The Vegas Golden Knights were not only the top story in the NHL last season. They were a top story across the entire sports
landscape
Womens Esa Lindell Jersey , and arguably the history of all sports.Now, the expansion team from a year ago has the main objective of avoiding a hangover
from their magical season, which extended all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals
against the Washington Capitals.Article continues below ...Their second season
starts Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at the T-Mobile Arena in
Las Vegas. The Golden Knights go into the season full of expectations, and they
must do so after settling on new talent because of free agency and trades.“It’s
not like the situation we had last year,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. “It’s
a whole different scenario.”Veteran goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury, whose
efficiency sparked the Golden Knights last season, added, “I think there’s more
expectations from the players, the staff and the fans.“I think everybody expects
us to do as well. At the same time, though
Jamie Benn Jersey , if you want to have success, we can’t be thinking about all that stuff (from last season). You’ve just got to be worrying about playing
your game the way you can and success will come.”Can Vegas continue its
production from last season? Twelve returning players set NHL highs for points
in 2017-18, including the top line of William Karlsson (78), Jonathan
Marchessault (75) and Reilly Smith (60). Second-line forward Erik Haula (55) and
defensemen Colin Miller (41), Nate Schmidt (36), Shea Theodore (29) and Deryk
Engelland (23) are also included on that list.Fleury’s 2.24 goals-against
average and .927 save percentage were the best of his 14 NHL seasons.The second
line has new faces with the Golden Knights signing center Paul Stastny and
acquiring right wing Max Pacioretty in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens
during the offseason. They replace forwards David Perron and James Neal, who
left in free agency.Perron led Vegas in assists last season with 50 and Neal
scored 25 goals.The Flyers, who lost in the opening round of the Stanley Cup
playoffs to Pittsburgh, were one of the youngest teams in the league last
season, but that youthful talent was significant to their success.Travis
Konecny
http://www.starsshoponline.com/authentic-jason-spezza-jersey , 21, is one of the team’s top players and will join captain Claude Giroux and
Selke finalist Sean Couturier on the first line. Nolan Patrick is part of a
formidable line that includes Wayne Simmonds and Jacob Voracek.One of the main
objectives for Flyers coach Dave Hakstol is deciding on the vacant third-line
center role that was occupied last season by Valtteri Filppula, who signed with
the New York Islanders.Jordan Weal and Scott Laughton are top candidates. Weal
is playing at his original position after skating on a wing in recent years.
Laughton may open against the Golden Knights on left wing if he does not play in
the middle.“I think playing in the league a couple years now, I kind of have
more confidence with the puck,” Laughton said. “I work with an elite skills
coach back home and try to work on the little things that I wouldn’t work on — a
lot of stuff with your head up. “Goaltending remains a major concern for the
Flyers. The tandem of oft-injured Michal Neuvirth and Brian Elliott was ranked
in the bottom 10 of the NHL last year in save percentage. Elliott posted a .909
save percentage in the last two seasons, and Neuvirth has been at .912 when
healthy. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A year after an appearance in the Stanley Cup
Final, the Nashville Predators have been hard at work preparing for the
postseason.It’s just a happy byproduct that they’ve matched the NHL’s longest
winning streak this season in the process.Austin Watson scored a short-handed
goal late in the second period and the Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on
Thursday night to extend their franchise-record run to 10 games.The Predators
also matched Colorado for the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. The
victory kept Nashville’s edge at six points ahead of Winnipeg and Vegas for the
Western Conference lead.”We’re focused on the process and what we need to do to
be ready come playoff time,” Predators center Ryan Johansen said. ”We’re just
taking it day-by-day and looking at our team game and what we can always be
improving on and these wins are obviously nice as they keep coming along.”Pekka
Rinne made 31 saves to improve to 18-1-1 over his last 20 games.Johansen had a
goal and an assist and also fought with Ducks center Ryan Kesler.”What did he
have, a fight
John Klingberg Jersey , a goal and an assist?” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. ”That’s old school.”
