The Vegas Golden Knights have created memory after memory since joining the NHL at the start of the 2017-18 season. While the first half of that season saw the Golden Knights take the league by storm, fans can look back on the entirety of 2018 with pride. Key moments stand out in 2018 for the Golden Knights as they experienced highs and lows in their first full calendar year as the first major professional sports franchise in Las Vegas.
Jan. 2, 2018 - Vegas opened the new year with a 3-0 victory against the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena. Reilly Smith, Shea Theodore and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Golden Knights while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 28 shots that came his way.
Jan. 23, 2018 - William Karlsson scored two goals against his former team as the Golden Knights doubled up the Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-3, at T-Mobile Arena. Brad Hunt led the team in scoring with one goal and two assists in the game.
Feb. 1, 2018 - The Golden Knights topped the Winnipeg Jets in overtime, 3-2, to break the record for wins in an inaugural season with 34.
2018 Year In Review
Feb. 21, 2018 - A 7-3 win against the Calgary Flames gave the Golden Knights 84 points - the most by any team in an inaugural season in NHL history. The win also set the record for most home wins by a first-year team (23).
Feb. 23, 2018 - The Golden Knights sent a 2018 fourth round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Ryan Reaves.
March 12, 2018 - Marc-Andre Fleury became the 13th goalie in NHL history to win 400 games as he backstopped the Golden Knights to a 3-2 win in Philadelphia.
March 18, 2018 - A natural hat trick from Karlsson lifted Vegas to a 4-0 win against Calgary on home ice.
March 31, 2018 - The iconic through-the-legs goal from Karlsson helped the Golden Knights defeat the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, to clinch the Pacific Division title.
April 11, 2018 - In the first playoff game in franchise history, Theodore buried the only goal of the contest as the Golden Knights picked up a 1-0 series lead against the Los Angeles Kings.
April 17, 2018 - Another 1-0 win completed a first-round sweep of the Kings for the Golden Knights as they became the third team from the NHL, NBA and MLB to sweep its first playoff series in franchise history.
May 6, 2018 - Goals from Marchessault, Nate Schmidt and Cody Eakin powered Vegas to a victory in game six against the San Jose Sharks as the Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final.
May 20, 2018 - Reaves' goal in the second period was the difference as the Golden Knights notched a 2-1 win in game five of the Western Conference Final against the Winnipeg Jets to move on to the Stanley Cup Final.
May 28, 2018 - The Golden Knights defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-4, in game one of the Stanley Cup Final. Though Vegas would go on to lose the series in five games, the Golden Knights treated their fans to an inaugural season like no other.
June 20, 2018 - Four members of the Golden Knights organization were honored at the 2018 NHL Awards. Karlsson won the Lady Byng trophy as the most gentlemanly player in the league, Deryk Engelland was recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award, Gerard Gallant claimed the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year and George McPhee was named the general manager of the year.
June 23, 2018 - Vegas picked eight new prospects in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Ivan Morozov (61st overall), Slava Demin (99th overall), Paul Cotter (115th overall), Brandon Kruse (135th overall), Connor Corcoran (154th overall), Peter Diliberatore (180th overall), Xavier Bouchard (185th overall) and Jordan Kooy (208th overall) were selected by the Golden Knights.
July 1, 2018 - The Golden Knights landed one of the most sought-after free agents of the summer when they signed Paul Stastny to a three-year contract. McPhee also signed defenseman Nick Holden and re-signed Reaves.
Sept. 10, 2018 - McPhee made a blockbuster trade with the Montreal Canadiens as he brought forward Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights. Pacioretty signed a four-year extension with Vegas through the 2022-23 season the next day.
Oct. 6, 2018 - After dropping the first game of the 2018-19 season at home to the Flyers, the Golden Knights notched their first win of the new season with a 2-1 shootout win in Minnesota.
Oct. 28, 2018 - With the game on his stick in overtime, Marchessault wristed a shot by Craig Anderson on a penalty shot to give the Golden Knights a thrilling 4-3 win at home against the Ottawa Senators.
Nov. 3, 2018 - Fleury posted his 50th career shutout as Vegas blanked Carolina, 3-0.
Nov. 23-24, 2018 - Fleury recorded back-to-back shutouts as the Golden Knights knocked off the Calgary Flames, 2-0, and the San Jose Sharks, 6-0, on consecutive days at T-Mobile Arena. Fans enjoyed a dozen free doughnuts for each of the shutouts, courtesy of Krispy Kreme.
Nov. 27, 2018 - The Golden Knights set a new franchise record for goals in a single game as they topped the Chicago Blackhawks, 8-3, at United Center.
Dec. 4, 2018 - Schmidt scored the go-ahead goal for the Golden Knights with less than two minutes to play as they avenged their Stanley Cup Final loss to the Washington Capitals in a 5-3 triumph at home.
Dec. 29-30, 2018 - Vegas stormed through the final weekend of 2018 with back-to-back victories against the Kings (4-1) and the Coyotes (5-1) with the players' dads in attendance on the second annual fathers trip.
