The Vegas Golden Knights have been rewriting the history books since the puck first dropped in Sin City back in October, and Vegas is now playing with house money as it advanced to the 2018 Western Conference Finals after eliminating the San Jose Sharks in six games.
It seemed that the NHL’s newest story back in October all began with everyone doubting the Vegas Golden Knights to finish their inaugural season with a winning record. After Vegas began the season winning eight of its first 10 games and then entered December still atop of the Western Conference’s Pacific Division, there were still whispers such as “there’s no way this could keep on going … it has to end at some point, right?”
By the time the NHL Trade Deadline came and passed, with Vegas adding to its roster and not selling off key players, the notion then transitioned to “well Vegas is going to make the playoffs, but it’s just a matter of time before the Cinderella Story comes to an end.”
By each passing month this past season, it seemed that everyone had just been waiting for the Knights’ historic run to end, and for the simple reason that Vegas was an expansion franchise.
Vegas finished the season with 51 wins and clinched the Pacific Division title come season’s end.
Onto the next round ? pic.twitter.com/Gz8VEKY7ry
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 7, 2018
Now, it’s early May and the Knights have played the second-fewest playoff games (10) to advance to the Conference Finals, after taking down perennial winners in the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks through the first two rounds of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
What is everyone still waiting for?
The Knights are well coached, outwork teams in all areas on the ice, are opportunistic and have exactly what every playoff team needs … a hot goaltender. Are NHL fans still waiting for the Knights to defeat, or play, a tougher opponent than the Kings and Sharks?
The Knights will either face the Winnipeg Jets or Nashville Predators (Winnipeg leads series 3-2) and at this rate, the odds are no longer against Vegas regardless of who it plays.
Marc-Andre Fleury playoff stats:
10 games
FOUR SHUTOUTS?
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 7, 2018
As noted above, history has shown that a hot goaltender can do wonders and beat the odds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury has proven that he’s already the leading candidate to be in the conversation for the Conn Smythe Trophy, and can steal a series even if his Knights’ play in front of him were to take a step back at some point during the remainder of the playoffs.
?: ? pic.twitter.com/Jm10QbkAb9
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 6, 2018
Similar Vegas’ start to the season the Knights are 8-2 through the franchise’s first 10 playoff games, and now the Knights are playing with house money.
Whomever they play in the Western Conference Finals … what will be the next question or logic as to why Vegas ‘won’t win’?
Vegas isn’t waiting. For some reason, we are.
