Vegas Golden Knights have won the Western Conference to reach the Stanley Cup finals in their debut season
A team of "misfits" given odds of 500-1 to win the title at the start of their debut season are on the verge of making history after reaching the NHL finals in their inaugural campaign.
The Vegas Golden Knights completed a 4-1 series victory over the Winnipeg Jets to become the first expansion team in 50 years to reach the Stanley Cup finals in their first season.
The Knights are Las Vegas' first major professional sports team and were awarded a franchise in June 2016 after owner Bill Foley paid a $500m (£403m) expansion fee to the NHL.
They won their inaugural game on 6 October 2017, five days after a gunman opened fire at a Las Vegas country music concert, killing 58 and injuring 489.
"It means a lot to us," said defenseman Deryk Engelland. "This is what you play for all season.
"After 1 October, those first games, you want to play for the city, the people that were affected by it. To make this run, win this series and move on, it's awesome for us, but it all comes back to the city and the people affected by that."
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury added: "I think as a team, we couldn't heal anybody. But if we could just change their mind a bit throughout those first few weeks and throughout the season, getting them to be proud of the team, cheering for something, we were able to provide a little bit of that for Vegas."
The Knights' team is made up of players deemed expendable by their former clubs, picked up at the 2017 Expansion Draft. They have been labelled the "Golden Misfits" by some of the players.
Head coach Gerard Gallant was fired by the Florida Panthers the previous season after an away defeat and was reported to have had to get his own taxi back to the airport.
"Each guy was given a new chance and opportunity here," said Knights forward James Neal. "[Gallant] gave you that opportunity and let you work with it. He's just positive, the perfect coach for our group."
They will play either the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Washington Capitals in the best-of-seven series final.
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Analysis
BBC Sport ice hockey commentator Seth Bennett
The Golden Knights have been the sporting feel good story that has kept giving all season long.
As the first top-flight professional sports team to make Las Vegas their home, they have very quickly become a focal point of the community.
Following the massacre in Las Vegas last October, the Golden Knights took a leading role in supporting the city before they had even played their first game.
It is a role the franchise has continued to embrace and the Las Vegas community, the majority of whom live away from the bright lights of the casinos and the strip, have embraced them right back.
The longest of long shots when the 2017-18 NHL season started eight months ago, the expansion Vegas Golden Knights are now four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season.
The Golden Knights eliminated the Winnipeg Jets with a 2-1 road victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final Sunday afternoon to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas, which is a league-best 12-3 in the playoffs, will face either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Washington Capitals in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning lead that best-of-seven 3-2 with Game 6 to be played Monday in Washington.
GOLDEN STANDARD
How Vegas became the most successful expansion team in sports history
Rugged fourth liner Ryan Reaves -- acquired by Vegas from the two-time defending Cup champion Penguins at the trade deadline -- scored the series-deciding goal late in the second period for the Golden Knights, who received a 31-save effort from Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes. Alex Tuch also scored for Vegas, which never trailed in Game 5 en-route to winning it's fourth straight game against the Jets after dropping the series opener.
The Jets, who received a sterling 30-save performance from Connor Hellebuyck in goal -- seemed to run out of steam as the game progressed, finding it extremely difficult to break through the stout defense of Vegas, particularly in the third period.
Winnipeg's only goal came off the stick of defenseman Josh Morrissey in the first period.
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Jets vs. Golden Knights Live Updates
Third Period
5:45 It's over! Vegas is heading to the Stanley Cup Final! Golden Knights win 2-1
Engelland takes off with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. pic.twitter.com/3xPc9h5nsS — NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 20, 2018
5:43 Hellebuyck heads to bench with 1:25 to play. Jets not able to set up in offensive zone even with extra attacker.
5:41 Blake Wheeler robbed by outstretched right pad of Fleury. Under 4 minutes to play.
5:40 Laine long backhander deflected, sharp save by Fleury. Under 5 minutes to play.
5:38 Tuch to David Perron in all alone, pad save by Hellebuyck. 6 minutes to play.
5:34 William Karlsson backhand from low slot, great save by Hellebuyck. 8 minutes to play.
5:32 Halfway through the third period, Vegas still up by one and limiting Winnipeg's scoring chances.
5:23 Huge Hellebuyck save on Reilly Smith as Vegas ramps up pressure. Morrissey slow to bench after collision with Tuch.
5:17 Great save up high by Fleury at end of Jets power play on Kyle Connor snap shot. Jets now 0-for-4 on power play.
5:16 After Laine misses the net -- again -- on blast, Vegas d-man Nate Schmidt the other way with in-tight shorthanded scoring chance.
5:15 Great effort by Trouba taking puck to net, diving Fleury keeps puck out of cage, but Vegas takes slashing minor. Early third period power play for Jets 45 seconds in.
5:14 Puck dropped. Is this the last period of the 2018 Western Conference Final?
5:10 Pretty loose, eh?
Second Period
4:53 Horn sounds. Vegas is 20 minutes of hockey away from a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Shots are 24-23 Jets. Golden Knights lead 2-1
4:51 Jets with good zone time, but great defense by Vegas closing the lanes. Winnipeg 0-for-3 on power play
4:46 Winnipeg power play coming up at 16:03 Tomas Nosek for tripping.
4:42 Vegas gets a goal from the 4th line. Ryan Reaves on the deflection of Luca Sbisa shot and it goes bar down behind Hellebuyck at 13:21. Golden Knights lead 2-1
Ryan Reaves with the redirection 👀 @GoldenKnights take a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/7CwEI5xnmY — Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 20, 2018
4:38 Jacob Trouba shot, Mathieu Perrault deflection, Fleury alert save.
4:35 Jets power play is over. Like Vegas, Winnipeg is 0-for-2. Again, some good looks, but Fleury sharp -- plus missed shots aplenty.
4:30 Alex Tuch trips Kulikov at 9:01. Second Jets power play.
4:29 Interesting note:
Second time this game Fleury has reached back towards some kind of annoyance in upper left leg/hip — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 20, 2018
4:28 Game opening up, chances at both ends until Hellebuyck covers after second straight save on Shea Thodore.
4:24 Terrific PK by the Jets. Vegas now 0-for-2 on power play.
4:22 Kulikov heading to the box for elbowing at 3:51. Second Vegas power play.
4:21 Marchessault line creating havoc, Hellebuyck in perfect position to gobble up Marchessault blast.
4:17 Now, a crazy, scrambling save along goal line and off post by Hellebuyck at other end of the ice
4:16 What a wicked rising snap shot by Mark Scheifele -- fought off by Fleury, barely -- just 30 seconds into the period.
4:15 Puck dropped and second period is underway.
First Period
3:56 Horn sounds. Scrum along the boards by penalty boxes. No penalties called. Shots are 12-8 Jets. Game Tied 1-1
3:52 On cue: Jets score and tie the game. Bryan Little wins faceoff in offensive zone and Josh Morrissey hammers slap shot past Fleury at 17:14. That is his first career postseason goal. Game Tied 1-1
Winnipeg responds!
Josh Morrissey 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/OKiIwDnLhe — Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 20, 2018
3:51 Jets have turned the tide of the period. Still down by one, but have recorded last six shots on goal.
3:46 Jets have several good looks, miss the net on two of them. Power play is over.
3:42 On delayed penalty, Byfuglien weaves his way in untouched, but Fleury makes pad save. Jets power play at 12:47.
3:39 Joe Morrow -- back in Jets lineup today -- had now delivered big hits on each of his last three shifts, making presence felt.
3:38 Offensive faceoff win by Jets and Byfuglien snaps one on goal. Good save by Fleury.
3:32 Golden Knights are 8-1 in the playoffs when scoring first goal. They keep up the pressure here, Hellebuyck two big sames, latest on Reilly Smith.
3:29 Deflected puck comes to Alex Tuch in the slot. He spins around and scores sixth goal at 5:11. Golden Knights lead 1-0
Alex Tuch and the @GoldenKnights strike first, Vegas leads 1-0. pic.twitter.com/SBQefXZRqX — Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 20, 2018
3:28 Dmitry Kulikov, veteran d-man, returning from injury and makes 2018 playoff debut, out there helping Jets kill that Vegas power play.
3:25 Golden Knights receive game's first power play at 2:43. Dustin Byfuglien to the box.
3:20 Puck dropped and away we go. Deafening crowd at game's start in Winnipeg.
Pregame
2:55 Nerves? Patrik Laine seems just fine actually.
2:48
LINES: Based on pre-game warm-up, here are today's lines for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. pic.twitter.com/ElDki6FPfx — Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) May 20, 2018
2:30 Warmups underway in the 'Peg. Whiteout on full display. Connor Hellebuyck in goal for the Jets. Marc-Andre Fleury for the Golden Knights.
Easy to spot these fans in a whiteout 👏 pic.twitter.com/duKBaHgnqS — Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 20, 2018
🎥 Coach Gallant: Sure, we're in a good position, but that doesn't mean a thing. You have to win four games in a series and today's another game.
Let's go play and have fun and see what happens. pic.twitter.com/KdA1oNCV6y — Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 20, 2018
WINNIPEG — When he was 15 years old in Winnipeg, Ryan Reaves was at least as good at football as he was at hockey and was leaning towards following his famous father, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber running back Willard Reaves, on to the gridiron.
But at a spring bantam hockey tournament, Reaves somehow tore ligaments in his knee while shaking hands after a game. He could have had no idea as he lay on the ice at old Dutton Memorial Arena, next to the Red River, that this inexplicable slip would alter the course of his professional life.
He missed the entire fall football season and when the Brandon Wheat Kings drafted him into the Western Hockey League, Reaves figured he better play hockey instead.
“And that brings us here,” Reaves, 31, said Sunday.
Yes, here.
Reaves scored the goal in his hometown that knocked the Winnipeg Jets out of the National Hockey League playoffs and lifted the miraculous Vegas Golden Knights into the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.
A healthy scratch for most of the playoffs’ first two rounds, Reaves had not scored a goal since Feb. 15, since before he was acquired by the Knights from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the NHL trade deadline. But at 13:21 of the second period, he deflected in from the high slot Luca Sbisa’s point shot to send Vegas towards a 2-1 victory and five-game trouncing of the ridiculously heavily-favoured Jets.
Let me repeat: Ryan Reaves scored the winner from Luca Sbisa to put the Golden Knights, which did not have a roster this time last year, into the Stanley Cup Final.
“If that (injury) didn’t happen, I probably would have made the decision to play football,” Reaves said. “But I missed the football season and that was that.”
This is a true story. And so are the Knights, who have become one of the most improbable team success stories of our time, building a 51-win, 109-point regular season with players deemed expendable by other NHL teams, then tearing through the Western Conference playoffs with a 12-3 record.
Of those 15 games, they were the favourites in zero of them.
The oldest Knight, 36-year-old Deryk Engelland, held aloft the Clarence Campbell trophy just seven months after holding a microphone at centre ice in Las Vegas and promising fans that their new team would do everything it could to help the city heal after the Oct. 1 murder of 58 concert-goers there.
They have spectacularly over-delivered.
“It’s a crazy story, but we’re not done,” Sbisa said. “We had a really good start to the year and we just kept going. We went down to our fifth goalie and kept winning.
“A lot of guys have been in the league a lot of years and never been this close (to a Stanley Cup). To do this as an expansion team… it’s crazy. But we deserve it. Why not? A lot of people keep saying we’re going to lose. But we never once think about what they’re saying; we think about us. It’s been a fun ride, but we’re not done.”
After rolling through the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks and the Jets, the Knights will play either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Washington Capitals for the Stanley Cup.
“I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough to say exactly how (this happened),” Knights’ forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said. “It’s a big credit to the people who created this entire organization a year before we even got picked. They did all the work to make us feel like, as soon as we put a step in Vegas, we felt like home. We felt welcome.
“They were clear … about how we have to play if we want to be successful. I feel like every guy has understood that and played a role in that. When you have 20 guys or more that understand their role and play only for the team, it’s a successful team even if we don’t have the biggest superstar in the league. Besides our goalie.”
The goalie is Marc-Andre Fleury, who won three Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh but was tossed to the Knights in the expansion draft last June after losing his starting job. He stopped 31 of 32 shots on Sunday, improving his playoff save percentage to .947 and goals-against average to 1.68.
If the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded today, Fleury wins in a landslide.
Nobody needs the rest the Knights have earned this week more than Fleury, who appeared to suffer some discomfort in his leg or hip making a save on Sunday. And no team needs one player in these playoffs more than the Knights need Fleury.
“He’s our line leader,” defenceman Nate Schmidt said. “And he’s showing us the way home.”
Line leader?
“You ever have that in grade school, where one person leads the line?” Schmidt explained. “Like: ‘Who’s going to lunch?’”
Or who’s going to the Stanley Cup?
You won’t believe the answer.
“Everybody on this team has something to prove,” Reaves said. “We call ourselves the Golden Misfits for a reason. We’re doing a good job of proving everybody wrong.”
If there’s one thing that irks Don Cherry more than most, it’s what he perceives has unnecessary brashness from players on the ice.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been on a tear this post-season with four shutouts in the playoffs, so you can probably forgive him feeling as confident as he has.
To Cherry, however, despite how well he’s performed, Fleury needs to be taken down a few pegs.
“This guy is so cocky, he’s making saves, putting the puck to the defenceman,” Cherry said during Coach’s Corner Sunday, referencing a save Fleury made wherein it looked like he purposely deflected the puck out to one of his teammates. “He does this on purpose. That’s how cocky he is. You’ve gotta get a goal on him and you’ve gotta tear the back of the net out.”
In fairness, Cherry isn’t actually saying this is Fleury’s fault, but is getting on his case because he wants to see the Winnipeg Jets succeed.
“I’m not against Fleury and the whole deal, but we’re in Canada and we’ve gotta win for Canada.”
Too bad for Cherry, though, as Fleury’s Golden Knights ended up making short work of Winnipeg, beating the Jets 2-1 in Game 5 Sunday to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
