Golden Knights Tie NHL Mark For Wins By Expansion Team

With 1:47 left in Tuesday's game, the Vegas Golden Knights trailed the Calgary Flames 2-1. The final score? Golden Knights 4, Flames 2. An incredible 53-second stretch yielded three goals for the visiting Golden Knights, improving their Western Conference-best record to 33-12-4 (70 points) and tying an NHL record for most wins for an expansion team in a single season.

Erik Haula tied the game 2-2 with under two minutes left to play after the Flames attempted to pass the puck to goaltender Mike Smith. Smith deflected the pass right on to Haula's stick for the easy game tying goal. Jonathan Marchessault beat Smith ten seconds later for the eventual game winning goal. The Golden Knights added an empty-net goal late to finish the stunning comeback.

"We got a break and we took advantage of it and the before you know it we had a goal ten seconds later," Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant said after the game. "So we got a little bit lucky tonight and took advantage."

Gallant said he didn't make any drastic changes while his team tried to mount the late comeback.

"I don't change a whole lot. Obviously the last five minutes you try and put a lot more pressure, you try to get your (defense) involved a lot more," he said. The only move Gallant considered before Haula tied the game was pulling goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

"We were just getting ready to pull our goaltender and we got that break, so it was a good break for us," Gallant said.

Gallant noted the condition of the ice in Calgary, saying it was a concern his players voiced throughout the game.

"I thought the guys were disappointed with the ice. The ice was really chippy and the puck was bouncing all night long," he said.

It's now only a matter of time until Vegas sets the NHL single season record for wins by an expansion team. The franchise's inaugural dream season has them as the league's second best team overall, trailing Tampa Bay by just one point. Gallant noted the accomplishment but made sure to keep it in perspective after the game.

"We got 33 wins. We got a lot of hockey left to go," he said. "It's awesome. It's great for our franchise. We want to move forward. We got a great team and we want to keep working."

The visit to Calgary was the first of a six-game road trip for the Golden Knights. They'll remain in Canada for a matchup on Thursday in Winnipeg against the Jets.

Image via LM Otero/Associated Press