People think being a Vegas Golden Knights fan is easy. You wake up, hop into a shower filled with gold coins like Scrooge McDuck, and you tell everyone how cool you are. Certainly, that sounds like the sweet life.
However, I have some bad news for you. That's not the case. Last May was the case as the Golden Knights were eliminated by their bitter rivals. They didn't hear the end of it from their enemies north of the border. That must sting.
Still, some moments sting worse than losing a series, 4-1. We're talking about losing a semifinal game because the puck was not cleared. We're also discussing referees botching a call in a crucial playoff game.
You probably know where this is headed, dear reader. But let's look at the worst moments in franchise history. Buckle up because this might hit home harder than usual. Bring some tissues if you need to.
1.) The Vegas Golden Knights miss the playoffs for the first time in 2021-22
This was particularly rough for Golden Knights fans because they've been spoiled with so much success to start the first four seasons. Three semifinal appearances and one Stanley Cup Final appearance would make every fan feel like a million bucks.
However, this was different. Having a record of 43-31-8 with 94 points would be enough to get you a playoff appearance. Not this time. Instead, it was the Nashville Predators who claimed the last spot with 97 points. The culprit? Injuries and a collapsed team that gave up on Pete DeBoer.
The good news was DeBoer was fired in the offseason and was replaced with a guy named Bruce Cassidy. Golden Knights fans know what he did the next season...
2.) Marc-Andre Fleury's Game 3 blunder against the Montreal Canadiens
When you're competing for a chance to win the Stanley Cup, you must limit your mistakes. That means your best players must do their best. Unfortunately, Marc-Andre Fleury had an all-time stroke of bad luck that led to a costly goal.
A 2-1 lead with less than two minutes squandered by not clearing the puck stings. That's especially true when you're considered the heavy favorite against the Canadiens. This eventually led to the Golden Knights losing the series, 4-2, damaging any hope for a Stanley Cup with the main Misfit core.
3.) The "Minor That Wasn't"
This was mentioned in a prior post. The ramifications of a botched call by NHL referees on Cody Eakin led to the San Jose Sharks grabbing all the momentum in the 2019 match-up.
Four power play goals that erased a 3-0 lead and a Barclay Goodrow game-winner devastated a Golden Knights team looking to represent the Western Conference. You can name the various consequences of the "Minor That Wasn't," ranging from getting the San Jose crowd back in the game to simply eliminating Vegas.
Overall, it led to drastic changes. That meant Gerard Gallant's grating personality had to go during the 2019-20 season. That also meant adapting a new philosophy that involved a shoot-and-pray style... and Steve Spott.