Sports
Golden Knights Beat Preds: 8 Straight Wins, Points In 13 Straight
The "Vegas Flu" is becoming a real thing: The Golden Knights are now 17-2-1 while playing in Las Vegas this year.
LAS VEGAS, NV - Just three months into life as a professional hockey team, Las Vegas has proven to be the best home ice advantage in the NHL. In the past 30 days both of last year's Stanley Cup Participants and the NHL's best team came to Sin City to take on the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. All three left town with what's now becoming known as the "Vegas Flu."
In their first season the Golden Knights have won 17 of the first 20 games (17-2-1) played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, making it the least friendly venue for visiting teams. Vegas built on the NHL's best home record by blanking the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators 3-0 Tuesday night.
The Golden Knights have now won eight consecutive games and are 12-0-1 in the last calendar month, recording at least one point in all 13 games. They lead the Western Conference with 56 points this season.
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In the post game press conference Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was asked how his team has remained focused during the win streak.
we find gerard gallant to be rather likable pic.twitter.com/aZ0GFyIbTp
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 3, 2018
"It's about competing and getting ready for the next game," he said. "If we keep playing the hockey we're playing we're going to win lots of games."
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Marc-Andre Fleury saved 29 shots in the shutout and is 8-1 in net for the Golden Knights this season.
"It's always fun. Once again, I thought our guys did a great job in front of me," Fleury told reporters after the game.
The Golden Knights got second period goals from Reilly Smith (10) and Shea Theodore (4) and one in the third from Jonathan Marchessault (15).
"In the first five minutes I think they should have had tow goals. Fleury made two unbelievable saves to keep a scoreless first period. After that we started playing well and working hard and got lots of opportunities n the offensive zone," Gallant said.
The Golden Knights have the night off Wednesday before starting a two-game road trip to St. Louis and Chicago to close out the week.
Vegas Golden Knights tweet of the game
halfway through the second and this game has fewer goals than a moody teenager
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 3, 2018
Image via David Becker/Associated Press
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