Sports
Golden Knights Are Stanley Cup Playoff Bound
The Golden Knights became the NHL's first expansion team to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1980 with a 4-1 win Monday in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS, NV - The Vegas Golden Knights could have clinched a playoff spot on Sunday if the Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks. The Oilers didn't give the Knights any help, they lost 5-4. But like everything that's happened to the Golden Knights in their inaugural season in the NHL, it worked out perfect in the end.
Instead, the Golden Knights clinched on their own terms Monday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 and locking up a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It's a good spot to clionch the playoffs. We've had such great support from our fans right from the start of the season," said goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 29 of 30 shots, including 15 in the final period, in the Knights' playoff clinching victory Monday. Last night's energy was the same the team has felt all season at home, the veteran goaltender said.
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"Again tonight, it was loud in there. Glad we got it done here," he said.
It was a milestone win, with a smaller milestone within it. William Karlsson guided a stray puck into an empty net with seconds remaining for his 40th (and easiest) goal of the season. His 40 goals lead the team and his 69 points are second only to Jonathan Marchessault (25 goals, 47 assists) who had a goal and two assists in the win.
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The Golden Knights improve to 48-21-7 on the year with 103 points. The Knights are now the third team to lock up one of the Western Conference's eight playoff spots and the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its first season since 1980.
With six games left in the regular season, the Knights will split their time on the road. The regular season wraps up with homes games Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Arizona, Friday at 7:30 p.m. against St. Louis, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against San Jose. The Knights will finish off the regular season on the road in Canada against Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary.
It seems like a long way since Oct. 6, when the Knights got the team's first win. They'll still be trying to win games on April 11, when the Stanley Cup Playoffs officially begin.
Image taken from YouTube video of Vegas Golden Knights' first win
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