Gerard Gallant may have revealed a secret when the Golden Knights coach dropped this little nugget about the importance of Sunday’s victory: “Get to 97 points, and that was a goal.”
Gallant seemed to be alluding to a preseason target set by the Knights, a point total that, based on history, would make them the first expansion team to qualify for the postseason since the NHL expanded for the 1967-68 season.
“But there’s no X beside our name right now, so that’s the key,” Gallant said, referring to the symbol used in the NHL standings to indicate teams that have clinched a playoff berth.