Howden Ties Gretzky SHG Playoff Record | Ryan Rose

Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden scored his third short-handed goal of the 2026 NHL playoffs in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, tying the all-time record for short-handed goals in a single postseason set by Wayne Gretzky. The goal helped seal a 5-1 series-clinching victory on May 14, and it put a role player's name next to the greatest hockey player who ever lived in the NHL record book.

That sentence alone should tell you everything about how special this Golden Knights playoff run has been. A player who was never drafted to be a star, who spent years grinding through bottom-six roles on struggling teams, just matched something The Great One did more than 40 years ago. For Las Vegas hockey fans, this is one of those moments that makes the sport so fun. You do not need to be the biggest name on the roster to do something nobody else has done.

Howden's performance has been one of the defining stories of VGK's second-round series against Anaheim. He has also recorded three overtime goals in his Golden Knights career, the most in franchise history. His penalty-kill work has been so dominant that teammates and coaches are running out of ways to describe it. Defenseman Brayden McNabb summed it up simply, calling Howden "clutch" and praising his combination of speed, size, and skill.

What Happened

The moment came in the first period of Game 6 at Honda Center in Anaheim. The Vegas Golden Knights were already on the board thanks to Mitch Marner's jaw-dropping between-the-legs goal just 62 seconds into the game. With VGK killing a penalty, Howden jumped on a loose puck and took off. He used his speed to break free and beat the Anaheim Ducks goaltender to make it 2-0.

That goal was Howden's third short-handed tally of the 2026 postseason. The first came in the opening round against the Calgary Flames. The second came earlier in the Ducks series. Each one demonstrated the same traits: anticipation on the penalty kill, explosive speed through the neutral zone, and the finishing ability to convert when most players in his position would simply dump the puck and change lines.

With that third goal, Howden tied Wayne Gretzky's record of three short-handed goals in a single NHL postseason. Gretzky set that mark during his dominant years with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, an era when he was rewriting the entire record book. The fact that anyone has matched that particular number, let alone a checking-line center, speaks to how remarkable Howden has been on the penalty kill.

The rest of Game 6 was a celebration. Shea Theodore scored on the power play to make it 3-0 before the first period ended. Pavel Dorofeyev added two goals in the third period to put the final score at 5-1. Carter Hart made 31 saves. The Golden Knights won the series four games to two and punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche.

But it was Howden's record-tying goal that generated the loudest conversation after the game. Head coach John Tortorella praised Howden's consistency throughout the playoffs. Teammates lined up to credit his work ethic. And the hockey world took notice that a relatively quiet forward had just done something that puts him in truly exclusive company.

Why It Matters

Short-handed goals are rare. Scoring three of them in a single postseason is almost unheard of. To understand why Howden's accomplishment is so impressive, you need to understand what happens on a penalty kill.

When a team is shorthanded, they play with four skaters against five. The entire goal is to survive. You block shots. You clear the puck. You eat up time. The last thing most coaches want their penalty killers to do is gamble for an offensive chance, because getting caught up-ice while already down a man can lead to a quick goal against.

Scoring a short-handed goal means you did something exceptional. You either forced a turnover and finished, or you read the play so well that you created a breakaway or odd-man rush while your team was at a disadvantage. Doing it once in a playoff year is notable. Doing it three times is historic.

Wayne Gretzky scored 99 short-handed goals in his regular-season career and added plenty in the playoffs. He did things on the ice that no one had ever seen before. When people see Gretzky's name in a record book, they usually assume the number next to it will stand forever. That is what makes Howden's tie so compelling. He is not Wayne Gretzky. He is not supposed to be. And yet here he is, sitting right next to him in at least one statistical category.

For the Vegas Golden Knights, Howden's penalty-kill scoring has been more than a fun stat. It has been a genuine weapon. Teams entering a power play against VGK now have to account for the possibility that their supposed advantage could flip the other direction. That changes how opposing teams deploy their power-play units. It forces them to keep at least one defenseman more honest. And it gives VGK's coaching staff an extra card to play in tight games.

Howden's three overtime goals in franchise history add another layer. This is a player who shows up in the biggest moments. Not every team has that. The Golden Knights have built a roster full of players who can do damage, from Jack Eichel to Mitch Marner to Pavel Dorofeyev. But having a middle-six forward who consistently delivers in clutch situations is a different kind of valuable. It is the kind of depth that wins championships.

Background

Brett Howden was born on March 29, 1998, in Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada. He was selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of two seasons in Tampa Bay's system before being traded to the New York Rangers, where he spent three years as a bottom-six forward on a rebuilding team.

The Golden Knights acquired Howden ahead of the 2021-22 season, and he quickly found a home in Las Vegas. His skating ability, combined with his 6-foot-3 frame, made him an ideal fit for VGK's hard-nosed identity. He was never going to put up 60 or 70 points in a season, but he could win board battles, kill penalties, and provide energy on a nightly basis.

Howden was part of the 2023 Stanley Cup championship team. He played a supporting role during that run, and the experience of winning clearly shaped his game. Since then, he has continued to grow as a two-way forward. His defensive awareness has sharpened. His ability to read plays and jump into offensive chances has improved with each passing season.

The 2026 playoffs have been the best stretch of his career. He entered the postseason as a reliable depth piece, the kind of player you appreciate but rarely talk about. Now he is the subject of national headlines. His penalty-kill work has been the best in the NHL this spring, and his knack for scoring in overtime has given Las Vegas fans some of their most memorable moments of this playoff run.

It is worth noting that Gretzky himself spent time in Las Vegas, playing for the IHL's Las Vegas Thunder in a charity game and later becoming a visible presence in the city through business ventures. Hockey in Las Vegas has a history of connecting to the sport's biggest names. Now Howden has added his own chapter to that connection.

What Happens Next

The Vegas Golden Knights now face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at Ball Arena in Denver. The Golden Knights return to T-Mobile Arena for Game 3 on Sunday, May 24 and Game 4 on Tuesday, May 26. If the series goes to six games, Game 6 would be Saturday, May 30 back in Las Vegas.

For Howden, the question is whether he can break Gretzky's record outright. One more short-handed goal in any of the remaining playoff games would give him sole possession of the all-time single-postseason record. Given how dominant VGK's penalty kill has been, and how often Howden has been the forward generating chances on the kill, there is a real possibility it happens.

Colorado presents a different challenge than Anaheim. The Avalanche have a high-powered offense and a dynamic power play led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. If Colorado takes penalties and their power play gets hemmed in by VGK's aggressive kill, that is exactly the kind of scenario where Howden thrives. The Avalanche coaching staff will certainly have his tendencies on tape.

Single-game tickets for the Western Conference Final home games went on sale Friday, May 15 at noon. Strip packages bundling all potential home games are also available. Groups of 10 or more can get discounts, and groups of 20 or more can book luxury suites. The Golden Knights ticketing team can be reached at (702) 645-4259.

The city is buzzing. Free watch parties were held at Craig Ranch Amphitheater in North Las Vegas and Water Street Plaza in Henderson for Game 6. Similar community events are expected for the Conference Final, giving fans who cannot make it into T-Mobile Arena a place to gather and cheer together.

Ryan's Take

I love this story because it is the most Las Vegas thing in sports right now. This city has always been about people who come here, find their moment, and do something nobody expected. That is exactly what Brett Howden is doing.

When people think about the Golden Knights' biggest stars, they think about Jack Eichel running the power play or Mitch Marner dangling defenders. And those guys deserve every bit of attention they get. But Howden is the heart of what makes this team work. He does the dirty work. He blocks shots. He kills penalties. And then, when nobody is expecting it, he goes and ties a Wayne Gretzky record.

I was talking with some neighbors this week about the playoffs, and the conversation always comes back to how this team feels different from other years. There is a grit and a depth to this roster that reminds me of the 2023 Cup team. Howden is a big part of that. He is the kind of player who does not show up on highlight reels every night, but when the game is on the line, he finds a way.

Living in Las Vegas during a playoff run is something else. The energy at T-Mobile Arena carries into every neighborhood. You see the flags on cars, the jerseys at the grocery store, and the watch parties filling up on Water Street. These are the moments that make this city feel like home. And having a guy like Howden create a piece of history for this franchise just adds to it.

What You Can Do

If you want to be part of the Western Conference Final, here are a few ways to get involved.

Tickets for VGK home games (Games 3, 4, and potentially 6) are on sale now at the Golden Knights website or through their ticketing team at (702) 645-4259. Strip packages that bundle all potential home games offer a discount over buying individual games. If you have a group of 10 or more, ask about group rates. Groups of 20 or more can look into luxury suite options that include food and drinks.

If arena tickets are out of your budget, keep an eye on the Golden Knights' social media channels for announcements about free watch parties in the community. The Game 6 watch parties at Craig Ranch Amphitheater and Water Street Plaza were packed, and similar events are likely planned for the Conference Final. These are free to attend with free parking, and they bring the playoff atmosphere outside the arena.

You can also support local businesses that host hockey viewing events. Sports bars and restaurants across the valley run specials during playoff games. Places along the Strip, in Summerlin, Henderson, and the Arts District often have big screens set up with sound. It is a great way to meet other fans and enjoy the games without the arena price tag.

For the hockey fans in your family, this is a great time to get kids interested in the sport. The Golden Knights have youth hockey programs and partnerships with local rinks. With the recent announcement that Las Vegas is getting a Professional Women's Hockey League team for the 2026-27 season, there has never been more hockey opportunity in this city. Girls' hockey participation in Las Vegas has grown significantly since the Golden Knights debuted in 2017, and a PWHL team will only push that further.

Follow along with the Western Conference Final. Watch Brett Howden on the penalty kill. And if he scores that fourth short-handed goal to break Gretzky's record outright, you will want to say you were paying attention when it happened.