The Vegas Golden Knights are quietly having an excellent season, one that’s moved them to the top of our NHL Power Rankings this week.
Vegas returns from the NHL’s three-day Christmas break with the highest points percentage in the NHL (.721) after going 8-1-0 in the first 23 days of December – including a 4-1-0 mark when the opposing team scores first (teams that allow the first goal usually lose more than 60 percent of the time).
The Winnipeg Jets, last week’s leader, have two more points than Vegas but have played two more games. Vegas, Winnipeg (.708) and the third-place Washington Capitals (.706) are the only teams with a points percentage higher than .700.
At the other end of the league, the Chicago Blackhawks have dropped back into last place in the rankings. The Hawks, who are preparing for their outdoor game against the St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Eve, reached the break at the bottom of the league standings in points (26) and points percentage (.371).
Vegas Golden Knights (23-8-3)
Vegas completed its pre-Christmas stretch before the break with a 3-1 victory against Anaheim at T-Mobile Arena, its 14th win in 17 home games. The Golden Knights scored three goals or fewer in seven of the nine games from Dec. 1-23, but they allowed more than two just once (a 6-3 loss at Edmonton on Dec. 14). Even better – after visiting San Jose on Friday, they play seven of their next eight at home.st 10 games with a 2.15 goals-against average and second in save percentage at .926 (Toronto’s Stolarz is tops at .927).
