DeBoer: Pietrangelo was 'absolute monster' vs. Avalanche

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer loved what he saw from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo in Round 2.

"I thought he was the best player in the series, on either team," DeBoer said after Vegas eliminated the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, per The Athletic's Jesse Granger.

"He was an absolute monster for us."

Pietrangelo had four points in six games against the Avalanche, including the game-winning goal Thursday. He also controlled 53.33% of shot attempts and 59.20% of expected goals at five-on-five during the series, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Pietrangelo joined the Golden Knights as last offseason's top unrestricted free agent, signing a monster seven-year, $61.6-million deal. The 31-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, and he sees familiar habits with his new club, which is on to Round 3 for the third time in four years of existence.

"It's a winning culture," Pietrangelo said of playing in Vegas. "It started in Year 1, and there have been different players added, but the culture stays the same. It starts with ownership and trickles down."