December is a time of giving for many people, including Vegas Golden Knights fans. Perhaps you were looking forward to getting that Jack Eichel jersey you always wanted. Or maybe you wanted an Alex Pietrangelo bobblehead and a Golden Knights license plate cover (I know I got my bobblehead). Whatever the case, December has been a month full of presents.
That's especially true with the franchise's success. That constitutes of only missing one postseason and making two Stanley Cup Finals. Add a Stanley Cup to the top of the tree and you're in a festive mood. Ah, there's nothing like the holiday spirit to fuel your happiness.
That's why Golden Knights fans are thankful that they've had a successful team right out of the shoot. Sure, there will be conspiracy theorists who suggest Gary Bettman gave them a helping hand (and is still helping them, allegedly).
However, their success is a testament to a strong front office led by Bill Foley, George McPhee, and Kelly McCrimmon. But you can't be successful without being consistent, which describes the franchise well. The past three seasons under Bruce Cassidy have seen a common theme: The Golden Knights getting off to a fast start.
Season | Record |
|---|---|
2022-23 | 13-2-0 |
2023-24 | 11-0-1 |
2024-25 | 9-3-1 |
The fast starts have been part of the team's success throughout their eight seasons. But what about December? Has Santa Claus given the Golden Knights another big gift? You better be on your best behavior because Santa will put you on his "Naughty" list with Evander Kane if you're not careful!
What the Vegas Golden Knights's all-time record in December reveals about the team's success
If you want further proof of the Vegas Golden Knight being one of the most successful stories in the NHL since 2017, look no further than their record in December. Sure, this has been a month where key players like Adin Hill have been injured. However, the month has been extremely forgiving for the Golden Knights record-wise.
How, you might ask? Well, the Golden Knights are 59-23-8 all-time in the month of December. Historically, the month has been littered with games against teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Islanders. This has given the Golden Knights an unprecedented advantage, specifically at T-Mobile Arena.
Here, they have an all-time home record of 32-9-4 at T-Mobile Arena in December. Their road record hasn't been as successful (as expected) with an all-time record of 27-14-4. However, that's still a good mark, especially when you earn 58 points from the ordeal.
Overall, the Golden Knights have a sustained model of success thanks to their December record. When you combine that with a fast start, it makes going through the rigid months of January and February much more bearable. You have a sizable point cushion that will guarantee you stay in the Stanley Cup playoff race.
In fact, this cushion can even propel them to a Pacific Division crown if the Golden Knights go on another hot run. Look at 2022-23 as a perfect example. They destroyed the competition between February 7 and April 13 of that season, going on a 22-4-5 run. Golden Knights fans know how that season ended and it could happen for them again come June.