Knights Fever

To the surprise of hockey fans everywhere, the Vegas Golden Knights have gone from 500-to-1 longshots to Stanley Cup favorites. “I thought this team would be competitive, but lose more games than it won,” admits Golden Knights hockey expert Gary Lawless. “I thought the playoffs were a stretch.”

Not anymore. Vegas has shattered the NHL record for home wins and points by a team in their first season. They’re now steamrolling toward the playoffs, cruising to a Pacific Division title, and battling for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Expectations have changed. “The organization did a great job selecting players that could skate and that were willing to play a team system,” Lawless says. “All of these players have come in and had career seasons, which is why they’re one of the best teams in the NHL.”