UNITED STATES: Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup for the first time in six years by defeating Florida Panthers 9-3 and scoring the ultimate National Hockey League jackpot. The top-seeded Western Conference team won 4-1, ending the best-of-seven championship series and causing celebrations along the Las Vegas Strip.
Adin Hill saved 31 games, while Mark Stone, the Vegas Golden Knights’ captain, scored three goals and one for Nicolas Hague, Alec Martinez, Reilly Smith, Michael Amadio, Ivan Barbashev, and Nicolas Roy.
Stone expressed his admiration for the team’s hard work and determination throughout the 82-game regular season and four playoff rounds, stating, “We are the last team standing at the end of the day.”
Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 25 points.
Florida ended a remarkable run as the final wildcard in the Eastern Conference, defeating three of the NHL’s top four teams to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1996.
The Panthers’ setback ended a two-month journey for the eighth-seeded teams, which coincided with the Miami Heat’s loss to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. Bill Foley, the owner of the Golden Knights, predicted the expansion team would win the Stanley Cup within its first six seasons. The Vegas triumph surpassed this prediction, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman praised the incredible events in Vegas, a championship town and hockey town.
Las Vegas became an NHL expansion franchise in June 2016, and the Golden Knights had a successful 2017-18 season, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Washington Capitals. This time, they won the first two games at home and split the next two in Florida.
The Panthers faced challenges in regaining the series, as 36 out of 37 Stanley Cup Finals have been won by teams with a 3-1 lead after seven games. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who fell to the Detroit Red Wings 3-0, are the only club to return.
Vegas took control of the game after a jittery start, scoring goals from Stone and Hague to make it 2-0. The Panthers scored first in the second period, but Vegas responded with four goals in nine and a half minutes, gaining a 6-1 lead. Amadio’s goal sparked a boisterous Vegas crowd shouting “We want the Cup!”, showcasing the hosts’ dominance in the game.
Vegas took a 7-1 lead in the fourth period, and the crowd celebrated with celebrations. Florida’s Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett responded, and with six minutes left, Stone scored a hat trick and Roy added a late goal.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice stated that Ekblad suffered from a fractured foot, shoulder dislocations, and an oblique rupture during the playoffs. The Panthers scored at least 110 points against four clubs, while 1 had 135. The team’s performance was impressive, and their entire being was given to them.
Also Read: Denver Nuggets Capture First NBA Title in 47 Years with Victory over Miami Heat
