Where were you on June 13, 2023? Were you partying at MGM Grand Casino, watching the Vegas Golden Knights game? Perhaps you were at Toshiba Plaza, partying with your friends? Whatever the case, June 13 holds a special significance for Golden Knights fans.
It signifies an ownership group not settling for less. It showed a resilient community supporting each other through tough times. Most of all, it showed an undeniable winner that rose to the occassion.
Take your pick among the many memorable moments throughout the season. Perhaps it was Adin Hill's dramatic Game 1 save. Maybe it was Mark Stone's hat trick in the clinching game. Whatever it was, it united a community and proved that hockey worked in the desert.
It also proved that expansion teams shouldn't be counted out. Ever. I can't tell you how many people discounted the Golden Knights heading into their inaugural season. Yeah, they had Marc-Andre Fleury. But that was it.
So, how did an expansion team complete an improbable story that captivated audiences everywhere? When did it all begin? Well, let's take a look at the journey that made Vegas a hockey town.
What happened that led up to June 13?
First came the unexpected run during the inaugural season. Nobody expected William Karlsson to score a franchise-best 43 goals. Nobody expected players like Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault to rise to the occasion. Yet, they persevered.
Of course, the Stanley Cup Final came and it was an unmitigated disaster. Alex Ovechkin did Alex Ovechkin things and got his first Stanley Cup. It was well-deserved for the legendary player.
But for Vegas? It was back to square one. You needed to get back and grab the gold. Your owner did make a promise to win it in 2023, after all.
Along the way, the road was extremely bumpy. There was the major that shouldn't have been a major. Then, Gerard Gallant was fired and replaced with Pete DeBoer. In the process, players like Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone came in.
Then, COVID-19 happened. Two more playoff failures, highlighted by a questionable goaltender call and Carey Price's renaissance. Don't forget Marc-Andre Fleury being traded. That was the big news on Twitter.
After that? A guy named Jack Eichel was acquired. He was deemed cancerous by his peers in Buffalo. But was there truth to the claim? That was the big unknown.
Then, the first time the Golden Knights missed the playoffs happened. Pete DeBoer died on his sword and was replaced by Bruce Cassidy. Now, the fun part begins.
The magical season that was for the Golden Knights
2022-23 started off as a magical year for the Golden Knights. It began with a 13-2-0 start, consisting of victories over prominent teams like the Maple Leafs and Avalanche.
Then came the usual January lull for Vegas. You can say they were out getting a few smokes or were dreaming of hitting Cancun for the summer. Luckily, those dreams died on February 7, 2023.
That was when they obliterated the Nashville Predators in a decisive 5-1 victory. Behind the balanced attack of Chandler Stephenson, William Carrier, and Phil Kessel (all of whom got a goal and an assist), this was the game that kickstarted the Golden Knights' magical run.
That led to a Pacific Division title, 51 wins, and 111 points. Along the way, they went through the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars. Yes, home ice mattered here. Just don't tell the faceless trolls up north that.
The battle against the Florida Panthers
Now, the Florida Panthers were a formidable opponent. In 2022-23, they weren't even supposed to be a threat, barely edging out the Buffalo Sabres for a playoff spot. Going up against the Boston Bruins, a team with 135 points? No chance in hell.
...Except they defeated those Bruins in seven games. Suddenly, the Panthers were on fire. We're talking about winning 11 of 12 playoff games after April 23, 2023, heading into the Stanley Cup Final. Were the Golden Knights in trouble?
Well, not really. Sure, things weren't hunky-dory with Eric Staal scoring a shorthanded goal. But this legendary save from Adin Hill changed the course of the series.
That led to an outpouring of goals and a 3-1 series lead. Of course, Game 4 wasn't easy. It took withstanding a late Florida storm to bring the series back to Las Vegas with that lead. Still, the boys were one game away.
Then comes the magical moment for the Vegas Golden Knights: Stanley Cup glory
Then came June 13. I took the day off early to go to Toshiba Plaza. I parked at Showcase Parking and took the easy route towards T-Mobile Arena. The plaza isn't normally packed on a Tuesday.
Still, that didn't deter the thousands of Golden Knights fans ready to witness history. They wanted to finish the story. They wanted fulfilled promises.
Well, Game 5 started off on the right note. It started with a shorthanded goal from Mark Stone. After that came Nicolas Hague with a 2-0 lead. Then came four second-period goals. Golden Knights fans could taste Stanley Cup glory. 20 minutes to go.
Then, the third period came. Three goals later, the happy ending was inevitable.
Five, four, three, two, one... Stanley Cup champions. Everyone was celebrating and jumping for joy. The promise was fulfilled.
During that day, I made many friends that I never thought I'd meet. Hot-button topics weren't thought of that day because it didn't matter where you stood. You were a Golden Knights fan first.
If you're wondering what June 13, 2023, means to Las Vegas, this is it. It means unifying people and helping them heal. That's the beauty of sports, after all.
So, where were you on June 13, 2023?
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