The Vegas Golden Knights are a National Hockey League (NHL) team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, who compete in the Western Conference as a member of the Pacific Division. Notably, they achieved remarkable success by winning a division and conference title in their inaugural season before clinching the coveted Stanley Cup in 2023.
Established as an expansion team in 2017, the Golden Knights defied expectations with a strong roster, including veteran goaltender Marc-André Fleury. Remakably, they started with low odds of success but have established themselves as a serious competitor in the league. Moreover, they are led by captain Mark Stone and head coach Bruce Cassidy while they play their home games at the T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas Golden Knights NHL Playoff History and Appearances
The Vegas Golden Knights have made five playoff appearances in their NHL history. In their inaugural season in 2017–18, they secured the top spot in the Pacific Division and went on a remarkable playoff run, reaching the Stanley Cup finals but ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals. Despite falling short in subsequent seasons, they continued to compete at a high level, including finishing first in the Pacific Division in 2019–20 and advancing to the conference finals. Notably, they claimed their third division title in the 2022-23 season, before advancing to the Conference finals and the Stanley Cup finals where they triumphed over the Florida Panthers in five games.
The Golden Knights returned to the playoffs in 2022–23, capturing their first division title and ultimately winning their first Stanley Cup by defeating the Florida Panthers in the finals.
A table exploring Vegas Golden Knights’s playoff history and appearances is provided below:
Year | Record | Result |
2023 | 51-22-9 | Stanley Cup Winners |
2022 | 43-31-8 | Missed Playoffs |
2021 | 40-14-2 | Lost Conference Finals |
2020 | 39-24-8 | Lost Conference Finals |
2019 | 43-32-7 | Lost First Round |
2018 | 51-24-7 | Lost Stanley Cup Final |
Vegas Golden Knights Conference History
The Vegas Golden Knights have competed in the Western Conference throughout their NHL history. Despite being a relatively young franchise, the Golden Knights have quickly established themselves as contenders within the conference. From reaching the Stanley Cup finals in their inaugural season to capturing the conference title again in 2023, the Golden Knights have consistently demonstrated their strength and competitiveness in the Western Conference.
In their inaugural 2017–18 campaign, they made an impressive run, sweeping the First Round against the Kings and defeating the Sharks in the Second Round. They continued their impressive run by winning the Conference Finals against the Jets but unfortunately fell short in the Stanley Cup Finals, losing 1–4 to the Capitals. The following season in 2018–19, despite a competitive effort in the Western Conference, they were eliminated in the First Round by the Sharks in a hard-fought series. In the 2019–20 season, the Golden Knights showcased their resilience by finishing first in the seeding round-robin and advancing through the First and Second Rounds of the playoffs, defeating the Blackhawks and Canucks, respectively. However, their journey ended in the Conference Finals with a 1–4 loss to the Stars. In the 2020–21 season, amidst a competitive Western Conference, they triumphed in the First and Second Rounds against the Wild and Avalanche but were ultimately eliminated in the Stanley Cup Semifinals by the Canadiens.
Notably, the Golden Knights did not qualify for the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, marking a temporary setback. However, they bounced back in the 2022–23 season, reclaiming their dominance in the Western Conference. They secured victories in the First and Second Rounds against the Jets and Oilers and clinched the Conference Finals against the Stars. Their remarkable journey culminated in winning the Stanley Cup Finals, defeating the Panthers 4–1 to claim their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.
A table exploring Vegas Golden Knights's Conference History along with their results is provided below:
Golden Knights Season | Conference | Result |
2017–18 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–0 (Kings) Won in Second Round, 4–2 (Sharks) Won Conference Finals, 4–1 (Jets) Lost Stanley Cup Finals, 1–4 (Capitals) |
2018–19 | Western | Lost in First Round, 3–4 (Sharks) |
2019–20 | Western | Finished first in seeding round-robin (3–0) Won in First Round, 4–1 (Blackhawks) Won in Second Round, 4–3 (Canucks) Lost Conference Finals, 1–4 (Stars) |
2020–21 | — | Won in First Round, 4–3 (Wild) Won in Second Round, 4–2 (Avalanche) Lost Stanley Cup Semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens) |
2021–22 | Western | Did not qualify |
2022–23 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–1 (Jets) Won in Second Round, 4–2 (Oilers) Won Conference Finals, 4–2 (Stars) Won Stanley Cup Finals, 4–1 (Panthers) |
The Vegas Golden Knights first claimed the Conference title in the 2017–18 season and secured their second Conference championship in the 2022–23 season.
Vegas Golden Knights Division History
The Vegas Golden Knights have primarily competed in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference since joining the NHL. As a relatively new franchise, the Golden Knights quickly asserted themselves within the division, clinching division titles and making playoff appearances. Despite facing challenges, such as in the 2021-22 season when they missed the playoffs for the first time, the Golden Knights have maintained a competitive presence within the Pacific Division.
Over the past few seasons, the team's performance has been consistently strong. In 2018, they dominated the Pacific Division with a record of 51 wins, 24 losses, and 7 overtime losses. The following year, they maintained their competitive edge with a record of 43 wins, 32 losses, and 7 overtime losses. Moving forward to 2021, they continued to demonstrate their prowess in the West Division with an impressive record of 40 wins, 14 losses, and 2 overtime losses. The recent seasons have been no less, with the Golden Knights claiming the 2022-23 Pacific Division title.
A table exploring the Vegas Golden Knights's division history along with their regular season records is provided below:
Year | Record | Regular season |
2023 | Pacific | 51-22-9 |
2022 | Pacific | 43-31-8 |
2021 | West | 40-14-2 |
2020 | Pacific | 39-24-8 |
2019 | Pacific | 43-32-7 |
2018 | Pacific | 51-24-7 |
The Golden Knights have also demonstrated their dominance within their division, capturing the Division championship on three occasions. Their first Division title came in their inaugural season of 2017–18, followed up with championships in the 2019–20 and 2022–23 seasons.
FAQs on Vegas Golden Knights Playoff History
A. The Vegas Golden Knights have made five playoff appearances in their NHL history.
A. In their inaugural season in 2017–18, the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup finals but ultimately lost to the Washington Capitals.
A. The Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup title in the 2022–23 season by defeating the Florida Panthers in the finals.
A. The Golden Knights have consistently demonstrated their strength and competitiveness in the Western Conference playoffs, reaching the conference finals multiple times and winning the conference title in 2018 and 2023.
A. The Vegas Golden Knights have primarily competed in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference since joining the NHL.