The Golden Knights score three times within a 91-second span and go on to beat the Sharks 7-0. (0:52)
When the Vegas Golden Knights were in Los Angeles for the franchise's first ever road playoff game on April 15, they sent a tweet asking their fans: "Where's everyone watching the game from tonight?"
Over 1,500 responses rolled in, and the team was stunned to discover how far the support for this expansion franchise reached.
"It was pretty amazing. People from everywhere: China, Philippines, Australia, Sweden, Germany, England, you name it," said Brian Killingsworth, the team's chief marketing officer.
"We thought it was really special. And that's where this VGK Worldwide thing took off," Killingsworth added, referring to a social media hashtag created for the campaign.
For most of their inaugural season, the Golden Knights had focused on "Vegas Born" as a mantra, celebrating the fact that they were the first major professional sports team in Las Vegas. But the playoffs have broadened their horizons: They've thought locally, and now they're acting globally.
According to Killingsworth, the Knights contacted many of the international fans who responded to that initial tweet through direct message. Each fan was sent a T-shirt design that the team had been selling for the past month: a "name tag" that reads "I'm From [Blank Space] But I Cheer For Vegas Golden Knights."
Share your #VGKWorldwide shirts with us!
We wanna seeeee 👀 pic.twitter.com/wVTguJ6LsM — Vegas Golden Knights Gear (@VGKGear) April 26, 2018
Fans were encouraged to write in their geographic information in that white space with a marker, and put those images on social media.
"We've racked up quite a shipping bill, but it's a direct response to our fans," said Killingsworth.
He said the global approach to Golden Knights fandom mirrors the melting pot of the expansion team and the international popularity of the city.
"Everybody looks at Vegas and the 42 million people that come to this city every year, and this franchise reflects that. It was put together by [GM] George McPhee as a collection of players from all across the country. So we had some fun with the design," said Killingsworth. "They see the story about this team as something that transcends sports. It's really powerful. We see the impact that it's had locally, but it's really humbling to see how it's impacted people all over the world."
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a third period save against the San Jose Sharks in game one of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)
Marc-Andre Fleury was a Penguin a year ago. James Neal was a Predator. William Karlsson was a Blue Jacket.
Everyone on today’s Vegas Golden Knights roster was somewhere else, a member of a different team, a year ago. But today every member of the Las Vegas team is a character in one of the most remarkable NHL stories the league has ever authored.
The most successful expansion team in NHL history is now the only undefeated team in this season’s playoffs. A 7-0 thumping of the San Jose Sharks in the opening game of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal Thursday gives the Golden Knights a 5-0 post-season record.
The NHL has never witnessed a team like the Golden Knights. They owned the fifth-best record (51-24-7) in the regular-season and now are making the NHL playoff grind look like a stroll down the Vegas strip. Thanks to Fleury’s MVP-like goaltending and a relentless attacking style, the Golden Knights have given up just three goals in five playoff games.
The Golden Knights played their opening game nine days after 58 people were killed in a mass shooting at a popular Las Vegas concert venue. In the pregame ceremony, Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland, a 14-year Las Vegas resident, stood at center ice and thanked the first responders who saved many that night. He said he was proud to be from Las Vegas.
“Vegas strong,” he said in closing.
Some say that was the night Las Vegas fully embraced its team. The strong bond between city and team has undoubtedly been a factor in the team’s success.
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But no person has had a greater impact on the success than general manager George McPhee. He developed the strategy used to build the Golden Knights’ roster. He had the final say on hockey operations. Here are his five best moves he made to develop this team:
1. Making Fleury the Foundation
Fleury is 33, not an ideal age for an expansion team. But McPhee didn’t care because he wanted Fleury for his talent, engaging personality and reputation as one of the league’s best teammates. Fleury has been a perfect fit. He’s the team’s most popular player. He is the marketing department’s dream performer. On the ice, he has been a superstar. In the Golden Knights’ first five playoff games, he owns a 0.54 goals-against average and a .982 save percentage.
2. Hiring Gerard Gallant
With his old school player’s approach, Gallant was the right choice to coach the Golden Knights' patchwork collection of athletes. Players believe in Gallant because he doesn’t play mind games. He’s direct, honest, and understands the game from a player’s perspective. He is former player who thrived in the NHL through grit, guile and hard work. The Golden Knights play hard for Gallant because they respect him.
3. Believing character matters
From the beginning, the Vegas Golden Knights placed as much emphasis on character as they did on skill when evaluating players. McPhee and his staff did their homework about players’ personalities and reputations. They had team chemistry in mind each time they made an expansion draft decision. They never lost sight that they were building a team, not creating a list of players. McPhee assembled a team of players who feel they have something to prove because their former teams let them go. That was by design.
4. Selecting Karlsson
Karlsson, 25, had scored 18 goals in 183 games when McPhee claimed him from the Columbus Blue Jackets. This season he blossomed into a star with the Golden Knights. He netted 42 goals while showcasing a strong two-way playing style. He has five points in the team’s first five postseason games.
5. Striking a balance
The way this team was built proves McPhee believed the team could be competitive immediately. But if you look at all the moves he’s made as a package, you see McPhee had a two-prong plan to compete now and also build for the future. Karlsson is still young. Nate Schmidt is 26. Shea Theodore is 23 and Alex Tuch is 21. He stockpiled draft picks and prospects to help in the future. The Golden Knights already look like a high-functioning organization.
Vegas Golden Knights Insider Gary Lawless shares some notes and quotes from Friday's practice at City National Arena Read More
The Vegas Golden Knights made waves before Game 1 of their first franchise playoff series with an absolutely incredible pregame show, and Twitter took notice. Now, some Golden Knights fans kindly informed me last time around that this is a season-long thing in Vegas, and that it was a spectacle all year, but it's a surreal thing to see every time I see it.
Here are a few samples of what we got on Thursday night before the puck dropped on the Golden Knights' second-round series with the visiting San Jose Sharks.
Another round of pregame festivities in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/mOFoPLlNsD — NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) April 27, 2018
Pregame cosplay in Vegas pic.twitter.com/lSXu3EFxZd — CJ Fogler (@cjzero) April 27, 2018
That actor is the absolute man. He gets into it. And in turn, so do some of the fans.
I don’t care what anyone says I love the Golden Knights’ pregame show. It screams Vegas. — CJ Woodling (@CJWoodling) April 27, 2018
I HOPE EVERYBODY WATCHED THE @GoldenKnights PREGAME FESTIVITIES I'M READY TO FIGHT EVERYTHING. — Miller Lulow (@MLulow88) April 27, 2018
So happy to see @NBCSN FINALLY show our @GoldenKnights 's pregame!!! — Sarah K (@SarahKompare) April 27, 2018
The Vegas Golden Knights pregame is possibly more entertaining than that actual game. — Conor (@TheRealCP22) April 27, 2018
But serious #NHLPlayoffs thoughts: If you aren’t on the @GoldenKnights bandwagon, you crazy. I can’t even with this pregame show. Even @PredsNHL can’t compete at this point.... — Tiffany Langer (@TLanger14) April 27, 2018
Of course, like all (objectively) great things, it had its share of haters.
The pregame before the @GoldenKnights game was excruciating. Like Medieval Times without the chicken leg… or entertainment. — Seth King (@setheking) April 27, 2018
Pregame show?
Lets take the cheesiest Vegas acts and then make them worse: @GoldenKnights — Crispy (@cjbarresi75) April 27, 2018
This @GoldenKnights pregame intro is probably the worst/funniest thing I have ever seen — Sajon (@sajon91) April 27, 2018
Vegas Golden Knights pregame show is like Medieval Times x Girls Show and I’m not NOT here for it. #PlayoffHockey — Rebecca (@BeccaDubow) April 27, 2018
Pregame show for the @GoldenKnights....I can’t. No. — Danielle Marchell (@ddmarchell) April 27, 2018
When it was all said and done, Lee Orchard, the Golden Knight himself, reached out on Twitter to let me know that he's having as much fun as the fans.
@SkiverK9 hey Kevin. Glad you enjoy the pre game show at vgk. I’ve been having so much fun doing it. Thanks for the great words. (I’m the golden knight btw!) go knights go — DJBritlee (@LeeOrchard1) April 27, 2018
Hey, you can say whatever you want about the absurd spectacle, but it gets T-Mobile rocking, and it just oozes Vegas. The Golden Knights have done what everyone doubted and made Las Vegas care about something other than gambling. And even if their arena isn't shy on transplants, it's still predominately gold and black.
After they swept the Kings, the team only got more hype, so there's no question that the place is absolutely rocking. With the Knights jumping out all over the Sharks, the atmosphere in there is completely insane. I attribute part of that to the guy in the knight costume.
