The first elimination game of the series is here, as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Adin Hill patrol the creases. Vegas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Mark Stone shorthanded goal, his ninth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Golden Knights added on with a Nicolas Hague goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault. Florida got on the board with an Aaron Ekblad goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Nick Cousins. Vegas replied with an Alec Martinez goal, his second of the playoffs, assisted by Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo. The Golden Knights extended the lead as Reilly Smith scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. Vegas padded the lead on another Stone goal, his second of the game and tenth of the playoffs, passed from Brett Howden and Chandler Stephenson. The Golden Knights continued with a Michael Amadio goal, his fifth of the postseason, made possible by Smith. Vegas piled on in the third period with an Ivan Barbashev goal, his seventh of the playoffs, with helpers from Eichel and Theodore. The Panthers got one back with a Sam Reinhart goal, his eighth of the postseason, courtesy of Sam Bennett and Brandon Montour. Florida got closer with a Bennett goal, his fifth of the playoffs, coming off of Gustav Forsling and Reinhart. The Golden Knights answered on a Stone empty net goal, completing his hat trick on his eleventh of the postseason, an unassisted goal. Vegas iced it at 9-3 with a Nicolas Roy goal, his third of the playoffs, helped along by Theodore and Brayden McNabb. The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup with a 4-1 series win, and Marchessault was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
That's all for yet another season here. As usual, I'll take the offseason to consider whether or not I'll keep writing here for 2023-24. Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
