Mammoth Storm Vegas: Can Colorado's Expansion Squad Shock the Knights?

The NHL's newest franchise makes its Sin City debut Thursday night, and the Golden Knights are licking their chops. Colorado's Mammoth enter their inaugural season with all the optimism expansion teams bring—and all the roster holes that come with it. Vegas, meanwhile, returns a battle-tested core that's been to the mountaintop and knows how to handle September rust.

Here's the reality: expansion clubs historically get mauled early. The Mammoth cobbled together a roster through the expansion draft, meaning they're trotting out a hodgepodge of castoffs, prospects, and overpaid veterans other teams were happy to dump. Chemistry? Non-existent. Systems? Still being installed. Meanwhile, the Knights have home ice, continuity, and a fanbase that turns T-Mobile Arena into a pressure cooker.

Vegas should control possession, win special teams battles, and lean on superior goaltending. The Mammoth will battle—expansion teams always play inspired early—but effort only takes you so far when you're outgunned at every position. Expect the Knights to make a statement, welcoming the new kids to the league with a thorough beating.

The smart money rides with Vegas laying whatever the number is. Colorado's Cinderella story starts later—tonight's about survival.