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Stanley Cup Final – Vegas Won’t be Bullied

Jun 4, 2023

In Game One of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers tried to bully their way to a win against the Vegas Golden Knights. While it would be silly to think a team would change the approach that got them to the Final in the first place, but they need to realize that Vegas has the experience, having been deep into the playoffs nearly every year of their existence. 

There is a game within the game, it’s a game that is no longer seen as necessary during the regular season, but one that is most certainly needed in the playoffs, toughness. For the Panthers, they have had success during these playoffs because of their best players, Sam Bennett, Alexander Barkov, and most of all, Matthew Tkachuk. But if Vegas’ 5-2 win in Game One sets the tone for this series, the Panthers’ ability to play physically may not work that well. Because Florida can’t focus on that physicality properly, and they lack emotional control. 

 

One example of this difference in emotional control was Vegas’ ability to remain composed in the face of the Panthers’ onslaught of uncontrolled physicality. With about five minutes remaining in the game, and with the game still within reach for Florida, Tkachuk repeatedly sucker-punched defenseman Nicolas Hague while he was being held by Bennett. Hague’s response was to simply smirk. 

 

This led to Tkachuk being ejected, and Vegas going onto the Power Play, effectively ending any chance of Florida mounting a comeback.  For Tkachuk, a true contender for the Conn Smythe, it was his first real failure. But leave it to Paul Maurice to take the heat off his star forward by stepping on the line and risking a fine from the NHL by calling out the officiating stating “I think they (the officials) were just excited about getting us into the (penalty) box one more time.” 

 

Despite Vegas having a middle-of-the-pack (during the playoffs) power play (PP) of 19.7%, the Panthers’ tendency to step over the line and get penalized, they will desperately need to find control of their physicality and minimize the number of PPs. But more of an issue for Florida is the fact Vegas has a response to the Panthers’ aggressive top line.  The Golden Knights’ Widowmaker line of William Carrier, Nicolas Roy, and Keegan Kolesar has earned the trust of head coach Bruce Cassidy. Their play was instrumental in shutting down the Panthers’ top line, keeping them from earning an even-strength point. 

 

But it’s a seven-game series, and that was only the first game. Florida has an opportunity to regroup, adjust their approach and try to win Game Two to tie it up. So, Panther fans just need to take a deep breath and get ready. 

 

Blain Potvin

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