Golden Knights Set All Time Mark For Wins By An Expansion Team

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant summed up nicely why his team has now set the all time NHL record for wins by an expansion team.

"It's all about two points every night," Gallant said after David Perron's wrist shot found the back of the net in overtime Thursday night in Winnipeg, giving the Golden Knights their 34th win of the season (34-12-4). Not only did the Knights set the record, they did it on the road, against the Western Conference's second best team. Oh yeah, before last night Winnipeg was also the best home team in the NHL. (Vegas' win on Thursday was enough to reclaim the best home record in hockey.)

Surely that's reason to celebrate, right coach?

"It's great, doesn't mean a whole lot right now to be honest with you," Gallant told reporters after the game. "We're just trying to battle and get two points again every night and that's what we're trying to do. But at the end of the season we'll look at it and be happy, I'm sure."

The Golden Knights have now started their six-game road trip by breaking a couple of streaks north of the border. It started on Tuesday in Calgary, where a 4-2 win over the Flames ended their 11-game point streak and continued on Thursday night, where an overtime win over Winnipeg ended the Jets' seven-game home winning streak. To use a familiar colloquialism: the Knights are runnin' good.

Perron's winning goal in overtime was his 13th goal of the season. Three of those 13 have been game winners in overtime.

"We had some good looks in overtime and I'm glad I put it away," Perron said after the game.

Special teams was the key to Thursday's road win. Reilly Smith got the Knights on the board, tying the game with a shorthanded goal, his 14th of the season, in the second period. Smith bullied a Jet on the power play attack, stealing the puck for a breakaway goal that he deposited top shelf. Later in the period, the Knights took the lead with a power play goal from Erik Haula, his 19th goal of the season.

Fleury stopped 26 of 28 shots to get his 14th win of the season, tying Dominik Hasek for 13th all time among goalies.

The Golden Knights play tonight in Minnesota. The puck drops at 5 p.m.

Pictured: David Perron (left) and Erik Haula (right) celebrate a goal on Dec. 9, 2017 in Dallas. Both players scored goals on Thursday to lift the Golden Knights past the Winnipeg Jets. (Image via Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)