Golden Knights 3, Capitals 0: 3 Takeaways

The magic carpet ride the Golden Knights have been on isn't over just yet. If anything, after nights like tonight, it seems to have only just begun.
Facing the two-time defending Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, the Golden Knights were in control all night. Within three minutes Vegas led 1-0, it was 3-0 at the end of the first period and Washington never got back in the game as the Golden Knights won 3-0.
With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 23-9-2, completing their five-game homestand with a record of 4-0-1. They are now in first place in the entire Western Conference.
Not to mention, it was also goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's first career shutout as a Golden Knight.
Here are three immediate takeaways from tonight's game.

1. Blitzed From The Start

It's been a theme for the Golden Knights this season. Especially at home: Scoring goals early.
And lots of them.
Alex Tuch got Vegas off to the races just 2:37 into the first period. It was the seventh time in the Golden Knights 18 home games that they scored in the first 10 minutes of the game. They've won all seven.

Within the next 12:18, Vegas got goals from Oscar Lindberg and William Karlsson and led 3-0.
Along with the goals, the Golden Knights got 10 of the game's first 12 shots, and the pressure they put on the Capitals in the first period was relentless. Washington played much better the rest of the night, but falling behind 3-0 early was just too large of a hole.
2. On The Marc

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury didn't play a single game between October 13 and December 12 after sustaining a concussion in the fourth game of the season.
Since returning from IR, Fleury has been so far beyond what could've been reasonably expected of him. He stopped all 26 shots tonight against the Capitals, running his record to 3-0-1 since returning to the lineup. His three wins have come against Eastern Conference powers Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington.
How impressive that is for a goalie who was expected to be one of the faces of this team almost speaks for itself.

3. Heading To The Holidays

When the Golden Knights took the ice against the Carolina Hurricanes on December 12, it was the start of a five-game homestand. A tough homestand, too. Every opponent was coming in from the Eastern Conference. Several of the teams are considered league powers.
By winning tonight, the Golden Knights finished 4-0-1 on the homestand. Vegas is now 8-0-1 in its last nine games and hasn't lost in regulation since December 1.
The Golden Knights are now 23-9-2. Vegas has the best record in the Western Conference heading into its three-day holiday break.
At the very worst, the Golden Knights will be second in the conference.
When this season started, the thought of many was that the momentum that came from the Golden Knights' 8-1-0 start would eventually fade. And it still may.
But despite a few hiccups, Vegas seems to be picking up steam, rather than losing it.
Christmas Miracle?
Perhaps that's a little strong.
For now, Vegas will settle for just being the absolute surprise story of the 2017-18 NHL season.