In their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in five years, the Vegas Golden Knights trailed early to the Florida Panthers in Game 1. But they quickly responded, sending a clear message: they were ready for the challenge.
“We were ready,” said Jonathan Marchessault, one of the original Knights players from 2017.
The Knights rallied from an early deficit, with Zach Whitecloud scoring the game-winning goal midway through the third period and goalie Adin Hill making a standout save to lead Vegas to a 5-2 victory on Saturday night, giving them a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“We kept our composure, which was important,” said Marchessault, who scored the tying goal in the first period. “We wanted to play the right way and stay disciplined, and tonight, we were the better team.”
Whitecloud’s goal put Vegas ahead, followed by a critical penalty kill and an insurance goal from captain Mark Stone, which was confirmed after a review for a potential high stick. Reilly Smith then added an empty-net goal to make the final score more lopsided than the game.
The Knights combined a strong offensive effort with Hill’s 33 saves, setting the tone for a physical Game 1 in which both teams wasted no time getting physical with big hits and scrums after the whistle.
“It was exactly what we expected,” said Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore, who scored his first goal of the playoffs to end a 27-game drought. “They tried to play their style, but we didn’t let it affect us.”
The best-of-seven series continues with Game 2 on Monday in Las Vegas.
After falling behind, the Panthers increased their physicality late in the game, leading to a series of penalties in the final minutes. However, the outcome was already decided by that point.
After Eric Staal scored a short-handed goal for Florida early in the game, quieting the sold-out crowd 18,432, the Golden Knights responded with their ninth comeback win of the playoffs. Marchessault tied the game before the end of the first period.
Early in the second, Hill made a stunning desperation stick save to deny Nick Cousins a sure goal, a play reminiscent of Washington goalie Braden Holtby’s iconic save against Vegas in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
“That save was unreal — a game-changer,” said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy. “Those kinds of saves at critical moments make all the difference.”
Although Florida tied the game at 2-2 with just 10.2 seconds left in the second period, Vegas didn’t lose momentum. Whitecloud’s goal, screened from Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, put the Knights back on top in the third.
Bobrovsky, appearing in his first Stanley Cup Final, downplayed concerns after stopping 29 of 34 shots, noting that Vegas created several quality scoring chances.
“I thought I played a good game,” Bobrovsky said. “They had some great opportunities, and I just enjoyed the challenge.”
Physical play was a theme throughout the night, with Hill not hesitating to push back when Nick Cousins crashed into his crease. During the second period, Matthew Tkachuk confronted Vegas’ Nic Hague after a hit on Cousins and a collision with Brandon Montour following the whistle.
“If players are going to come into my crease and push me around, I’m going to stand my ground,” Hill said. “I won’t go overboard, but I’ll stand up for myself.”
Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who is making his first Cup Final appearance since 2001, kept calm despite the loss, similar to his demeanor when Florida fell behind 1-0 and 3-1 in their first-round series against the NHL’s top-seeded Boston Bruins.
“Everyone needs to stay calm,” Maurice said. “This is going to be a tight series.”
The Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in their six-year history. Their first appearance came in 2018, where they won Game 1 but ultimately lost the series to the Washington Capitals in five games.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1996, when Colorado swept them. Florida’s leading scorer in these playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk, was born 18 months after that series.
This year’s Cup Final marks the 66th different matchup in NHL history and is just the third time since the turn of the century that two teams who have never won the championship are facing off.