What can the Golden Knights do for an encore in Year Two?
Our predictions bombed pretty badly last year. So did everyone else’s.
That’s what was so special about the Golden Knights’ inaugural season: No one saw the run to the Stanley Cup Final coming. Can anyone accurately call for what’s going to happen in Year Two?
The Sun is going to try as the Golden Knights head into their 2018-19 season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. today at T-mobile Arena.
Here are our predictions, starting with overall team prognostications before getting into individual statistics leaders.
Overall record: 45-29-8 (98 points)
The Western Conference Pacific Division might be the weakest in the NHL this year, but it’s also the most evenly matched.
With the exception of the Vancouver Canucks, a case can be made for every team. The standings are going to be Here’s the schedule of events coinciding with today’s season opener for the Golden Knights:
Morning skate, City National Arena
Gold carpet arrivals for players, coaches, management, Toshiba Plaza at T-mobile Arena
Game time vs. Philadelphia Flyers. Pregame activities include player introductions and the unveiling of the 2017-18 Pacific Division Champions and 2017-18 Western Conference Champions banners.
10:30 a.m.: 3:30 p.m.: 7 p.m.:
compact, and therefore, 98 points might be enough for second place, even though that’s a total more typically slotted for third or fourth. It’s worth noting that 98 points would eclipse the Golden Knights’ win total at most non-las Vegas sports books, where 97.5 wins is the consensus over/under.
Because of fan interest locally, the Golden Knights’ win total has steamed up as high as 101.5 wins.
Home record: 25-13-3
The Golden Knights will again have one of the best home-ice advantages in the NHL, so it stands to reason they’ll perform better at T-mobile Arena.
Road record: 20-16-5
This would be a drop-off from last season when the Golden Knights went 22-14-5 on the road.
Shootout record: 4-3
There’s no real way to project this, but anecdotally, the Golden Knights have some real shootout threats including William Karlsson, Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch.
Goals for: 262
Calling for the Golden