The Vegas Golden Knights swept the Los Angeles Kings in their first ever playoff series. Marc-Andre Fleury, the Knights’ goaltender, played spectacular and shut the Kings out twice during the four games of the series. In those four games, Fleury had only 3 total goals against and posted a remarkable .977 save percentage and an outstanding 0.65 goals against average. The Golden Knights will play the San Jose Sharks who, in the first round, swept the Anaheim Ducks.
Although the Knights swept the Kings, the series was closer than the record indicates. In fact, every game was decided by only 1 goal. In front of a very excited and enthusiastic crowd, the Golden Knights began the series with a 1-0 defeat of the Kings. The only goal was scored by Shea Theodore 3:23 seconds into the game. Fleury made 30 save in game 1. In game 2, the Golden Knights’ Alex Tuch scored a power play goal to take a 1-0 lead in the first period. However, the Paul LaDue scored for the Los Angeles to tie the game in the second period. The game remained tied through overtime until Erik Haula scored 15:23 into double overtime for the Knights. Johnathan Quick saved 54 shots the Kings’ loss in game 2. Alex Iafalla of the Kings scored first in the first game in LA during the first period, and the Kings held their lead until 6:10 into the third period when Cody Eakin tied the game at 1. Less than ten minutes later, the Golden Knights scored twice within a minute to lead the game 3-1. James Neal scored the first of those two goals, and William Karlsson, who led the Knights’ in goals this season, scored the second. The Anze Kopitar, the Kings’ captain, scored while his team was empty net, but the Knights held on to win game 3 3-2. No goals were scored in the first period of the fourth and final game. Former LA King Brayden McNabb scored the only goal of the game 4:04 into the second period. Fleury stopped all 31 shots taken at him in game 4 for his second shut out of the season. The Golden Knights became the first ever expansion team to advance without a loss.
The San Jose Sharks also swept their opponent in the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first two games were played in Anaheim. Evander Kane opened the scoring in game 1 in the second period on a power play. Later on in the period, Kane scored his second goal of the game to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead. Brent Burns scored for the Sharks shortly after to take a 3-0 lead. No goals were scored during the third. Martin Jones had 25 saves, Evander Kane scored twice, and Joe Pavelski had two assists in the Sharks’ 3-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks. Jakob Silfverbeg scored for Anaheim 40 seconds into the game to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Although the Ducks got off to a fast start, Marcus Sorensen tied the game at 1. The Sharks scored again in the first to take a 2-1 lead over the Ducks. The Sharks’ second goal was scored by Logan Couture on the power play. Tomas Hertl scored only 1:11 into the second to extend the Sharks’ lead to 3-1. Hampus Lindholm scored on the power play for the Ducks to cut the Sharks’ lead in half. The Sharks held on to win 3-2 as no goals were scored in the last period. After two games in Anaheim, the Sharks headed home with a 2-0 series lead. At home in San Jose, the Sharks unleashed their offensive power. Logan Courture gave the Sharks the lead 3:44 seconds into the game. Rickard Rakell tied the game at 1 on a power play with less than eighth minutes remaining in the first period. Joonis Donskoi scored 1:15 into the second period to give the Sharks back the lead. Marcus Sorensen scored less than two and a half minutes later extending San Jose’s lead to 3-1. Later on in the period, Eric Fehr scored and Tomas Hertl scored on the power play to give San Jose a 5-1 lead over Anaheim at the end of the second. The Sharks would score three more goals all on the power play in the third period. Joe Pavelski, Evander Kane, and Timo Meier were the goal scorers in the final period of the Sharks’s 8-1 destruction of the Anaheim Ducks. Martin Jones stopped 45 of 46 shots in game 3. Game 4 was a much closer game than the previous one. Marcus Sorensen scored the only goal in the opening period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. This lead the Sharks held until Andrew Cogliano scored for the Ducks in the third to tie the game 1-1. Tomas Hertl scored 10:51 remaining in the game. The Ducks, although only down by 1 with half a period to go, were not able to score again, and the Sharks held on to win the game 2-1 and the series 4-0. Martin Jones stopped 30 shots in the final game. Led by Pavelski, Kane, Sorensen, and Jones, the Sharks swept the Anaheim Ducks and will be headed to Vegas to take on the Golden Knights, who continue to make history game by game.
Vegas Golden Knights VS San Jose Sharks Prediction:
The Golden Knights played the Sharks four time doing the regular. The Knights won the first meeting between them 5-4 in overtime and the second game 5-3. The Sharks won the third game 2-1 in overtime, and the Knights won the final game 3-2.
Game 1 – The Vegas Golden Knights have the most enthusiastic crowd in the NHL. During the season, the Golden Knights posted a 29-10-2 home record which was tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second in the league. I think they will open up the series with a win in the front of their fans. Although the Sharks have a strong offense, the Golden Knights have a good defense and an outstanding goaltender to defend against any scoring chances the Sharks get. I think Marc-Andre Fleury will continue to make spectacular saves at key moments. Prediction: Golden Knights win 3-0.
Game 2 – I think game 2 will be a battle of two terrific goaltenders. Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks had a .970 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average during the Sharks’ first round series. During the Knights’ first round series, Marc-Andre Fleury posted a .977 save percentage and 0.65 goals against average. Also, Martin Jones had 1 shut out and allowed only 4 goals, and Fleury had 2 shut outs and allowed only 3 goals through the first round of the playoffs. Prediction: Golden Knights win 1-0 in overtime.
Game 3 – The first game of the series in San Jose should be a good one and could go either way. Prediction: I think the that the Sharks will score early in the first period and hold that lead until the Knights score in the third to tie the game at 1. Late in the third period, the Golden Knights will score the go ahead goal. Golden Knights win 2-1.
Game 4 – Down 0-3 the San Jose Shark will be desperate and play their absolute hardest. Prediction: No goals are scored in the first. San Jose scores twice in the second to take a 2-0 lead heading into the third. The Golden Knight score in the middle of the third to cut the Sharks’ lead in half. While empty net, the Knights score again to tie the game and bring it to overtime. Both teams have opportunities to score in overtime, but the goaltenders continue their outstanding play and shuts down all the chances at the game winning goal. In the middle of double overtime, the Golden Knights score to win the game 3-2.
Golden Knights sweep Sharks 4-0 and remain unbeaten in the playoffs.
featured image by clyde
photo by Dinur
