2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights season

The 2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights season was the third season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that started playing in the 2017–18 season. They played their home games at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. They made the playoffs for the third straight season after losing in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs to the San Jose Sharks the year prior. On October 17, 2019, the NHL suspended Valentin Zykov for 20 regular season games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

The season was suspended by the league officials on March 12, 2020, after several other professional and collegiate sports organizations followed suit as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On May 26, the NHL regular season was officially declared over with the remaining games being cancelled. The Golden Knights advanced to the playoffs and earned the top seed in the Western Conference during the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. In the First Round they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in five games. The Golden Knights advanced to their second Conference Final in three years after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in seven games in the Second Round. The Golden Knights season came to an end in the fifth game of the Conference Finals as they fell to the Dallas Stars.

Regular season The Golden Knights started their season with a 4–1 win against the San Jose Sharks on October 3. Cody Glass scored his first NHL goal in his debut game during the opener.

Standings

Divisional standings

Western Conference

Tiebreaking procedures Fewer number of games played (only used during regular season). Greater number of regulation wins (denoted by RW). Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime (excluding shootout wins; denoted by ROW). Greater number of total wins (including shootouts). Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded. Greater goal differential (difference between goals for and goals against). Greater number of goals scored (denoted by GF).

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 18, 2019. 2019 preseason game log: 5–2–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 3–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 15 Arizona 2–6 Vegas Subban 17,767 1–0–0 2 September 17 Vegas 5–0 Colorado Sparks — 2–0–0 3 September 19 Vegas 3–2 Los Angeles OT Dansk 10,421 3–0–0 4 September 21 Vegas 3–1 San Jose Fleury 15,052 4–0–0 5 September 25 Colorado 4–1 Vegas Subban 17,954 4–1–0 6 September 27 Los Angeles 3–2 Vegas Fleury 18,103 4–2–0 7 September 29 San Jose 1–5 Vegas Fleury 18,131 5–2–0

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on June 25, 2019. 2019–20 game logOctober: 8–5–1 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 4–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 2 San Jose 1–4 Vegas Fleury 18,588 1–0–0 2 2 October 4 Vegas 5–1 San Jose Fleury 17,562 2–0–0 4 3 October 8 Boston 4–3 Vegas Fleury 18,223 2–1–0 4 4 October 10 Vegas 1–4 Arizona Subban 13,864 2–2–0 4 5 October 12 Calgary 2–6 Vegas Fleury 18,192 3–2–0 6 6 October 13 Vegas 5–2 Los Angeles Fleury 17,699 4–2–0 8 7 October 15 Nashville 5–2 Vegas Fleury 18,188 4–3–0 8 8 October 17 Ottawa 2–3 Vegas SO Fleury 18,171 5–3–0 10 9 October 19 Vegas 3–0 Pittsburgh Fleury 18,610 6–3–0 12 10 October 21 Vegas 2–6 Philadelphia Dansk 16,780 6–4–0 12 11 October 22 Vegas 2–1 Chicago SO Fleury 21,172 7–4–0 14 12 October 25 Colorado 6–1 Vegas Fleury 18,420 7–5–0 14 13 October 27 Anaheim 2–5 Vegas Fleury 18,110 8–5–0 16 14 October 31 Montreal 5–4 Vegas OT Fleury 18,035 8–5–1 17 November: 5–6–3 (Home: 3–2–2; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 15 November 2 Winnipeg 4–3 Vegas OT Subban 18,276 8–5–2 18 16 November 5 Vegas 2–1 Columbus Fleury 15,435 9–5–2 20 17 November 7 Vegas 1–2 Toronto OT Subban 19,218 9–5–3 21 18 November 9 Vegas 2–5 Washington Fleury 18,573 9–6–3 21 19 November 10 Vegas 2–3 Detroit Subban 19,057 9–7–3 21 20 November 13 Chicago 5–3 Vegas Fleury 18,324 9–8–3 21 21 November 16 Vegas 3–4 Los Angeles Subban 17,282 9–9–3 21 22 November 17 Calgary 0–6 Vegas Fleury 18,083 10–9–3 23 23 November 19 Toronto 2–4 Vegas Fleury 18,292 11–9–3 25 24 November 21 San Jose 2–1 Vegas OT Fleury 18,275 11–9–4 26 25 November 23 Edmonton 4–2 Vegas Fleury 18,319 11–10–4 26 26 November 25 Vegas 2–4 Dallas Subban 18,532 11–11–4 26 27 November 27 Vegas 4–3 Nashville OT Subban 17,326 12–11–4 28 28 November 29 Arizona 1–2 Vegas SO Subban 18,326 13–11–4 30 December: 9–4–2 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 4–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 29 December 2 Vegas 4–1 NY Rangers Subban 16,325 14–11–4 32 30 December 3 Vegas 4–3 New Jersey Subban 12,831 15–11–4 34 31 December 5 Vegas 2–3 NY Islanders OT Subban 13,117 15–11–5 35 32 December 8 NY Rangers 5–0 Vegas Subban 18,236 15–12–5 35 33 December 10 Chicago 1–5 Vegas Fleury 18,319 16–12–5 37 34 December 12 Vegas 2–4 St. Louis Fleury 18,096 16–13–5 37 35 December 13 Vegas 3–2 Dallas OT Subban 18,532 17–13–5 39 36 December 15 Vancouver 3–6 Vegas Fleury 18,066 18–13–5 41 37 December 17 Minnesota 2–3 Vegas Fleury 18,220 19–13–5 43 38 December 19 Vegas 4–5 Vancouver OT Fleury 18,871 19–13–6 44 39 December 22 Vegas 3–1 San Jose Subban 17,015 20–13–6 46 40 December 23 Colorado 7–3 Vegas Fleury 18,425 20–14–6 46 41 December 27 Vegas 3–4 Anaheim Subban 16,601 20–15–6 46 42 December 28 Arizona 1–4 Vegas Fleury 18,461 21–15–6 48 43 December 31 Anaheim 2–5 Vegas Fleury 18,320 22–15–6 50 January: 4–5–1 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 2–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 44 January 2 Philadelphia 4–5 Vegas Fleury 18,415 23–15–6 52 45 January 4 St. Louis 4–5 Vegas OT Fleury 18,334 24–15–6 54 46 January 7 Pittsburgh 4–3 Vegas Fleury 18,298 24–16–6 54 47 January 9 Los Angeles 5–2 Vegas Subban 18,281 24–17–6 54 48 January 11 Columbus 3–0 Vegas Fleury 18,400 24–18–6 54 49 January 14 Vegas 2–4 Buffalo Fleury 18,257 24–19–6 54 50 January 16 Vegas 4–2 Ottawa Fleury 12,412 25–19–6 56 51 January 18 Vegas 4–5 Montreal SO Fleury 21,302 25–19–7 57 52 January 21 Vegas 2–3 Boston Fleury 17,850 25–20–7 57 53 January 31 Vegas 4–3 Carolina Subban 18,150 26–20–7 59 February: 10–2–1 (Home: 7–0–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 54 February 1 Vegas 3–0 Nashville Fleury 17,664 27–20–7 61 55 February 4 Vegas 2–4 Tampa Bay Fleury 19,092 27–21–7 61 56 February 6 Vegas 7–2 Florida Fleury 15,057 28–21–7 63 57 February 8 Carolina 6–5 Vegas SO Fleury 18,417 28–21–8 64 58 February 11 Vegas 0–4 Minnesota Fleury 17,112 28–22–8 64 59 February 13 St. Louis 5–6 Vegas OT Subban 18,252 29–22–8 66 60 February 15 NY Islanders 0–1 Vegas Fleury 18,444 30–22–8 68 61 February 17 Washington 2–3 Vegas Fleury 18,399 31–22–8 70 62 February 20 Tampa Bay 3–5 Vegas Fleury 18,376 32–22–8 72 63 February 22 Florida 3–5 Vegas Fleury 18,480 33–22–8 74 64 February 23 Vegas 6–5 Anaheim OT Subban 15,171 34–22–8 76 65 February 26 Edmonton 0–3 Vegas Fleury 18,421 35–22–8 78 66 February 28 Buffalo 2–4 Vegas Lehner 18,404 36–22–8 80 March: 3–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 67 March 1 Los Angeles 4–1 Vegas Fleury 18,419 36–23–8 80 68 March 3 New Jersey 0–3 Vegas Lehner 18,290 37–23–8 82 69 March 6 Vegas 0–4 Winnipeg Fleury 15,325 37–24–8 82 70 March 8 Vegas 5–3 Calgary Lehner 18,841 38–24–8 84 71 March 9 Vegas 3–2 Edmonton OT Fleury 17,327 39–24–8 86 Cancelled games # Date Visitor Home 72 March 12 Vegas Minnesota 73 March 15 Vegas Colorado 74 March 17 Dallas Vegas 75 March 18 Vegas Arizona 76 March 21 Detroit Vegas 77 March 23 Vancouver Vegas 78 March 25 Arizona Vegas 79 March 29 Vegas Winnipeg 80 March 31 Vegas Edmonton 81 April 2 Vegas Calgary 82 April 4 Vegas VancouverLegend:

Playoffs

The Golden Knights played in a round-robin tournament to determine their seed for the playoffs. Vegas finished with a 3–0–0 record to clinch the first seed for the playoffs.

In the first round, the Golden Knights defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in five games.

In the second round, the Golden Knights faced the Vancouver Canucks, and defeated them in seven games.

The Golden Knights faced the Dallas Stars in the Conference Final, but were defeated in five games. 2020 Stanley Cup playoffsWestern Conference Seeding Round-robin # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Points Recap 1 August 3 Dallas 3–5 Vegas Lehner 1–0–0 2 2 August 6 Vegas 6–4 St. Louis Fleury 2–0–0 4 3 August 8 Vegas 4–3 Colorado OT Lehner 3–0–0 6 Western Conference First Round vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks: Vegas won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 August 11 Chicago 1–4 Vegas Lehner 1–0 2 August 13 Chicago 3–4 Vegas OT Lehner 2–0 3 August 15 Vegas 2–1 Chicago Fleury 3–0 4 August 16 Vegas 1–3 Chicago Lehner 3–1 5 August 18 Chicago 3–4 Vegas Lehner 4–1 Western Conference Second Round vs. (5) Vancouver Canucks: Vegas won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 August 23 Vancouver 0–5 Vegas Lehner 1–0 2 August 25 Vancouver 5–2 Vegas Lehner 1–1 3 August 29 Vegas 3–0 Vancouver Lehner 2–1 4 August 30 Vegas 5–3 Vancouver Fleury 3–1 5 September 1 Vancouver 2–1 Vegas Lehner 3–2 6 September 3 Vegas 0–4 Vancouver Lehner 3–3 7 September 4 Vancouver 0–3 Vegas Lehner 4–3 Western Conference Finals vs. (3) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 September 6 Dallas 1–0 Vegas Fleury 0–1 2 September 8 Dallas 0–3 Vegas Lehner 1–1 3 September 10 Vegas 2–3 Dallas OT Lehner 1–2 4 September 12 Vegas 1–2 Dallas Lehner 1–3 5 September 14 Dallas 3–2 Vegas OT Lehner 1–4 Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player 71 32 34 66 18 44 65 21 42 63 15 27 71 27 27 54 17 20 66 22 25 47 6 28 63 15 31 46 11 16 71 13 33 46 12 25 71 17 21 38 6 24 59 7 24 31 11 12 † 41 8 14 22 19 10 71 7 12 19 0 39 42 8 9 17 −10 8 71 8 7 15 −5 47 67 8 7 15 −2 20 61 6 8 14 −1 13 39 5 7 12 −7 6 38 1 10 11 0 32 28 5 5 10 3 8 ‡ 41 4 6 10 −9 16 71 2 7 9 1 40 † 10 2 6 8 5 6 49 2 5 7 9 32 49 1 5 6 6 37 15 1 3 4 −2 6 † 7 1 2 3 −1 2 16 0 2 2 −4 8 1 1 0 1 0 0 16 0 1 1 3 4 3 0 1 1 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 −2 4

Playoffs Player 20 7 12 19 7 8 20 7 10 17 −1 6 20 5 9 14 2 8 20 8 4 12 5 8 20 4 6 10 2 0 20 3 7 10 1 16 18 3 6 9 1 8 20 2 7 9 0 4 16 5 3 8 −2 12 20 2 6 8 11 4 20 1 7 8 4 6 20 3 2 5 2 4 17 0 5 5 0 22 19 0 4 4 2 14 20 2 1 3 3 10 20 2 1 3 1 6 8 2 1 3 0 2 20 0 3 3 −1 14 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 19 0 1 1 2 4

Goaltenders Regular season Player 49 48 2,880:06 27 16 5 133 2.77 1,399 .905 5 0 0 8 ‡ 20 19 1,133:05 9 7 3 60 3.18 546 .890 0 0 0 0 † 3 3 180:00 3 0 0 5 1.67 83 .940 1 0 0 0 1 0 27:24 0 0 0 2 4.38 14 .857 0 0 0 0 1 1 60:00 0 1 0 6 6.00 37 .838 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player 16 16 965:52 9 7 32 1.99 386 .917 4 0 0 0 4 4 238:02 3 1 9 2.27 100 .910 0 0 0 2 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Golden Knights. Stats reflect time with the Golden Knights only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Golden Knights only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions

The Golden Knights were involved in the following transactions during the 2019–20 season.

Trades * Retained Salary Transaction: Each team is allowed up to three contracts on their payroll where they have retained salary in a trade (i.e. the player no longer plays with Team A due to a trade to Team B, but Team A still retains some salary). Only up to 50% of a player's contract can be kept, and only up to 15% of a team's salary cap can be taken up by retained salary. A contract can only be involved in one of these trades twice.