(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Dating back to the first season in 2017-18, in seasons that began in October, the Golden Knights have earned the luxury of starting the new year in 1st or 2nd place every single year, and this year is no different.

This year’s team has been bolstered by overtime losses, but they’ve maintained the franchise’s stranglehold over the Pacific nonetheless.

VGK Record By January 1st

2017-18: 54 Points (26-9-2) 1st Pacific
2018-19: 52 Points (24-15-4) 2nd Pacific
2019-20: 50 Points (22-15-6) 1st Pacific
2021-22: 44 Points (22-12-0) 1st Pacific
2022-23: 52 Points (25-12-2) 1st Pacific
2023-24: 49 Points (22-11-5) 2nd Pacific
2024-25: 53 Points (25-9-3) 1st Pacific
2025-26: 45 Points (17-10-11) 2nd Pacific

On this January 1st, though, things feel different.

Losses have been more common, the Pacific is competitive, and the West is stacked, at least at the top. Without burying the lede any further, this is the first time a Vegas team hasn’t reached 120 goals or a positive goal differential. The previous lows were 123 goals scored and +9 goal differential by New Year’s Day. This team has 119 goals and a +0 goal differential.

VGK’s Goals Scored By January 1st

2017-18: 134 Goals, +26 Goal Differential
2018-19: 130 Goals, +15 Goal Differential
2019-20: 134 Goals, +9 Goal Differential
2021-22: 123 Goals, +21 Goal Differential
2022-23: 131 Goals, +20 Goal Differential
2023-24: 127 Goals, +21 Goal Differential
2024-25: 131 Goals, +29 Goal Differential
2025-26: 119 Goals, 0 Goal Differential

Like most clubs, the Golden Knights faced extended injuries to several impact players. However, the wishy-washy results occurred with and without a healthy roster. After October, Vegas allowed the first goal in the majority of games and severely struggled in overtime. Another concern is their inability to beat a quality Western Conference opponent.

A year ago today, the Golden Knights had a 13-2-1 record against the Pacific and a 20-2-2 vs. the West. This season, Vegas is 8-6-6 in the conference and 5-2-4 in the division. It’s rare for the Golden Knights to hand out 24 conference points at this point in the season.

If anyone were to give a standard corporate assessment on the Golden Knights’ season so far, ‘meets expectations’ would be the closest option available, and if there’s a “barely meets,” it’s probably that. Vegas certainly hasn’t ‘exceeded expectations,’ yet they’ve managed to do enough to remain in 2nd place on New Year’s Day.

To stay there, they need to play better in 2026.

VGK 2025 Calendar Stats

Record: 42-23-18
Points: 102
Points Percentage: .614
Goal Differential: +35

Goals: 37, Hert/Dorofeyev
Points: 87, Eichel
Assists: 57, Eichel
Plus/Minus: +22, Theodore/Barbashev
Shots: 256, Dorofeyev
PIM: 67, Kolesar
Hits: 243, Kolesar
Blocks: 180,…

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 1, 2026