On the back of an impressive three-goal outburst in the first period, the Vegas Golden Knights topped the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday, hitting the 66-point mark to pass the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the NHL.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Lightning had occupied the first overall position since Nov. 28.
With its 31st win on the season, the Golden Knights also reached the third-highest win total by a team in its inaugural season, matching the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers, who each did so during the 1967-68 season. Two more wins, and they will tie the record of 33 victories currently held by the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers, who achieved the mark during the 1993-94 campaign.
In losing to the Golden Knights, the Hurricanes also became the ninth team to lose their season series against Vegas this term.
| Team | Record Against |
|---|---|
| Lightning | 2-0-0 |
| Stars | 2-1-0 |
| Predators | 2-1-0 |
| Hurricanes | 1-0-1 |
| Panthers | 1-0-1 |
| Maple Leafs | 1-0-1 |
| Coyotes | 4-0-0 |
| Ducks | 3-0-0 |
| Blackhawks | 2-0-0 |
Let's face it: this Golden Knights team is for real.
