The Stanley Cup Final heads back to Las Vegas, with the Golden Knights one win away from delivering their first title in just six years. They jumped out to a quick lead in Game 4 thanks to Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson.
Matthew Tkachuk looked shaky in the second period and was limited in his output. That’s a huge concern for the Panthers.
Game 1
The Vegas Golden Knights are one win away from bringing their first Stanley Cup championship to Sin City. After a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, Vegas leads the best-of-seven series 3-1. William Karlsson scored the game-winning goal, and Chandler Stephenson also found the back of the net. Adin Hill made 29 saves in goal for the Panthers.
The Golden Knights were able to dominate the second period and took a 3-0 lead into the third. The Panthers finally managed to score a goal late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to come back and take the lead.
Vegas got off to a quick start in the first period, with Stephenson scoring just 1:39 into the game. It was the former Panthers player’s first goal of the night and it put the Golden Knights ahead 1-0.
After a slow first period, the Panthers started to find some rhythm in the second. They were able to get some chances in the offensive zone and got some shots on goal. However, they weren’t able to beat Vegas goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
However, they managed to tie the game with just under two minutes left in the second period. Brandon Montour threw the puck onto the right skate of Brayden McNabb and the right leg of Shea Theodore and it went into the net, tying the game at 2.
The Panthers had a chance to go up by a goal with just over three minutes remaining in the third period, but their attempt fell short. However, they managed to create some pressure in the final seconds, but couldn’t get a shot on goal.
The Golden Knights managed to hold off a late Panthers rally and won Game 4 by a score of 3-2. They now have a chance to win their first ever Stanley Cup in just their sixth year of existence. They’ll have to replicate their opening round comeback against the Boston Bruins in order to do it, though. That will be a difficult task. The Golden Knights will have to be at their best in Game 5. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Game 2
Game 3 was a back-and-forth affair, and the Panthers got a lot of help from their goaltender. If Florida can keep up that level of play, they’ll have a great chance at winning this series.
The first period ended with a 1-goal tie. The Golden Knights controlled the early stages of the period, but the Panthers were able to make some changes that helped them out.
The second period was all Vegas, as the Golden Knights scored two goals in the period to take a commanding lead. The Panthers had some chances to cut into the deficit, but Sergei Bobrovsky was up to the task and held the Golden Knights off.
After a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime. The Panthers won the coin toss and elected to go first. They were able to kill off the first penalty of the extra period, but they were still unable to find the back of the net.
Vegas defended the Panthers’ power play well, and they prevented any easy shots on the man advantage. The Panthers are 0-for-12 on the power play through three games, and it’s hard to win a Stanley Cup without at least one power play goal.
Matthew Tkachuk tied the game at 2-2 with a clutch wrist shot. He and the rest of the Panthers’ top line were a huge part of their victory in Game 3. It was an important performance, and it showed that the team is capable of winning in all situations.
Tkachuk’s goal was the first of his career in playoff overtime. It also gave the Panthers a huge boost going into Game 4.
With the victory, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the series and will travel to Las Vegas for Game 5. The Panthers are 10-0 in their last 10 playoff games that have gone past 60 minutes. They are the only team in the NHL to have a perfect record in overtime this season. Sergei Bobrovsky was a big reason for that success, as he stopped all 56 shots he faced after regulation.
Game 3
After a spirited back-and-forth Game 3, the Golden Knights are one win away from their first Stanley Cup. The Panthers threw everything they had at Vegas goalie Adin Hill in the third period, but it was no use. A late save on Matthew Tkachuk kept the score a two-goal deficit and gave the Golden Knights a chance to hold off the Panthers in a chaotic final minute.
A lucky bounce and a sloppy Florida penalty helped the Golden Knights take a commanding lead. Aleksandar Barkov and Brandon Montour scored goals for the Panthers, but they were unable to rally in the second half. Montour’s shot went off the legs of Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore, then pinballed into the net for a score.
The Panthers are a good team that can beat anyone when they play their best. They have a deep roster and a solid top line in Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, and they are very strong defensively with a number of good players. However, the team has struggled to create much offensively.
Despite losing two of their first three games to the Golden Knights, the Panthers haven’t lost their confidence. In fact, they have a great opportunity to reclaim their series with the help of their home crowd. With Game 4 at the T-Mobile Arena, the team will have a lot of energy and momentum on their side.
It’s hard to say how much the Golden Knights’ win in Game 3 will affect their series against the Panthers. It might be the turning point in the series. On the other hand, the loss could also prove to be a major setback for Vegas. The team will have to play much better in the next few games to keep its title dream alive.
Game 4
The Golden Knights are one win away from delivering the first Stanley Cup to Las Vegas in its sixth season of existence. But the Panthers are no slouches and are capable of making this series interesting. In fact, they have been able to do just that in the past. And they could do it again tonight at home.
In Game 3, the Panthers came back from a 3-0 deficit in the series to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime. It was a remarkable comeback and something few thought the Panthers would be able to pull off in five years of existence.
That game set the stage for this Game 4, and a possible showdown that can change the course of the Stanley Cup Final. And it was a wild game from start to finish. A total of 14 penalties were called and the ice was littered with helmets, gloves, sticks and plastic rats.
But even with all of the nastiness, the two teams found themselves locked in a tight, physical and fast-paced contest. And it would be a shame if it ended early.
A quick glance at the NHL Stanley Cup odds shows that Vegas still has the better chance to deliver the championship. And that is probably for good reason.
As the first period progressed, it became clear that Matthew Tkachuk was not feeling well. He wasn’t getting the jump on the opposition defense that he normally does, and coach Paul Maurice limited his ice time in the second period. That could have a major effect on the game’s outcome, especially if Tkachuk is not playing at 100%.
Despite the limited ice time, the Panthers did manage to score on a couple of occasions. Brandon Montour scored the first goal with a shot that deflected off the legs of Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore and into the net. And then Aleksander Barkov scored on a power play with 3:51 remaining in the second period.
Those goals were the only ones that came from Florida in the first half of the period, but it was enough to give the Panthers some hope going into the third. And then they got a big lift from a former Vegas player. Jonathan Marchessault, who leads the league in points at 5-on-5, rang the post on a slap shot with just under 2 minutes left in the third.
