The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ 2023-2024 season ended abruptly at the hands of the Dallas Stars, sending shockwaves through the fanbase. Now that we’ve had some time to digest, here are the season’s best and worst moments.
Best: Las Vegas Golden Knights win the first seven games of the season
The Las Vegas Golden Knights needed to make a statement after winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. One that proved what they accomplished last year wasn’t a fluke and that they were becoming a dynasty.
The Golden Knights sent fans’ hopes soaring when they won their first seven games of the year by 28-10. These include victories over the Kraken, Ducks, Blackhawks, and Flyers. A lot of these wins were also lopsided.
For example, they beat the Sharks and Ducks 4-1. The Dallas Stars were the first team to try to unseat the champions but fell 3-2. This game also came down to a shootout between the two sides, which put the Golden Knights back against the wall. Jonathan Marchessault changed that, however, after he got the puck past the goalie for another victory.
Worst: Golden Knights take their first loss to the Chicago Blackhawks
Nothing hurts quite as much as a team’s first loss of the season, and the Las Vegas Golden Knights experienced that on October 27, 2023, in a 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks. William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, and Pavel Dorofeyev all scored goals in this game but couldn’t stop Chicago in overtime.
The final dagger was a quick goal by the Blackhawks’ Phillip Kurashev that got past Adin Hill for the win. The loss showed just how vulnerable Las Vegas could be in overtime games and would become a frustrating recurring theme.
Best: Adin Hill and Logan Thompson steal the show
Golden Knights fans owe a lot of credit to Logan Thompson and Adin Hill for their accomplishments throughout the season. Some probably want to blame the goalies for what happened in the playoffs, but that’s not fair. Thompson and Hill put up pretty consistent numbers when Las Vegas needed them.
Thompson finished the season with a 25-14 record with five overtime losses and only 119 goals allowed. These numbers could have been even better if he hadn’t suffered several injuries.
Hill racked up a 19-12 record and two overtime losses during the regular season. He also allowed 89 goals in 979 shots sent his way.
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Worst: Golden Knights get shut out by the Kraken in the Winter Classic
Some losses hurt more than others, and the 3-0 shutout loss to the Seattle Kraken in the Winter Classic was embarrassing. The Kraken scored a goal every period, while the Las Vegas Golden Knights looked like chumps on national television. They were the defending Stanley Cup Champions and were shut out by their divisional rival, the same divisional rival that has only existed for three years but is quickly gaining ground in the division.
Logan Thompson let three of 27 shots past him. The Winter Classic could have been a moment for Thompson to define his legacy and cement himself as a top goalie. Unfortunately, allowing three goals in one of the year’s biggest games will give people second thoughts about him instead.
Best: The Golden Knights make a late surge to clinch a spot in the playoffs
There was a point in the season when the Golden Knights’ playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. The team kept dropping down the standings in the final weeks due to sloppy play and a few crushing overtime losses. Despite these shortcomings, the team rallied to win six of their last ten games, officially punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
While the Golden Knights only managed to climb back up to fourth in the Pacific division, they received a wild card spot based on the 98 goals they scored throughout the season. Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and several others knocked in goals during the season’s final stretch to keep the team in the playoffs.
Their best effort was a 7-2 victory on April 12 that pretty much ensured they would make the playoffs off of points scored alone. Another game that allowed the Golden Knights to accumulate enough points for the playoffs was an April 2nd matchup against the Vancouver Canucks.
Worst: Golden Knights get eliminated from the playoffs in the first round
Everything was going great for the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL playoffs. They managed to win their first two games of the series against the Stars, making them the clear favorites to move on. Las Vegas beat the Stars in the opening match of the series 4-3 after scoring three goals in the first period. The Golden Knights then chipped in one final goal to finish the game and give them a 1-0 series lead.
The second game was more lopsided, and the Golden Knights won 3-1. Both teams scored goals in the opening quarter, but the Golden Knights kept going. By the end of game two, Jonathan Marchessault, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin had all knocked in goals to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, this was the beginning of the end.
The Stars went on to win the next three games in the series. Things started in game three, where they were forced to play catchup with the Stars. This brought the game into overtime, and the Stars dropped the Knights 3-2 after one last dagger. Fast Forward to game four, and the teams were locked in a 1-1 tie. That changed when the Stars nailed two goals and a third in the final period. The Golden Knights just couldn’t keep up with the Stars’s rapid-fire offense.
Las Vegas and Dallas traded the next two games, putting everything on the line in game seven. That’s when the Stars scored a gut-wrenching goal in the first period to set the tone. The Golden Knights responded with their last goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough. The Stars notched one last goal to end the series 4-3 with a 2-1 victory over the Knights.
This loss hit everyone pretty hard. It was a crushing reality check for a team that had just reached the top of the mountain. At least it gives them something to inspire them for next season.
Next: 5 most significant moments in Las Vegas sports history so far
