Lightning HC: Golden Knights' season 'not a Cinderella story'

The Vegas Golden Knights' improbable inaugural season has been nothing short of miraculous, leading many fans and experts around the league to dub it a "Cinderella story."

But if you ask Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, however, the Knights' success this campaign is far from a fairy tale.

"It's a success story is what it is. It's not a Cinderella story," Cooper said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "There's been talk of 'how could that happen?' or whatever. I'll tell you how it happened: They got an owner that hired an unreal GM and they got an unreal GM that hired an unreal coach. They were all left to do their jobs."

Vegas punched its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night with a convincing 4-1 series win over the Winnipeg Jets, continuing a year in which the Knights have easily been the best story of the NHL campaign.

"I know the gentlemen well that are involved, the GM and coach, and I couldn't be prouder of the guys of the job they've done. They deserved to get there, and I only hope we're the team they get to play."

Cooper's team will look to clinch its series against the Washington Capitals on Monday night. And in doing so, the Lightning will then be tasked with stopping a very game Golden Knights team vying for its first championship.