And besides, the Panthers may be the only other market that’s had to deal with more snotty remarks from old-timers about being better off in Quebec City. Has that desert-based rivalry with the Golden Knights ever turned into anything? Not really, but we can pretend. The Panthers have captured hearts and minds on their improbably Cup Final run, writes long will it last? That’s especially true when your shared origin story is some random midweek announcement that came literally a few months before your first season would start.Īfter years of losing and two-plus decades of instability, South Florida hockey is relevant again. Sorry Shea Theodore, but expansion cousins need to stick together. I’ve got a suggestion of which team to cheer for, for fans of all 30 of the loser teams’ valiant nonparticipants. But some of us aren’t wired that way, and we need to have a team to root for - or root against - to really get into a series. What about everyone else? We’ve got what should be a great matchup ready to go, and maybe sitting back and enjoying the show without a rooting interest sounds good to you. “We did a good job managing momentum tonight,” Eichel said. Eichel returned in the third and set up Marchessault’s second goal for his second assist of the game. Vegas had its own scare late in the second period when Jack Eichel was nailed in the right shoulder by Tkachuk. Barbashev broke the sternum of Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard during the playoffs last year, also on a clean hit. That was one of several big hits by Barbashev, the Golden Knights’ biggest trade-deadline acquisition, a Stanley Cup champion with St. The Panthers lost their biggest, toughest defenseman early in the game when Radko Gudas was injured on a hit by Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev. It was Vegas’ third game in a row with a power-play goal, its first such stretch since Christmas week. The Knights were dominant early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Marchessault and Martinez.
It’s been awesome to be part of the journey with this team.” “I’m just enjoying it, cherishing every day. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey," Hill said. “He’s been unbelievable.”Ī group of four fans behind one of the nets wore sweaters that spelled out his last name, and Hill has often received the loudest cheers from Knights fans, reminiscent of when Marc-Andre Fleury was in goal for Vegas in its first three seasons. “He’s been unreal for us,” Vegas forward William Carrier said. He stopped Carter Verhaeghe on a breakaway in the first, and later that period hit Tkachuk, who was in his net, with his blocker and then slashed him with his stick. Hill once again brought his feistiness as well as his A-game. Matthew Tkachuk and Anton Lundell scored for Florida.Īdin Hill continued his stellar play in net with 29 saves for the Knights. “We can be a little better in front of our goaltender,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. But he's given up eight goals in 87 minutes against Vegas, compiling a 5.52 GAA and. Coming into the Stanley Cup Final, he had won 11 of his past 12 starts with a 1.95 goals-against average and. It was the fifth time in 12 games the Knights have chased the opposing goalie.īobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, carried Florida through the Eastern Conference playoffs. It was too much for Bobrovsky, who was removed 7:10 into the second period down 4-0. The Knights' seven goals tied a franchise mark for a playoff game. Six players had at least two points for Vegas, all 18 Knights skaters were on the ice for even-strength goals and their nine goal scorers through the first two games are a Stanley Cup Final record. But we’re still pretty far from our goal here.”īrett Howden scored twice for the Knights, who also got goals from Alec Martinez, Nicolas Roy and Michael Amadio. “They want to set the tone with being undisciplined like Game 1 and we set the tone back,” Marchessault said.
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