They’re in. William Karlsson reached 40 goals when he scored into an empty net with 15.4 seconds remaining and the Golden Knights officially clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday at T-Mobile Arena.
David Schoen
Reporter: Golden Knights, NHL
Email: dschoen@reviewjournal.com
Phone: (702) 387-5203
David Schoen covers the Vegas Golden Knights/NHL and the World Series of Poker for the Review-Journal. Prior to arriving at the R-J in 2008, the Southern California native was a reporter and editor at the Oakland (Calif.) Tribune and Wisconsin State Journal. A University of Wisconsin graduate, he enjoys golf, Arsenal Football Club, and Ed Hochuli's lengthy penalty explanations.
The Golden Knights can become the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season since 1967-68 with a victory over Colorado on Monday.
Deryk Engelland missed his second game of the season Saturday. Whether the Golden Knights defenseman is injured or resting prior to the playoffs, only the team knows.
New linemates have helped Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon rebound after three sub-par seasons.
Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog scored the lone goal in the shootout, and the Golden Knights lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Avalanche on Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Center.
Injured goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who rejoined the Golden Knights on Friday, joked that his absence had more to do with daytime TV than his health.
One year after Colorado posted a measly 48 points and finished last in the overall standings, the Avalanche are in the thick of the playoff chase and host the Golden Knights in a pivotal home-and-home series.
The Golden Knights dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the surging San Jose Sharks on Thursday, but hit the century mark in points for the season.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who did not travel with the Golden Knights for the start of their two-game road trip, will join the team ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game at Colorado, according to coach Gerard Gallant.
The Golden Knights hope to put some distance between themselves and San Jose in the Pacific Division race.
The Golden Knights recalled goaltender Oscar Dansk from Chicago of the American Hockey League, a clear sign injured Marc-Andre Fleury will not join the team for their 7 p.m. Pacific Division clash at SAP Center against the second-place San Jose Sharks.
Malcolm Subban made 21 saves in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Golden Knights coasted to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.
Entering Monday’s NHL action, the Knights needed seven points to clinch a playoff berth. Los Angeles (84 points, 10 games remaining) played at Minnesota on Monday, and a Kings loss would bring the Knights’ magic points number down to six.
William Karlsson scored a natural hat trick in the second period, and the Golden Knights put a halt to their recent slide with a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.
The Golden Knights had a brief discussion in the locker room after Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild and concluded there needs to be more urgency in their game.