The Vegas Golden Knights are heading to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in their first six seasons as an NHL franchise.
They will face the Florida Panthers in a best-of-seven series that begins Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
The berth in the finals gives the Golden Knights a chance to fulfill the prophecy that owner Bill Foley put out when he started the franchise.
Win the Stanley Cup within the first six seasons.
The expectations of accomplishing such a feat have never faded for the Golden Knights. The bar was set high after that magical first season, and year after year Vegas has progressed only to fall short of its goal of winning the Stanley Cup.
Things looked bleak for after last season. Some may wrote the team off, thinking the window has closed. The Golden Knights missed the playoffs last season for the first time ever. It wasn’t like the Golden Knights had a terrible season; it just wasn’t up to the high standards that had been set.
Vegas recovered this season, however, becoming the top seed in the Western Conference. They have marched through this postseason with a poise fitting of veteran team expecting to make a deep run. The Golden Knights conquered Winnipeg in five. They slayed the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl two-headed beast in six games, and dispatched the deep Dallas Stars in the same amount.
The team talks about how this team is better than the first one that made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s easy to believe that. The first group played with a chip on their shoulders and were happy to be validated for the first time in their careers.
This group, though, expects to win it all.
"I think a lot of great teams were more mature than what we were in that first year. No one was expecting us, and we went out there and took the opportunity," Vegas forward William Carrier said. "I think this team wants to win, so we won’t be finished until we raise that cup. I kind of get that feeling where the boy's thought tonight was just another series. I get that feeling that the boys really want more."
The last remaining Misfits have grown up in team leaders. The team added Stanley Cup winners from other organizations to bring forth a winning culture. A few superstars have joined them. Their coach, the third in franchise history, is a mastermind and knows what it takes to play winning hockey.
Add in the role players who know exactly what’s expected of them, and you have a formula for success.
"I think [the depth] is huge. I think that's one of our strengths as well, and I think that's why we've gotten this far,” Vegas forward William Karlsson said. “If we can have all four lines going every night, we're going to be a tough team to beat for sure."
There will be talk of that memorable first season and how much has changed since then.
Much has, but one thing that hasn’t are expectations.
Cup in Six? It’s time to finish the story.