Will the Vegas Golden Knights write another Cinderella story?

Last week the Vegas Golden Knights started their third season in the NHL. They succeeded all expectations in their inaugral season, while last season ended in a surprising and much-discussed anticlimax, when they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team looks stronger and motivated than ever, so the question arises whether they can bounce back this year and go all the way?

Their Cinderella story

Many sports fans are familiar with the fairy tale of the Vegas Golden Knights during their inaugral season in the NHL (2017-2018) as an expansion team. The Vegas Golden Knights were a 500-1 long shot to win the Stanley Cup before their first NHL season began. With a cobbled-together roster of castaway players they almost did what was thought to be impossible, winning the Stanley Cup. They broke multiple records including the record for points by an expansion franchise with 84 and most wins by a team in an inaugural season. In the end they fought their way to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated in five games by the Washington Capitals.

The incredible comeback of the San Jose Sharks

Last season the Golden Knights ended third in the Pacific Division with 93 points and clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive year. Max Pacioretty turned out to be a great new asset to the team during the season. At the 2019 trade deadline Mark Stone was traded to the Golden Knights from the Ottawa Senators and he also proved that he was a reinforcement.

In the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Vegas would play the San Jose Sharks. The team of head coach Gerard Gallant took a comfortable 3-1 lead in the series, but from that point the momenumental comeback of the Sharks began. Both teams needed a decisive Game 7 to find out who'd advance to the second round. The Golden Knights were 3-0 up midway throught the third period in this game when a controversial major penalty call against Cody Eakin became their downfall. After Eakin went to the penalty box, the Sharks scored four goals in four minutes to take a 4-3 lead. Vegas tied the score in the final minute of regulation before Barclay Goodrow won it for San Jose in overtime, which meant that te season of the Golden Knights was over.

New season with high expectations

The Vegas Golden Knights blew a 3-1 series lead and a 3-0 lead in Game 7 against the Sharks last season. They let this series slip out of their hands, but you can count on them to be highly motivated to do better this year. Mark Stone will be there from the start of the season so we may expect even more from him. And in addition, his contract and those of Pacioretty, William Karlsson, Brandon Marchessault , Shea Theodore, Nate Schmidt and Alex Tuch were extended.

Goalie Marc-André Fleury will turn 35 years old later this year and understandably he'll have to get his rest during the regular season from time to time. Malcom Subban wasn't that impressive as Fleury's backup last season and rookie-goalie Garret Sparks struggled most of the time during his rookie season at the Toronto Maple Leafs. So it'll be a tought task for him to improve his level in order to eventually become a worthy backup goalie of Fleury this year.

I'm not sure if they can win the Stanley Cup this year, but getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and become the Western Conference champions again is within their reach. I don't believe the St. Louis Blues can make the same run as last season.and yes, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are talented and have great first goaltenders, but they don't have the experience Fleury has.