(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
Dating back to the first season in 2017-18, in seasons that began in October, the Golden Knights have earned the luxury of starting the new year in 1st or 2nd place every single year, and this year is no different.
This year’s team has been bolstered by overtime losses, but they’ve maintained the franchise’s stranglehold over the Pacific nonetheless.
VGK Record By January 1st
- 2017-18: 54 Points (26-9-2) 1st Pacific
- 2018-19: 52 Points (24-15-4) 2nd Pacific
- 2019-20: 50 Points (22-15-6) 1st Pacific
- 2021-22: 44 Points (22-12-0) 1st Pacific
- 2022-23: 52 Points (25-12-2) 1st Pacific
- 2023-24: 49 Points (22-11-5) 2nd Pacific
- 2024-25: 53 Points (25-9-3) 1st Pacific
- 2025-26: 45 Points (17-10-11) 2nd Pacific
On this January 1st, though, things feel different.
Losses have been more common, the Pacific is competitive, and the West is stacked, at least at the top. Without burying the lede any further, this is the first time a Vegas team hasn’t reached 120 goals or a positive goal differential. The previous lows were 123 goals scored and +9 goal differential by New Year’s Day. This team has 119 goals and a +0 goal differential.
VGK’s Goals Scored By January 1st
- 2017-18: 134 Goals, +26 Goal Differential
- 2018-19: 130 Goals, +15 Goal Differential
- 2019-20: 134 Goals, +9 Goal Differential
- 2021-22: 123 Goals, +21 Goal Differential
- 2022-23: 131 Goals, +20 Goal Differential
- 2023-24: 127 Goals, +21 Goal Differential
- 2024-25: 131 Goals, +29 Goal Differential
- 2025-26: 119 Goals, 0 Goal Differential
Like most clubs, the Golden Knights faced extended injuries to several impact players. However, the wishy-washy results occurred with and without a healthy roster. After October, Vegas allowed the first goal in the majority of games and severely struggled in overtime. Another concern is their inability to beat a quality Western Conference opponent.
A year ago today, the Golden Knights had a 13-2-1 record against the Pacific and a 20-2-2 vs. the West. This season, Vegas is 8-6-6 in the conference and 5-2-4 in the division. It’s rare for the Golden Knights to hand out 24 conference points at this point in the season.
If anyone were to give a standard corporate assessment on the Golden Knights’ season so far, ‘meets expectations’ would be the closest option available, and if there’s a “barely meets,” it’s probably that. Vegas certainly hasn’t ‘exceeded expectations,’ yet they’ve managed to do enough to remain in 2nd place on New Year’s Day.
To stay there, they need to play better in 2026.
Emmanuel
The teams song should be the Smiths “This joke isnt funny anymore”………..
hdbiker7851
We are in serious trouble – it’s by accident we are in 2nd place in the West. You can’t continue losing in reg as one point a game isn’t going to do it. Experience thus far indicates if they don’t win in regulation the probability of them winning in OT or SO is remotely slim to say the least. What is really troubling is they are a better team when they decide they are capable, the Avs game recently showed that. The problem seems as much mental as physical, lack of focus reluctance to use their size to their advantage etc, etc. Their interviews seem to suggest that and what is necessary to fix the situation but there appears to be a disconnect when transferring that to action. Hopefully this upcoming road trip will demonstrate they are the team they are capable of being. Onwar and upward as the window is closing.
Tim
A respected football coach once said You Are What Your Record Says You Are. That kind of says it all. We think we have stars obviously other teams must have better stars,
larry
‘Like most clubs, the Golden Knights faced extended injuries to several impact players. However, the wishy-washy results occurred with and without a healthy roster.’
I totally agree Jason, and have stated that glaring fact here ad nauseum, I dont wish to have to state the obvious, but I guess to post my thoughts here helps to cleanse my soul and mind, and look forward to our next game with the hope things turn out better.
As bad as we may think things are, and im certainly in that category, look at the travails of the Kings, and especially last years President Trophy winners up there in the frozen North, the Jets!!
Pistol Pete
Kings lose in reg to Lightning at home.
Stars lose in reg to Blackhawks in Chicago. Watch out VGK on Sunday. Lots of dangerous teams around the league teams that used to suck. DET in first place. MTL in place even BUF wildcard. NYI and PHI in place.
VGK currently more impacted by injuries than most similar right now to FLA though FLA more all season that is true though Tkachuk is now skating.
Pistol Pete
33 year–old 193 NHL games Jacob Megna recalled from Henderson. Looks like McNabb may be out. Another injury we don’t need. Hopefully Jack plays. This team is hanging by a thread health wise.
Pistol Pete
All teams have injuries but for the last few games Eichel, Theodore and now perhaps McNabb have brought the key player count to five. That has got to be close to league leading and to think they did as well as they did against the Avs missing four key players scoring five ES goals.
TS
Well, CRAP!!!!
. Of all our players, McNabb has been the most consistent..has he EVER been out with injury before now? To add insult to injury, this ruins his VGK record of 300 straight games. What a loss for the team
. Looks like most of the veterans are out at the same time– could not get any worse, unless Stone gets hurt, too.
I am resigned to the idea of a losing season and possibly missing the Playoffs. We simply cannot win them ALL. We aren’t going to be Top Dog EVERY year. Not gonna win the CUP just because we all want it.
I’m realistic.
And that’s okay.
I will always support our homegrown Knights, always be extremely PROUD of that coveted CUP we won in record time.
Every team has down years, rebuilding years, losing years. THAT IS THE WAY IN SPORTS!!!
TS
Well, CRAP!!!!
. Of all our players, McNabb has been the most consistent..has he EVER been out with injury before now? To add insult to injury, this ruins his VGK record of 300 straight games. What a loss for the team
. Looks like most of the veterans are out at the same time– could not get any worse, unless Stone gets hurt, too.
I am resigned to the idea of a losing season and possibly missing the Playoffs. We simply cannot win them ALL. We aren’t going to be Top Dog EVERY year. Not gonna win the CUP just because we all want it.
I’m realistic.
And that’s okay.
I will always support our homegrown Knights, always be extremely PROUD of that coveted CUP we won in record time.
Every team has down years, rebuilding years, losing years. THAT IS THE WAY IN SPORTS!!!
Think this way: we could be the RAIDERS!!!!
TS
Oops, Sorry about the repost…i’m not trying to repeat myself!
JB
Well, the dad’s trip starts today. We have been extremely successful on these trips. Boy do we need it now! Come boys let’s go!
Pistol Pete
No Eichel unless changes by game time. Heaven help us. Amazing such a good game vs. Avs with Marner as top line center. McNabb listed to play. We’ll see.
Golden Knights projected lineup:
Ivan Barbashev — Mitch Marner — Mark Stone
Pavel Dorofeyev — Tomas Hertl — Alexander Holtz
Reilly Smith — Brett Howden — Braeden Bowman
Brandon Saad — Colton Sissons — Keegan Kolesar
Brayden McNabb — Kaedan Korczak
Noah Hanifin — Ben Hutton
Jeremy Lauzon — Zach Whitecloud
Carter Hart
Akira Schmid
Scratched: Cole Reinhardt
Injured: Jack Eichel (undisclosed), Adin Hill (lower body), William Karlsson (lower body), Shea Theodore (upper body)
knights fan in minny
Is Reinhart in the doghouse or what I saw nothing wrong with this play he hustled he worked hard he threw his weight around he got to the net a few times
Larry
I’m sorry….. but….. THAT is one scary lineup…. sadly not in a flattering way…. I’ll be at work during the game so will have to rely on KEN and everyone here for a recap until I can watch on replay….if there is a reason to !