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Pacific Division Preview: How Ducks, Kings stack up against the rest

By Redan Lopez

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings and Troy Terry #61 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for control of the puck during the third period at Honda Center on March 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings and Troy Terry #61 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for control of the puck during the third period at Honda Center on March 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 16: Shea Theodore #27 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 5-0 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 16: Shea Theodore #27 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 5-0 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Vegas Golden Knights (3rd last season)

The Golden Knights are so good and so fast. Coach Gerard Gallant has done an amazing job with the pieces he was given that its not a surprise the Golden Knight should win the Pacific Division title. Honestly, I felt they were a little bit on cruise control heading into the playoffs.

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Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury remains the gold standard as a goaltender in terms of his professionalism and play on the ice. Though he will be 35 this season, he has shown he can still play an extremely high level.

The team itself is offensively scary for its opponents. The Golden Knights blaze through you with their speed and grit, that it’s so hard to see what they’re doing until they have scored on you. Their top-six forwards – Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Paul Stastny – are unbelievable. The way they attack opponents is unreal.

Stone, in particular, should only get better after he was acquired at the trade deadline. He should be in the running for the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) and Hart Trophy (MVP) this upcoming season.

But what sets Vegas apart from the rest if their depth that can be counted on to do anything. Their bottom two lines can score and defend well, which is hard to say of many third and fourth lines in the league. Vegas can blow by its competition no matter who’s on the ice.

I haven’t even mentioned their three anchors on the back end, Nate Schmidt, ex-Duck Shea Theodore, and ex-King Brayden McNabb, who also push the pace of the Golden Knights.

dark. Next. Three keys to the Kings making a cup run

As long as Vegas stays healthy, they should return to be one of the most formidable teams in the league. Punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs – its a given.

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