It was 278 days ago the Vegas Golden Knights staff sat on the stage of T-Mobile Arena and announced which players the franchise was selecting in its expansion draft. What was expected to happen in the coming months was the inaugural season for the NHL's newest franchise, but one many expected to end after game No. 82 of the regular season.
Well, as they say, never bet against the house.
The Vegas Golden Knights continued their fairy tale season by clinching a playoff spot after a 4-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
MAKING HISTORY 🙌 #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/OICmOcKL4J
— x - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 27, 2018
William Karlsson scored his 40th goal of the season, with Alex Tuch, Jonathan Marchessault and Shea Theodore also getting on the score sheet as the Golden Knights gave the fans at T-Mobile Arena a comfortable victory. The win was the 48th of the season for Vegas, catapulting the team to an incredible 103 points after 76 games in its inaugural season.
Vegas joins the 1979-80 Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers to become just the third team of the post-expansion era to reach the playoffs in its first NHL campaign. Unlike the Whalers and Oilers, both of which joined the NHL from the now-defunct WHA, the Golden Knights reached the postseason in their first season of existence.
The @GoldenKnights are the third expansion team since 1968-69 – and first to start from scratch – to clinch a berth in the #StanleyCup Playoffs. #NHLStats #COLvsVGK pic.twitter.com/3XzgXP4UMk
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 27, 2018
Overall, 12 teams in NHL history have made the playoffs in their first season. The Golden Knights, sitting atop the Pacific Division, would face Los Angeles Kings if the Stanley Cup playoffs began today.