Golden Knights celebrate return to Stanley Cup Final on social media

Vegas is back for an encore.

The Vegas Golden Knights clinched a berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, the first since their magical inaugural season back in 2017-18.

The Golden Knights punched their ticket with a dominating 6-0 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Monday. The team took to social media to celebrate their second trip to the Cup Final.

Six players - forwards William Carrier, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith and defensemen Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore - are still on the Golden Knights roster from their first Western Conference championship (defenseman Zach Whitecloud played one regular season game and was not playoff eligible that season).

Karlsson scored twice in the clinching game while Marchessault and Carrier also each scored.

Some, like recent trade acquisition Ivan Barbashev, were at a loss for words.

The team was united in deciding not to touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, presented to the winners of the West, ahead of the Stanley Cup Final.

While there is little merit to the superstition [teams touching the bowl are 8-8 in the last 16 Cup finals and the Colorado Avalanche touched the bowl last year], the Golden Knights did touch the trophy before their last trip before falling in five games to the Washington Capitals. But they are old pros at this now.

The Cup is certainly ready.

The Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers now await. The 2023 Stanley Cup Final begins on Saturday.