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SPORTS Wednesday 11 april 2018

Knights host Kings

as playoff hockey

debuts on Vegas Strip

By W.G. RAMIREZ playoff experience. It's go-
Associated Press ing to be a battle, but it's
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The ex- gonna be fun."
pansion Golden Knights Here are some things to
made an historic run look for as Los Angeles,
through the regular season. which won the Stanley Cup
On to the next step, the in 2012 and 2014, looks to
playoffs — something en- end Vegas' storybook first
tirely different, with Vegas season.
facing a major test in the FLOWER POWER: Veteran
first round. netminder Marc-Andre
Postseason hockey makes Fleury is back in the play-
its debut on The Strip on offs after hoisting the Stan-
Wednesday night with ley Cup the past two years
the Knights hosting the Los with Pittsburgh. Gallant was
Angeles Kings, an experi- never named a captain on
enced playoff team that the Golden Knights but the
hoisted the Stanley Cup three-time champion and
as recently as 2014 and 14-year veteran — affec-
that used to hold exhibition tionately known as Flower
games in Vegas. — has been a locker room
The teams split their four leader all season. Fleury fin-
regular-season games, ished second in the league
each winning once at with a 2.24 goals-against
home and once on the average. He was 1-0-1 with
road, even as the Knights a 2.37 goals-against aver-
were making an unprec- age and .931 save per-
edented run through the centage against the Kings In this March 31, 2018, file photo, Vegas Golden Knights players celebrate after center William
regular season, which in- this season. Karlsson (71) scored against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game
cluded winning the Pacific WILD BILL: William Karlsson in Las Vegas.
Division title. They were the finished the season with 43 Associated Press
first modern-era expansion goals and 35 assists. Last
team from any of the four season with Columbus, he given to the goalkeeper Back in December, Kings rightfully so, he's a great
major North American pro- scored six goals and had 19 having played a mini- defenseman Drew Dough- player. But we don't really
fessional sports leagues to assists. His 37-goal improve- mum of 25 games for the ty was quoted as saying think much into that. We're
start from scratch and finish ment matched the third- team with the fewest goals "there's no way they're go- a confident group in here,
first in its division. largest year-to-year boost scored against it. Quick ing to be a better team too."q
"It's a new season now and in NHL history. With Reilly saw the most action on a than us by the end of the
we gotta keep battling Smith healthy again, rejoin- Kings team that allowed season," after the Golden
and keep playing hard and ing Karlsson and Jonathan an NHL-low 203 goals, eight Knights went into Los Ange-
do what we did all regular Marchessault on the top fewer than the President's les and stole a 3-2 victory in
season long — win hockey line, the Golden Knights' of- Cup Trophy-winning Nash- overtime.
games," said Vegas coach fense will be tough to con- ville Predators (211) and 11 "They're a confident group,
Gerard Gallant, a heavy tain. less than the Boston Bruins that's for sure," said for-
favorite to win the Jack Ad- KING QUICK: Los Angeles (214). Quick was 1-1-1 with mer King and current Ve-
ams Award that honors the goalie Jonathan Quick a 3.51 goals-against aver- gas defenseman Brayden
coach of the year. "We're snatched his second ca- age and .908 save per- McNabb. "I think that's a lit-
playing against a real good reer William M. Jennings centage against Vegas. tle bit of Doughty's person-
LA team that's had great Trophy, an annual award DOUGHTY THE DOUBTER: ality. He's a confident guy,