The Florida Panthers suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final

June 05, 2023

The Florida Panthers suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final

The Florida Panthers will need to adopt the "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" mentality as they return home following a decisive 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. With the Panthers now trailing 2-0 in the series, they will be looking to turn things around as they prepare to host Game 3 at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.

Despite their efforts, the Panthers couldn't alter their fortunes in Vegas, as the Golden Knights carried over their momentum from the third period of Game 1, where they scored three unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 victory. The trend of lopsided scoring continued in Game 2, with Las Vegas employing their effective strategy of creating traffic in front of the Panthers' net, allowing them to build a lead that goalie Adin Hill successfully defended.

The scoring opened with Jonathan Marchessault's power-play goal, as he unleashed a shot over the shoulder of Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, providing the Golden Knights with a 1-0 advantage just 7 minutes and 5 seconds into the game.

With a little over two minutes left in the period, Alec Martinez capitalized on a pass from Ivan Barbashev to extend the lead to 2-0.

Just 2 minutes and 59 seconds into the second period, Nicolas Roy skillfully maneuvered the puck out of the corner and identified an opening amidst the traffic in front of the net, increasing the score to 3-0.

Less than five minutes after their previous goal, the Golden Knights struck once again. Mark Stone delivered a precise centering pass, enabling Brett Howden to execute a remarkable wraparound shot that slipped past Bobrovsky's pad, extending the Golden Knights' lead to four goals.

After allowing four goals on just 13 shots, Bobrovsky was pulled from the net and replaced by Alex Lyon. This marked the fifth time in the postseason that the Golden Knights forced their opponent's starting goalie out of the game, a feat achieved by only the 2011 Boston Bruins on seven occasions in a single postseason, according to ESPN.

When asked about Bobrovsky's future as the starting goaltender in the series, Panthers coach Paul Maurice expressed uncertainty, stating that he would spend the next two days pondering the decision. Maurice also emphasized the need for the team to improve their defensive play in front of their goaltender, acknowledging Bobrovsky's exceptional performance and the importance of keeping him rested.

The physicality of the game persisted in Game 2, as Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas left the ice in the first period following a hit from Barbashev. In the second period, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a forceful shoulder check to Jack Eichel, forcing the Golden Knights star to briefly leave the game. This sparked a scuffle between the two teams, resulting in Tkachuk and Barbashev receiving minor penalties for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. Eichel returned to the ice for the third period.

The Panthers managed to get on the scoreboard just 14 seconds into the third period when a shot by Anton Lundell deflected off Martinez's leg and found the back of the net. However, the Golden Knights quickly responded with Marchessault scoring off a feed from Eichel, increasing their lead to 5-1. Michael Amadio added another goal midway through the period.

Tkachuk notched his first goal of the series by capitalizing on a rebound with 7:16 remaining in the game. Shortly after, during a stoppage in play, Tkachuk knocked Amadio's stick out of his hands and was given his second 10-minute misconduct penalty of the game (third of the series), leading to his ejection.

Howden secured his second goal of the game, making it 7-2 with 2:08 left on the clock.

In the winning effort, Hill made 29 saves, including a crucial stop on Verhaeghe's breakaway early in the game. He also thwarted three Florida power-play opportunities, making nine saves while shorthanded.

With a 4-0 advantage on power plays, the Golden Knights have matched the record for the most goals scored in the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final, totaling 12.

Maurice acknowledged the areas in which the team needs improvement and emphasized the need for a quick response, particularly in defending against rushes. He expressed that the team's game plan will focus on defending rather than solely scoring goals.

The Golden Knights, despite being in only their sixth year of existence, are now just two wins away from capturing their first Stanley Cup championship.

As for the Panthers, who last reached the Final in 1996 but were swept by the Colorado Avalanche, they aim to secure their first victory in a Stanley Cup Final game as they return home. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, followed by Game 4 on Saturday, with both games starting at 8 p.m. ET.

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The Florida Panthers suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final

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