The Vegas Golden Knights, back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in five years, sent a clear message in Game 1 after trailing early to the Florida Panthers.
“We were ready,” said Jonathan Marchessault.
Vegas demonstrated readiness and resilience, rallying from an early deficit to secure a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. Zach Whitecloud scored the go-ahead goal with just over 13 minutes remaining, and Adin Hill made a remarkable save to help the Golden Knights take the lead in the best-of-seven series.
“We kept our composure, and it was good,” said Marchessault, one of six original Knights players remaining from their inaugural 2017 season. “We just wanted to play the right way and be disciplined, and tonight, we were the better team.”
Whitecloud’s goal put Vegas ahead, followed by a crucial penalty kill. Captain Mark Stone added an insurance goal, which was confirmed after a review for a high stick. Reilly Smith sealed the win with an empty-netter, making the final score appear more lopsided than the game itself.
The combination of strong offense and Hill’s 33 saves gave Vegas an advantage after a feisty opener between the two Sun Belt teams, marked by big hits and post-whistle confrontations.
“It’s exactly what we expected,” said Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore, who scored his first goal of the playoffs and ended a 27-game drought dating back to March 7. “That’s how they wanted to play. We were just trying not to play into it.”
Game 2 is set for Monday in Las Vegas.
The Panthers ramped up their physical play after falling behind by two late in the game, resulting in a series of penalties with 4:24 remaining and a short-handed Florida bench.
The game’s outcome was largely determined earlier.
After falling behind on a short-handed goal by Eric Staal that silenced the crowd of 18,432, the Golden Knights rallied for their ninth comeback win of these playoffs. Marchessault, known for scoring big goals since arriving in Las Vegas, equalized before the end of the first period.
Early in the second, Hill made a desperation stick save to deny Nick Cousins a sure goal. The save was reminiscent of Braden Holtby’s famous save against Vegas in the same crease five years ago.
“That’s an unreal save — it’s a game-changer,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “You need those saves at key moments.”
Although Anthony Duclair tied the game with 10.2 seconds left in the second period, it didn’t slow the Golden Knights’ momentum. With Sergei Bobrovsky screened and unable to see, Whitecloud’s goal ignited the fans once more.
Bobrovsky, playing in his first final, downplayed concerns after stopping 29 of 34 shots and losing for just the second time in 12 playoff games.
“I played a good game,” Bobrovsky said. “They created some good chances other than goals. They had lots of good scoring chances, and that was fun.”
The physical play escalated early, with Hill reacting to Nick Cousins crashing into his crease and sparking a series of scrums. During the second period, Matthew Tkachuk confronted Vegas’ Nic Hague over a hit on Cousins and a collision with Brandon Montour after the whistle.
“If guys are going to come in my crease and try to push me around, I’m going to stand my ground,” Hill said. “I’m not going to do anything too crazy or get too wild, but I’ve got to stand up for myself.”
Florida coach Paul Maurice, back in the final for the first time since 2001, remained calm, just as he did when his team fell behind 1-0 and 3-1 to NHL-best Boston before winning in seven games.
“It’s going to be tight,” Maurice said. “Everybody breathe.”
In their second final in six years, the Golden Knights won Game 1 of the 2018 final but lost the series to Washington in five games. The Panthers, playing for the Cup for the first time since 1996, were swept by Colorado in that final 27 years ago.
This series is the 66th different matchup in the Stanley Cup final, and the 46th since the expansion era began in 1967-68. It’s only the third time since the turn of the century that the final features two teams who have never won the league’s championship.