Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Video: ‘Special group of guys’ lead Golden Knights to Stanley Cup finals

Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final

Trevor Hagan/The Canadian Press via AP

Vegas Golden Knights’ Erik Haula (56) and Jonathan Marchessault (81) celebrate after defeating the Winnipeg Jets during NHL Western Conference Finals, game 5, in Winnipeg, Sunday, May 20, 2018.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Golden Knights topped the Jets 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg to win the Western Conference Finals in five games and punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

“This is the best time of my life right now, honestly,” said rookie forward Alex Tuch, who scored a goal in Sunday’s win. “It’s a special time and a special group of guys to do it with and it’s the best time of my life.”

The Golden Knights are the first expansion team in modern history to make the Stanley Cup Final.

“It’s crazy,” forward Erik Haula said. “It starts with Flower. It starts with the first home game, to clinching the playoff spot, to the first playoff game. It’s been a snowball effect and we’re just enjoying the moment.”

Vegas now awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. The Lightning currently own a 3-2 series lead with the sixth game on Monday.

“All of the work we’ve done, if we come up short it will mean nothing,” said forward Jonathan Marchessault. “Obviously all of those records and everything don’t mean anything if you’re not the last team standing, and I think we have a lot of gas left.”

Jesse Granger can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Jesse on Twitter at twitter.com/JesseGranger_.