What’s happening in Vegas?
Golden Knights only team to win six of first seven — here’s how they did it
LAS VEGAS— If you haven’t noticed, there’s a new kid in town this season. And that kid is making a lot of noise. The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the league’s most compelling stories early in their first season.
The Knights were 6-1-0 headed into Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. They are the first NHL team to win six of their first seven games in their inaugural season.
The Knights are a team building for the future — they stockpiled picks via trades in last year’s draft and in the three to come — but they are having an invigorating present. Who are the Knights? And why are they off to such a good start? Here’s a look.
PICK OF THE CROP
The Golden Knights were able to pluck a player from each team in last year’s expansion draft. One of the big names is nine-time 20-goal scorer James Neal. The former Stars, Penguins and Predators winger has six goals in the first seven games and even though the Knights don’t have a captain, he is one of the leaders in the locker room.
The Knights also have a pair of young forwards in winger Reilly Smith, formerly of the Panthers, Bruins and Stars, and former Blue Jackets centre William Karlsson, who have taken to bigger roles this season and have 11 points combined.
On defence, the Knights have Nate Schmidt, a former Capital who is averaging more than 21 minutes per game, tops on the team, and has three points. Former Canuck and Duck Luca Sbisa is averaging more than 19 minutes with four points.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
If you look at the numbers, the Knights are winning games a little by smoke and mirrors. They are one of the worst puck-possession teams in the league, with a Corsi For percentage of 45.9, which ranks 29th of 31 teams, giving opponents 54.1per cent of five-on-five shot attempts.
The Knights also have three OT wins, and the wackiness of three-onthree hockey can go in any direction. They’ve allowed 34.1 shots on goal per game through Sunday, ninthworst in the league. But they’re third-best with only 17 goals allowed.
The Knights had strong goaltending early from Marc-Andre Fleury, but he is out with a concussion. His replacement, Malcolm Subban, suffered a lower-body injury Saturday and is expected to miss four weeks.
That leaves Oscar Dansk, who played one game with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season, as the likely starter against the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Dansk’s first NHL game came in relief on Saturday, and he allowed one goal in 14 minutes.
VEGAS FLU?
Five of the Knights’ first seven games have come at home at T-Mobile Arena, and they have won four. There is talk around the league about a potential “Vegas flu” for visiting players who party too hard the night before their game. Despite having two off nights in Las Vegas, the Blackhawks said too much partying shouldn’t be an issue for them.
“Everyone knows they have a game to play,” winger Ryan Hartman said. “There are probably some guys that go and have a good time but at the same time, they’re ready for the game.
HEALING PROCESS
In the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert on Oct. 1 that killed at least 58 people, the Knights have been a rallying point for the community. In their home opener, the Knights displayed the names of the victims of the shooting on the ice before the game, and they removed advertising from the rink and instead displayed the message “Vegas Strong.” Players also visited local hospitals in the wake of the shooting to visit victims.
“They’ve proved that it’s more than just a game,” Las Vegas resident Andy Trudell told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“The simple fact that they took down the advertising on their home opener to convey a message of hope and recovery says a lot to the organization. And it says a lot to what the people of the city mean to the team.”