Vegas Golden Knights One Win Away from Round 1 Sweep
Expansion team the Vegas Golden Knights are one win away from a first-round sweep in the NHL playoffs after Sunday.
The Knights came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 for a 3 – 0 lead in the series. It’s another eye-catching feat in a first NHL season that has been full of firsts for Vegas. It was the team’s first road playoff victory and it’s first playoff rally.
LA, who had defenseman Drew Doughty back from suspension, took their first lead of the series in the first period. Alex Iafallo dispatched Anze Kopitar’s cross-crease pass past Vegas goalie Fleury in the first period.
At the other end, Kings’ goaltender Jonathan Quick protected the lead until the third period. Cody Eakin tied it with 13:50 left, before James Neal stepped up.
Neal, who went to the Stanley Cup Final last season, put the Golden Knights ahead 2-1 at 14:23.
Leading scorer William Karlsson got his first playoff goal of the year to give Vegas the game 20 second later. He added to his 43 regular season goals by scoring off a pass from Reilly Smith. Kopitar scored with 2 minutes left for the Kings, but it wasn’t enough.
Want $250 to bet on the Stanley Cup?
Former Nashville Predators star Neal said he was counting on the experience of the players in a new Vegas team.
“Emotions were running high, and it’s physical out there. It’s tough. But a lot of guys on our team have been in those situations before and won in them before.â€
The Vegas Golden Knights are the first NHL team to reach the playoffs in their first season since the Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers in 1979-80. They finished the season with a 51-24-7, making them the expansion team with the most wins in NHL history.
