Guv shows love

The Golden Knights did not practice Monday, but the excitement surrounding the team has reached Carson City, as Gov. Brian Sandoval was at City National Arena and briefly met with general manager George Mcphee.

“We had a good conversation this morning and he was very complimentary of what the team did after Oct. 1 and how the players have been involved and continue to be involved helping out,” Mcphee said.

David Schoen

and played a key role on the fourth line and killing penalties Sunday.

“Integration hasn’t been easy,” Mcphee said. “To come into this team, it’s been hard for Reaves and hard for Tatar and hard for Carpenter. Carpenter didn’t get to play for a month, and the other guys haven’t played as much as they’d like to play. The guys that were here from September have been pretty special in what they’ve gone through and how they’ve developed.

“But the really neat thing is, Gerard can figure out what flavor he wants for a certain game or against a certain team, and he’s pushing all the right buttons. The guys go in and they give us big games.”

Mcphee said he had not thought about the similarities between the Knights’ postseason run and Washington’s 20 years ago.

But Mcphee did acknowledge there is something unique about his current team.

“I haven’t been around a team like this,” he said. “This feels more like a team than any team I’ve been with at the NHL level.”

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702387-5203. Follow @Davidschoenlvrj on Twitter.