2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights season

The 2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights season was the inaugural season for the Vegas Golden Knights. They played their home games at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.

The Golden Knights enjoyed the strongest debut season for an expansion team in North American professional sports history. On February 1, 2018, they broke the record for most wins by an expansion team in their first season when they earned their 34th win of the season. On February 21, they broke the record for most points by an expansion team in their inaugural season when they got their 84th point of the season. Then on March 26, they became the first team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season in the league since the Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers in the 1979–80 season. Following that achievement, on March 31, 2018, with a 3–2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, the Knights became the first modern-era expansion team from any of the four major sports and the first NHL team since the 1926–27 New York Rangers to win their division in their inaugural season (excluding the 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers, as all teams in the West Division that year were expansion teams). The Golden Knights finished the regular season with a .665 points percentage; prior to 2018 the only examples of first year expansion teams joining any of the North American major professional sports leagues after their respective league's first decade and finishing with a winning/points percentage of .500 or better were teams that had joined from another league.

Earning a playoff berth in their first season, the Golden Knights eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in four straight games during the first round, becoming the first team in NHL history to sweep their first playoff series in their inaugural season. They later defeated the San Jose Sharks in the second round in six games and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. There they defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season where they faced the Washington Capitals, and lost in five games.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason A preliminary preseason schedule was announced in January 2017. The draft schedule was released in April 2017, while the final schedule was released in June 2017. 2017 preseason game log: 3–3–1 (Home: 0–2–1; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 Vegas 9–4 Vancouver Ferguson 15,565 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 19 Vegas 4–1 Colorado Lagace — 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 21 Vegas 2–5 San Jose Pickard 15,071 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 24 Vegas 4–2 Anaheim Fleury 15,442 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 26 Los Angeles 3–2 Vegas OT Fleury 17,101 3–1–1 Recap 6 September 28 Colorado 4–2 Vegas Fleury 15,337 3–2–1 Recap 7 October 1 San Jose 5–3 Vegas Fleury 16,479 3–3–1 Recap

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 8–3–0 (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 6 Vegas 2–1 Dallas Fleury 18,532 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 7 Vegas 2–1 Arizona OT Fleury 17,125 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 10 Arizona 2–5 Vegas Fleury 18,191 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 13 Detroit 6–3 Vegas Fleury 17,645 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 15 Boston 1–3 Vegas Subban 17,562 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 17 Buffalo 4–5 Vegas OT Subban 17,617 5–1–0 10 Recap 7 October 21 St. Louis 2–3 Vegas OT Dansk 17,883 6–1–0 12 Recap 8 October 24 Chicago 2–4 Vegas Dansk 18,108 7–1–0 14 Recap 9 October 27 Colorado 0–7 Vegas Dansk 17,702 8–1–0 16 Recap 10 October 30 Vegas 3–6 NY Islanders Lagace 11,113 8–2–0 16 Recap 11 October 31 Vegas 4–6 NY Rangers Lagace 17,294 8–3–0 16 Recap November: 7–5–1 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 3–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 2 Vegas 1–2 Boston Lagace 17,565 8–4–0 16 Recap 13 November 4 Vegas 5–4 Ottawa Lagace 16,824 9–4–0 18 Recap 14 November 6 Vegas 3–4 Toronto SO Lagace 19,398 9–4–1 19 Recap 15 November 7 Vegas 2–3 Montreal Lagace 21,302 9–5–1 19 Recap 16 November 10 Winnipeg 2–5 Vegas Lagace 18,110 10–5–1 21 Recap 17 November 14 Vegas 2–8 Edmonton Lagace 18,347 10–6–1 21 Recap 18 November 16 Vegas 5–2 Vancouver Lagace 18,119 11–6–1 23 Recap 19 November 19 Los Angeles 2–4 Vegas Lagace 18,211 12–6–1 25 Recap 20 November 22 Vegas 4–2 Anaheim Lagace 17,174 13–6–1 27 Recap 21 November 24 San Jose 4–5 Vegas OT Subban 18,094 14–6–1 29 Recap 22 November 25 Vegas 4–2 Arizona Subban 13,226 15–6–1 31 Recap 23 November 28 Dallas 3–0 Vegas Subban 17,579 15–7–1 31 Recap 24 November 30 Vegas 2–4 Minnesota Subban 19,084 15–8–1 31 Recap December: 11–1–1 (Home: 7–0–1; Road: 4–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Vegas 4–7 Winnipeg Lagace 15,321 15–9–1 31 Recap 26 December 3 Arizona 2–3 Vegas OT Subban 17,519 16–9–1 33 Recap 27 December 5 Anaheim 3–4 Vegas SO Subban 17,608 17–9–1 35 Recap 28 December 8 Vegas 4–3 Nashville SO Subban 17,125 18–9–1 37 Recap 29 December 9 Vegas 5–3 Dallas Lagace 18,532 19–9–1 39 Recap 30 December 12 Carolina 3–2 Vegas SO Fleury 17,520 19–9–2 40 Recap 31 December 14 Pittsburgh 1–2 Vegas Fleury 18,029 20–9–2 42 Recap 32 December 17 Florida 2–5 Vegas Subban 17,593 21–9–2 44 Recap 33 December 19 Tampa Bay 3–4 Vegas Fleury 17,813 22–9–2 46 Recap 34 December 23 Washington 0–3 Vegas Fleury 18,025 23–9–2 48 Recap 35 December 27 Vegas 4–1 Anaheim Subban 17,444 24–9–2 50 Recap 36 December 28 Vegas 3–2 Los Angeles OT Fleury 18,432 25–9–2 52 Recap 37 December 31 Toronto 3–6 Vegas Subban 18,118 26–9–2 54 Recap January: 7–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 2 Nashville 0–3 Vegas Fleury 18,171 27–9–2 56 Recap 39 January 4 Vegas 1–2 St. Louis Fleury 18,976 27–10–2 56 Recap 40 January 5 Vegas 5–4 Chicago Subban 21,933 28–10–2 58 Recap 41 January 7 NY Rangers 1–2 Vegas Fleury 18,234 29–10–2 60 Recap 42 January 13 Edmonton 3–2 Vegas OT Fleury 18,351 29–10–3 61 Recap 43 January 16 Vegas 0–1 Nashville Fleury 17,150 29–11–3 61 Recap 44 January 18 Vegas 4–1 Tampa Bay Fleury 19,092 30–11–3 63 Recap 45 January 19 Vegas 3–4 Florida OT Subban 17,468 30–11–4 64 Recap 46 January 21 Vegas 5–1 Carolina Fleury 15,303 31–11–4 66 Recap 47 January 23 Columbus 3–6 Vegas Fleury 18,231 32–11–4 68 Recap 48 January 25 NY Islanders 2–1 Vegas Fleury 18,184 32–12–4 68 Recap 49 January 30 Vegas 4–2 Calgary Fleury 19,289 33–12–4 70 Recap February: 8–5–1 (Home: 5–3–0; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 Vegas 3–2 Winnipeg OT Fleury 15,321 34–12–4 72 Recap 51 February 2 Vegas 2–5 Minnesota Subban 19,057 34–13–4 72 Recap 52 February 4 Vegas 4–3 Washington Fleury 18,506 35–13–4 74 Recap 53 February 6 Vegas 4–5 Pittsburgh Fleury 18,644 35–14–4 74 Recap 54 February 8 Vegas 5–3 San Jose Fleury 17,562 36–14–4 76 Recap 55 February 11 Philadelphia 4–1 Vegas Fleury 18,220 36–15–4 76 Recap 56 February 13 Chicago 2–5 Vegas Fleury 18,085 37–15–4 78 Recap 57 February 15 Edmonton 1–4 Vegas Fleury 18,030 38–15–4 80 Recap 58 February 17 Montreal 3–6 Vegas Fleury 18,122 39–15–4 82 Recap 59 February 19 Anaheim 2–0 Vegas Fleury 18,267 39–16–4 82 Recap 60 February 21 Calgary 3–7 Vegas Fleury 18,014 40–16–4 84 Recap 61 February 23 Vancouver 3–6 Vegas Fleury 18,207 41–16–4 86 Recap 62 February 26 Vegas 2–3 Los Angeles OT Fleury 18,230 41–16–5 87 Recap 63 February 27 Los Angeles 4–1 Vegas Lagace 18,328 41–17–5 87 Recap March: 9–5–2 (Home: 5–4–0; Road: 4–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Ottawa 5–4 Vegas Fleury 18,269 41–18–5 87 Recap 65 March 4 Vegas 3–2 New Jersey Fleury 16,514 42–18–5 89 Recap 66 March 6 Vegas 1–4 Columbus Fleury 17,402 42–19–5 89 Recap 67 March 8 Vegas 4–0 Detroit Fleury 19,515 43–19–5 91 Recap 68 March 10 Vegas 2–1 Buffalo SO Fleury 19,070 44–19–5 93 Recap 69 March 12 Vegas 3–2 Philadelphia Fleury 19,723 45–19–5 95 Recap 70 March 14 New Jersey 8–3 Vegas Fleury 18,420 45–20–5 95 Recap 71 March 16 Minnesota 4–2 Vegas Fleury 18,295 45–21–5 95 Recap 72 March 18 Calgary 0–4 Vegas Fleury 18,075 46–21–5 97 Recap 73 March 20 Vancouver 1–4 Vegas Fleury 18,214 47–21–5 99 Recap 74 March 22 Vegas 1–2 San Jose OT Subban 17,562 47–21–6 100 Recap 75 March 24 Vegas 1–2 Colorado SO Fleury 18,042 47–21–7 101 Recap 76 March 26 Colorado 1–4 Vegas Fleury 18,326 48–21–7 103 Recap 77 March 28 Arizona 3–2 Vegas Fleury 18,121 48–22–7 103 Recap 78 March 30 St. Louis 3–4 Vegas OT Subban 18,191 49–22–7 105 Recap 79 March 31 San Jose 2–3 Vegas Fleury 18,458 50–22–7 107 Recap April: 1–2–0 (Home: 0–0–0; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 3 Vegas 5–4 Vancouver SO Subban 18,865 51–22–7 109 Recap 81 April 5 Vegas 3–4 Edmonton Subban 18,347 51–23–7 109 Recap 82 April 7 Vegas 1–7 Calgary Fleury 19,289 51–24–7 109 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

2018 Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Los Angeles Kings: Vegas won 4–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 11 Los Angeles 0–1 Vegas Fleury 18,479 1–0 Recap 2 April 13 Los Angeles 1–2 Vegas 2OT Fleury 18,588 2–0 Recap 3 April 15 Vegas 3–2 Los Angeles Fleury 18,484 3–0 Recap 4 April 17 Vegas 1–0 Los Angeles Fleury 18,422 4–0 Recap Western Conference Second Round vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks: Vegas won 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 26 San Jose 0–7 Vegas Fleury 18,444 1–0 Recap 2 April 28 San Jose 4–3 Vegas 2OT Fleury 18,671 1–1 Recap 3 April 30 Vegas 4–3 San Jose OT Fleury 17,562 2–1 Recap 4 May 2 Vegas 0–4 San Jose Fleury 17,562 2–2 Recap 5 May 4 San Jose 3–5 Vegas Fleury 18,693 3–2 Recap 6 May 6 Vegas 3–0 San Jose Fleury 17,562 4–2 Recap Western Conference Finals vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: Vegas won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 12 Vegas 2–4 Winnipeg Fleury 15,321 0–1 Recap 2 May 14 Vegas 3–1 Winnipeg Fleury 15,321 1–1 Recap 3 May 16 Winnipeg 2–4 Vegas Fleury 18,477 2–1 Recap 4 May 18 Winnipeg 2–3 Vegas Fleury 18,697 3–1 Recap 5 May 20 Vegas 2–1 Winnipeg Fleury 15,321 4–1 Recap Stanley Cup Final vs. (M1) Washington Capitals: Washington won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 28 Washington 4–6 Vegas Fleury 18,575 1–0 Recap 2 May 30 Washington 3–2 Vegas Fleury 18,702 1–1 Recap 3 June 2 Vegas 1–3 Washington Fleury 18,506 1–2 Recap 4 June 4 Vegas 2–6 Washington Fleury 18,506 1–3 Recap 5 June 7 Washington 4–3 Vegas Fleury 18,529 1–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 43 35 78 49 12 77 27 48 75 36 40 70 16 50 66 1 50 67 22 38 60 31 24 76 29 26 55 −16 37 71 25 19 44 −11 24 82 10 31 41 −4 53 78 15 22 37 3 27 76 5 31 36 19 16 61 6 23 29 5 14 80 11 16 27 −6 22 79 5 18 23 6 24 45 3 15 18 −5 6 72 6 10 16 5 14 67 7 8 15 6 14 76 5 10 15 26 52 † 36 9 5 14 0 9 30 2 12 14 8 15 ‡ 44 2 11 13 −1 4 63 9 2 11 −11 14 † 20 4 2 6 −11 10 2 3 0 3 3 0 37 1 2 3 −3 19 10 1 2 3 2 0 34 1 2 3 7 22 † 21 0 2 2 2 10 3 1 0 1 3 2 8 0 1 1 −2 4 8 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0

Playoffs Player 20 5 17 22 5 10 20 8 13 21 8 10 20 7 8 15 8 2 20 6 5 11 0 12 20 6 4 10 0 12 20 3 7 10 2 8 20 3 6 9 −3 27 15 1 8 9 1 10 20 3 4 7 7 4 20 3 4 7 5 14 17 4 2 6 5 8 20 2 3 5 2 20 17 0 5 5 5 6 20 3 1 4 3 4 12 0 4 4 5 8 20 0 3 3 6 14 10 2 0 2 4 18 8 1 1 2 1 2 20 0 2 2 2 26 3 0 1 1 1 2 10 0 0 0 −1 8 8 0 0 0 2 10

Goaltenders Regular season Player 46 46 2,673:24 29 13 4 100 2.24 1376 .927 4 0 1 6 22 19 1,230:11 13 4 2 55 2.68 614 .910 0 0 0 2 16 14 873:31 6 7 1 57 3.92 430 .867 0 0 0 0 4 3 168:36 3 0 0 5 1.78 93 .946 1 0 0 0 1 0 9:14 0 0 0 1 6.50 2 .500 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player 20 20 1,258:35 13 7 47 2.24 641 .927 4 0 1 4

Awards and honours

Milestones