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Vegas Golden Knights: Three First Round Predictions

By Richard Cardinale

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 11: An exterior view shows T-Mobile Arena prior to Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 11, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 11: An exterior view shows T-Mobile Arena prior to Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 11, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings will be a one to remember.

Just minutes away from the first playoff game in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights. Who would’ve thought that I would be saying that in October? This team has proved everyone wrong so why go against them?

Their first-round playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Kings will be a tough one, no doubt. If the Golden Knights go onto lose this series, it will be a disappointment after a ton of regular season memories. I hate to repeat myself from October but let’s not forget, this is an expansion team, and we must keep our expectations low.

Playoff hockey is not a new game but it’s a different season and everyone starts fresh on the statsheet. Players will rise to the occasion and some will fail under pressure. Here are three predictions ahead of the Kings- Golden Knights series.

3) Goaltenders will steal the show in this series

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 12: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights slides across his crease as Colin Miller #6 defends against Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2018, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Golden Knights went on to defeat the Flyers 3-2. Tonight’s win was the 400th in Fleury’s NHL career. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 12: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights slides across his crease as Colin Miller #6 defends against Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2018, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Golden Knights went on to defeat the Flyers 3-2. Tonight’s win was the 400th in Fleury’s NHL career. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Everyone knows about the resume’s of Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. A combined FIVE Stanley Cup trophies and a Conn Smythe trophy that Quick won in 2012. But that’s not all; both goalies bring a total of 108 postseason victories to the table.

The amount of Stanley Cup Playoff experience that these two bring when it’s pressure time is incredible. Both teams will rely on their goaltenders heavily throughout this series and beyond. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers these elite goaltenders have put together this campaign.

Let’s start with Quick. In 64 games played, he has a 33-28-3 record with a GAA of 2.40, and a save percentage of 921%. The goals against are up from past years, but he has also faced more shots under new Kings Head Coach John Stevens. Certainly terrific numbers from the Los Angeles undisputed number one goalie.

Fleury’s numbers are very appealing. The Sorel, Quebec native collected 29 wins, 13 losses, and four overtime defeats. His stout 2.24 GAA and .927 SV% makes him one of the best goaltenders in the league this season.

You can make arguments about who you would rather have in net. It’s a tossup; I would be happy with either one of these goalies backstopping my team. Both goalies will steal games for their respective teams in this series.

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