NHL 2023-24 - Day 1

We're back for another NHL season, or at least we'll give it a start here. The first day of the campaign has three games, beginning with...

The Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros faces a lesser foe in Jonas Johansson in goal. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, assisted by Victor Hedman and Brayden Point. Nashville tied it in the second period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, via Filip Forsberg and Ryan McDonagh. The Predators took the lead in the third period with a Juuso Parssinen goal, coming off of Forsberg and O'Reilly. The Lightning tied it with a Nicholas Paul power play goal, powered by Point and Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay took the lead back with a Brandon Hagel penalty shot goal. Nashville retied it on a Thomas Novak power play goal, fueled by Philip Tomasino and Gustav Nyquist. The Lightning pulled ahead again with a Paul power play goal, his second of the game, with assists provided by Mikhail Sergachev and Point. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with a Kucherov empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Paul and Sergachev. The three stars were Paul, Kucherov, and Point, while O'Reilly, Forsberg, and Sergachev get the honorable mentions.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek and Tristan Jarry start in goal. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Bryan Rust goal, via Kris Letang and Lars Eller. The Penguins added on in the second period with a Sidney Crosby goal, assisted by Jake Guentzel and Marcus Pettersson. Chicago got on the board with a Ryan Donato goal, guided in by Alex Vlasic and Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks tied it in the third period with a Cole Guttman power play goal, helped along by Andreas Athanasiou and Seth Jones. Chicago took the lead with a Jason Dickinson goal, coming off of Corey Perry and Nick Foligno. The Blackhawks finished it at 4-2 with a Foligno empty net goal, set up by Perry and Dickinson. The three stars were Dickinson, Foligno, and Perry.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights bring in the Seattle Kraken. Philipp Grubauer and Adin Hill are between the pipes. Vegas struck first in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, passed from Brett Howden and Mark Stone. The Golden Knights added on with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, going in unassisted. Vegas extended the lead in the second period as Ivan Barbashev scored, thanks to Brayden McNabb. Seattle got on the board with a Jared McCann goal, helped along by Jordan Eberle. The Golden Knights finished it at 4-1 with a Jack Eichel empty net goal, set up by Stone and Stephenson. The three stars were Stephenson, Hill (32 for 33 in saves), and Stone. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 5

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.

2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 4

The Florida Panthers again host the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Sergei Bobrovsky are between the pipes. Vegas led off in the first period with a Chandler Stephenson goal, his ninth of the postseason, via Zach Whitecloud and Mark Stone. The Golden Knights added on in the second period with a Stephenson goal, his second of the game and tenth of the playoffs, guided in by Stone and Nicolas Hague. Vegas extended the lead as William Karlsson scored his eleventh of the postseason, his eleventh of the postseason, coming off of Hague and Jonathan Marchessault. Florida got on the board with a Brandon Montour goal, his eighth of the playoffs, fueled by Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers got closer in the third period with a Barkov goal, his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Montour and Anton Lundell. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Stephenson, Hague, and Stone, while Montour and Barkov get the honorable mentions. The Golden Knights head back home with a 3-1 series lead and a maximum of three chances to secure the Stanley Cup. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 3

The action has moved to Florida, as the Panthers bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Sergei Bobrovsky are the goalies. Florida began in the first period with a Brandon Montour goal, his seventh of the postseason, courtesy of Matthew Tkachuk and Eric Staal. Vegas tied it on a Mark Stone power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, powered by Jonathan Marchessault and Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Marchessault power play goal, his thirteenth of the postseason, with assists provided by Jack Eichel and Stone. The Panthers tied it on a Tkachuk goal in the third period, his eleventh of the playoffs, fueled by Carter Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad. Florida won 3-2 in overtime on a Verhaeghe goal, his seventh of the postseason, guided in by Sam Bennett and Gustav Forsling. The three stars were Verhaeghe, Tkachuk, and Marchessault, while Stone gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights remain ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 2

We're back for Game 2, with the Vegas Golden Knights welcoming the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Adin Hill patrol the creases. Vegas opened in the first period with a Jonathan Marchessault power play goal, his eleventh of the postseason, powered by Chandler Stephenson and Jack Eichel. The Golden Knights added on with an Alec Martinez goal, coming off of Ivan Barbashev and Marchessault. Vegas extended the lead in the second period as Nicolas Roy scored his second of the playoffs, courtesy of William Carrier and Zach Whitecloud. The Golden Knights padded the lead on a Brett Howden goal, his fourth of the postseason, fueled by Mark Stone and Stephenson. Alex Lyon replaced Bobrovsky in goal. Florida got on the board with an Anton Lundell goal in the third period, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Anthony Duclair. Vegas shot back with a Marchessault goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the postseason, passed from Eichel. The Golden Knights kept going with a Michael Amadio goal, his fourth of the playoffs, helped along by William Karlsson. The Panthers got one back with a Matthew Tkachuk goal, his tenth of the postseason, assisted by Sam Bennett and Josh Mahura. Vegas replied with a Howden power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Amadio and Carrier. This made it 7-2, the final, with the three stars being Marchessault, Howden, and Amadio, while Stephenson, Carrier, and Eichel get the honorable mentions. The Golden Knights head on the road with a 2-0 series lead. 

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2023 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 1

We're at the last round now, with the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Sergei Bobrovsky and Adin Hill protect the nets. Florida began in the first period with an Eric Staal shorthanded goal, his second of the postseason, set up by Anton Lundell. Vegas tied it on a Jonathan Marchessault power play goal, his tenth of the playoffs, powered by Chandler Stephenson and Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights took the lead in the second period with a Theodore goal, assisted by Brayden McNabb and Brett Howden. The Panthers tied it on an Anthony Duclair goal, his fourth of the postseason, going in unassisted. Vegas regained the lead on a Zach Whitecloud goal in the third period, his second of the playoffs, passed from Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel. The Golden Knights added on with a Mark Stone goal, his seventh of the postseason, an unassisted goal. Vegas iced it at 5-2 with a Reilly Smith empty net goal on the power play, his third of the playoffs, set up by Eichel. The three stars were Theodore, Eichel, and Whitecloud. The Golden Knights open the series with a 1-0 series lead. 

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2023 Western Conference Finals - Game 6

We're back in Dallas one more time for Game 6 as the Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights. Adin Hill and Jake Oettinger protect the nets. Vegas struck first in the first period with a William Carrier goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Keegan Kolesar. The Golden Knights added on with a William Karlsson power play goal, his ninth of the playoffs, powered by Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith. Vegas extended the lead as Kolesar scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Carrier and Alec Martinez. The Golden Knights padded the lead in the second period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his ninth of the playoffs, guided in by Ivan Barbashev and Nicolas Hague. Vegas continued in the third period on a Karlsson goal, his second of the game and tenth of the postseason, fueled by Michael Amadio. The Golden Knights finished it at 6-0 with an Amadio goal, his third of the playoffs, helped along by Karlsson and Smith. The three stars were Karlsson, Carrier, and Hill (23 save shutout), while Amadio, Kolesar and Smith get the honorable mentions. The Golden Knights won the series 4-2 and will face the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup. 

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