The Colorado Avalanche entered the Western Conference Final looking every bit like a Stanley Cup favorite after another dominant season, but through three games, the series has turned into a brutal matchup for Colorado.
Vegas has dictated the pace with relentless pressure, timely scoring, and the kind of composure that has thrown the Avalanche off balance, even after Colorado stormed out to an early 3-0 lead in Game 3.
Now, with the Golden Knights sitting one win away from the Stanley Cup Final following another wild comeback at T-Mobile Arena, Mitch Marner’s postgame comments have moved front and center around the hockey world. His message about “buy-in” sounded strikingly similar to what former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving preached for years, except this time the results are there for all to see.
Mitch Marner’s “Buy-In” Message Mirrors What Toronto Always Wanted
Marner did not sound like a player caught up in the emotion of a dramatic comeback. After Vegas erased a 3-0 deficit to beat Colorado 5-3 in Game 3, he spoke with the calm confidence of a team that fully expects to keep rolling.
“We’re just getting everyone to buy in,” Marner said after the game. “Every single line is doing their job and doing their thing and contributing on the ice, so that’s all you can ask for.”
That quote immediately grabbed attention because “buy-in” is a term that was used by former Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving while talking about Toronto’s collapse earlier this year. On TSN Overdrive, Treliving publicly pointed out that “there was a fall off there. We didn’t have the buy-in,” after a brutal 30-point slide, fueling speculation about a disconnect between management, coaching staff, and players.
In Vegas, however, Marner’s version of “buy-in” points to the group’s structured, aggressive, and locked-in plays.
The Golden Knights backed that mentality up again Sunday night. Colorado looked completely in control early after Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri, and Jack Drury helped build a 3-0 lead in the first period, but Vegas never looked rattled.
Mark Stone returned from injury with a goal and an assist, William Karlsson and Keegan Kolesar chipped in offensively, and Tomas Hertl buried the game-winner as the Avalanche watched the momentum completely swing the other way.
The collapse only added to the growing frustration surrounding Colorado’s recent playoff performances. What started as a dominant opening period fast turned into another painful postseason meltdown, as Vegas scored five unanswered goals and pushed the Presidents’ Trophy winners to the brink of elimination.
For a team that entered the series looking like a Stanley Cup favorite, the Avalanche suddenly look overwhelmed by Vegas’s pace, pressure, and relentless pushback.
Marner pointed directly to Vegas’ mentality after the win, explaining that the group believes it always has a chance regardless of the score. “We just put our nose down to the grindstone there and just went to work,” he said.
What makes this Vegas run even more stunning is how unexpected it has become. The Golden Knights finished the regular season with just 39 wins, the fewest in a full season in franchise history, yet now have the 121-point Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche on the verge of a sweep.
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At the center of it all is Marner, who has completely reshaped his playoff reputation since leaving Toronto, leading the NHL with 21 postseason points in 15 games while playing some of the most complete hockey of his career.
Vegas still needs one more win, and Marner made it clear the group expects Colorado’s best response next game. Right now, though, the Golden Knights look like a team fully connected to its identity, while the Avalanche suddenly looks rattled under playoff pressure.
