Golden Knights Sweep Kings To Advance In Stanley Cup Playoffs

LAS VEGAS, NV - The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a grueling grind of hockey games. Though it's only their first go-around, the Vegas Golden Knights seem to realize this. The Golden Knights handled their business, completing an opening round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings with a 1-0 win in Game 4 Tuesday night.

In becoming the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs, the Knights earned some additional days of rest as they await the winner of the Anaheim Ducks/San Jose Sharks series.

"It will be nice for everybody. We got some bumps and bruises a bit and we get to rest and relax, and those things. Then get a practice and get back into it," said Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped all 31 shots Tuesday night and recorded second shutout of the series. Fleury's performance in the series was befitting of the three-time Stanley Cup champion he is. His two shutouts in the opening round helped the Golden Knights prove to the hockey world that their stunning regular season success wasn't a fluke.

"Throughout the season our confidence grew as a team," Fleury said. "Expectations weren't too high for our team, and I think we gained confidence right from the first game. We kept playing better, and better, and better and the chemistry formed pretty quickly on the team. This is a group of guys that works very hard every night, very consistently, and they're showing it again in the playoffs."

Besides Fleury, Game 4's other hero was as unlikely as he was fitting. Defenceman Brayden McNabb -- who played for the Kings for three seasons from 2014-17 -- scored just five goals in the regular season. His second period goal Tuesday night was enough to send his old team home for the summer.

"It feels pretty good, definitely. But I have a lot of respect for those guys over there," McNabb said. McNabb was left unprotected by the Kings in the 2017 expansion draft, and the Golden Knights made the choice to draft him.

"It's been kind of a whirlwind of a year," he said. "A lot of fun. I'm really happy to be here. It feels pretty good to beat them."

Fellow defenceman Deryk Engelland was happy to see McNabb get the game winner, but he joked about his teammate surpassing him on the stat sheet.

"We kind of had a little bet on the side, five goals apiece all season. So I guess he's up one," Engelland said.

The sweep was another milestone achievement for the Golden Knights, even if they haven't been paying attention. It marks the first time an NHL team has swept a postseason series in its inaugural season.

"You guys remind us, or tell us about those records and stuff," Fleury told reporters. "But it's not something we talk about or shoot for. All season long, I didn't know any records of all the expansion teams. I think we believe in our team, we know we have a good team.

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