Having won its last nine in a row, the Golden Knights became the first team in the NHL to reach 70 points this season.
Vegas is first in wins, first in points and first in points percentage.
Statistically Vegas is a monster right now:
1st in wins
1st in points
1st in record (points percentage)
1st in GA/GP
1st in goal differential
1st in team save percentage
1st in penalty kill percentage
3rd in shots against/GP
1st in OT record (6-0)
1st when leading after 1 period (19-2-0, .905)
1st when trailing after 2 (5-8-1, .357)
1st in blocked shots/60
2nd fewest giveaways/60
3rd fewest minor penalties
All of this is great but unfortunately guarantees nothing. The Golden Knights are in a battle for first in the West Division leading the Colorado Avalanche by four points but the team from Denver has two games in hand and a much easier schedule down the stretch.
The Avs play seven of their final 11 games against all but eliminated LA and San Jose. Vegas plays one more game against the Sharks and the other eight matches are against teams still in the playoff hunt including a pair vs. the Avalanche.
Meeting Mattias: Newcomer Mattias Janmark has fit in seamlessly with the Golden Knights and helped transform the club from top heavy to owning a formidable top nine forward group.
The third line in Vegas has been a question mark for much of this season but no longer. Alex Tuch is having a brilliant campaign but he's done a lot of that work on the third line alone. The late season surge of center Tomas Nosek and the addition of Janmark gives Pete DeBoer a lot of options down in his lineup. Janmark has a goal and two assists in six games with Vegas. Janmark comes as advertised - smart and fast. He plays in the middle of the ice, finishes checks and extends plays. He's not a one and done guy in the offensive zone. He holds the pucks and has offensive patience.
Awards watch: Goalies Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner are in the league for the Jennings Trophy which goes to the tandem with the best goals-against in the NHL.
Mark Stone is second in the NHL in takeaways, is an elite penalty killer and is the best player on the stingiest team in the NHL. He should be a lock for the Selke and if he's the best player on the best team in the NHL, doesn't he deserve some consideration for the Hart Trophy?
DeBoer coaches the team with the most wins and most points in the NHL and as such should be a contender for coach of the year.
Shea Theodore now has 40 points which puts him just two points off the scoring lead in the NHL among defenseman. He's also a top minute getter on the team which allows the fewest goals in the NHL. Sounds like a pretty good argument for the Norris Trophy.
