Golden Knights out to fulfill owner's quest to win Stanley Cup in 6th year

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Drivers were directed to the overflow parking lot Thursday morning, and a line at least 30 deep waited and hoped to get into the Vegas Golden Knights' practice.

It was like 2018 all over again.

Except this Knights team is no longer the unexpected first-year expansion club making a shocking run to the Stanley Cup Final. Expectations are considerably higher as Vegas prepares to open its best-of-seven series Saturday against the Florida Panthers — this year's version of the 2018 Knights — and the only team goal it hasn't reached is lifting the Cup.

“We’ve got, I think, a way better team overall," said William Carrier, one of the six original players still on the team. "The first year, everyone was on a contract year. Everyone was overplaying what they really are. We overachieved. It was a bit more of an emotional year that year. I think this year, we deserve to be here. We’ve played well all year and we’ve got some great guys and we’ve got some depth, so it’s a little different than the first year.”