Lawless and Order

The first half of the NHL season is now behind them and the Vegas Golden Knights own the best record in the Western Conference. With a 29-11-2 mark they sit three points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets in the West. Inside the Pacific Division, Vegas has a seven-point on the Los Angeles Kings. It has been a half-season to remember and with 41 games to go on their schedule - history awaits the Golden Knights.
This has been a story about team. The selection and forming of a team. GM George McPhee handed head coach Gerard Gallant a list of names and challenged him to bring the roster to life.
Gallant not only breathed life into this group a little fire as well.
Consider this expansion team has knocked off the likes of the league leading Lightning, the Jets, Capitals, Leafs, Predators and Kings while building a near perfect record at home as well as a winning mark on the road and the storyline has advanced from curiosity to legitimacy. The Golden Knights are a good team. A very good team. Can they be great is the next question to be answered as the second gets underway Saturday with the Edmonton Oilers in Vegas for a visit.
This week we'll focus on the individual efforts of the Golden Knights which have combined to make the team so successful.

Without further delay, here is the latest installment of our semi-regular trip around the VGK globe.
1. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing some of the best hockey of his career. A concussion kept him out of the lineup for more than a month but since his return, both he and Vegas have been near unbeatable. Fleury owns a .945 save percentage and a 9-2-1 record. The longer he runs hot - so too does Vegas.
2. Malcolm Subban went from the waiver wire to the hot seat when Fleury went down. Subban answered the call and has been one of the surprises of the season. He's 11-2-0 with a .918 save percentage. He's 23, athletic, big and learning. Lots of upside.
3. Leading the team with 40 points, Jonathan Marchessault converted his strong play into a six-year contract with $30 million. Has improved his defensive play and proven to be excellent on strong side faceoffs.
4. With a team-high 22 goals in 41 games, William 'The Conqueror' Karlsson has more goals already this season than in three previous NHL campaigns.
5. Reilly Smith is perhaps the most complete player in the Vegas forward corps. He's got 11 goals and 35 assists and is one of the club's primary penalty killers. He just does everything right.
6. One of the strongest players on the puck in the NHL, David Perron creates offense and extends offensive zone time with his excellent play down low.
7. James Neal has been as advertised. An elite shooter who finds space. Has 18 goals and a number of them have been big ones as he's potted four GWGs.
8. Moving Erik Haula into the middle between Perron and Neal has proven to be a stroke of genius from the coaching staff. It gave the line speed and unlocked Haula's offensive potential. He now has 15 goals and 28 points.
9. A breakout season for the 21-year-old Alex Tuch and lots of upside to go. Tuch already has nine goals and 12 assists and is gaining confidence every game. A big man with speed and the ability to score - getting Haula and Tuch out of the Minnesota Wild was an expansion draft bonus.
10. Opportunity has been Colin Miller's best friend as he's gone from a spare part in Boston to the leading scorer on the Vegas blueline with five goals and 21 points.
11. Nate Schmidt was always believe to be an offensive defenseman but the Vegas coaching staff has taken his skating ability and matched him against the opposition's best forwards. He's been excellent.
12. A bounce-back season for the veteran center. Eakin now has six goals and 18 points after collecting just three goals and 12 points last season. Playing between Tuch and Brendan Leipsic - he's been pivotal in teaching a pair of young players the defensive side of the game.
13. Shea Theodore started the season in the AHL but has shown immense growth since arriving in Vegas fulltime. Paired with veteran Deryk Engelland, Theodore is creating offense while learning the craft of defense. No ceiling on this player.
14. Engelland is averaging 19:35 minutes per game which more than four minutes above his career average. The extra minutes look good on Engelland as he's put up 13 points and been used in most critical defensive situations. A leader and a solid presence in the Vegas lineup.
15. Leipsic has one goal and 11 assists but has been better than the numbers suggest. He creates space in the offensive zone and continues to improve his defensive play.
16. Injuries have slowed Luca Sbisa but when he's been in the lineup he's been solid. Plays a physical game and hasn't made many mistakes. Keeps it simple and eats minutes.
17. Capable of playing up and down the lineup, Oscar Lindberg has been a useful utility player for the coaching staff. Responsible and a strong skater - doesn't make mistakes.
18. Tomas Nosek continues to grow on the job. A big player and a strong skater - Nosek has the ability to move up in the lineup from his current station on the fourth line.
19. Signed to a four-year extension, defenseman Brayden McNabb uses his long stick to great effect on the PK. When he was out of the lineup for a stretch, the defense corps really missed his presence. Keeps it simple and has some bite to his game.
20. Seven assists in 18 games, Brad Hunt has been an excellent depth defenseman and the coaching staff values his presence on the roster. Having Hunt to spot in when needed is a luxury. He maintains excellent practice habits and a positive attitude at all times.
21. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centers the fourth line and is a primary penalty killer for the Golden Knights. He's averaging 12:10 of icetime per game providing balance and depth to this lineup. A key veteran for the coaching staff.
22. A bull on the wing, Will Carrier continues to improve as a player. A strong skater who understands his role.
23. Depth is key on defense in the NHL and Jon Merrill has been an excellent answer for the coaching staff when there have been injuries.
24. Ryan Carpenter was claimed off waivers from San Jose and has only seen action in one game for Vegas. A strong skater with some offensive upside - great depth for the roster.