broke the franchise single-postseason record in goals.

The historic marker came in the second period on Tuesday night. With just a few minutes to go in the frame, Howden ripped a shot over the glove hand of Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi for his 14th goal of the playoffs.

The goal tied the game at three, marking the fourth straight game where a team has erased a multi-goal deficit, a new Stanley Cup Final record.

Howden surpasses former Golden Knight star Jonathan Marchessault, who scored 13 goals during the 2023 playoffs, which saw Vegas win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. In the team’s short history, seven players have hit double digits in the postseason, including Mitch Marner and Pavel Dorofeyev, both of whom have 10 goals so far.

For Howden, these playoffs have been more than memorable. While he was a solid contributor on that championship team three years ago, posting 10 points in 22 games, he has been one of the stars on the Las Vegas strip this spring. While he started off slow in the opening round against the Utah Mammoth, the Oakbank, Man. native caught fire, going on a four-game goal streak that carried into the second round against the Anaheim Ducks. What has been key for Howden breaking the record has been his consistency, having potted 14 goals in 20 games, having just two multi-goal games thus far.

With the goal, Howeden has 18 points, placing him tied for third in playoff scoring with Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall. The duo trails both Marner (29) and Jack Eichel (20).