Las Vegas Golden Knights Not Giving Into Expectations
June 22, 2016, the Board of Governors voted unanimously 30-0 in favor of adding an expansion team in Las Vegas for the 2017–18 season. Key acquisitions in the Expansion Draft included G Marc-Andre Fleury who houses the best save percentage in the league at 97% and C William Karlsson who scored the third most goals in the regular season with 43. It came as a shocking surprise when the first year franchise posted a 51–24–7 record and third place finish in the Western Conference (First in Pacific Division). The Knights also ranked fifth most in the NHL with points (109). Not only were the Golden Knights the best expansion team in NHL history, they had the best first-year record of any expansion team in professional sports.
Before the season started the Golden Knights were a 200-1 bet to win the Stanley Cup. Now after sweeping the Las Angeles Kings in the first round of Playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights are co-favorites to win the Stanley Cup, according to the Westgate Sportsbook. The Knights are currently a 4-1 odd to win, tied with the Nashville Predators
The Vegas Golden Knights will advance to play divisional rival San Jose Sharks, who swept the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. The Knights boasted a 3-0-1 record versus the Sharks in the four games they played. The last time they played the Knights won 3-2, clinching the Pacific Division. Although the second round might not start for a while, Games 1 and 2 will be played in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.