Florida panthers
Florida came close (and still hasn’t lost every chance) to a St. Louis season 18-19. At that time, the “musicians” did not expect anyone in the Stanley Cup finals, they jumped into the playoffs only in the last rounds of the regular season. Florida almost repeated the trick. But then the Blues won the Stanley Cup, the Panthers are now on the verge of losing the finals series. The last game at home we played average, we conceded three goals and only responded with two.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is only five years old and is already playing in his second Stanley Cup finals. In his first 17-18 season, the rookie lost to Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals. A season later, the Knights reached the semi-finals, repeating that championship feat 20-21. Well, now they’re one step away from the first Stanley Cup in such a short history. Vegas played very competently in all of them, even in the only lost away game in the series. Neither of them conceded more than two goals. At the same time, he distinguished himself in several battles with three goals, and in the first of the last four meetings of the final, he completely smeared the defense of the “cats” on the ice, scoring them seven goals . .
Forecast
…Maybe this time the “jumpers” won’t make seven successful throws, but three of their offensive potentials should be enough. Vegas scored 272 goals in the regular season. In 21 playoff battles, he also scored 73 goals. In 14 of them, he did not leave the penalty area without three light signals outside the opponents’ goal. Florida has nowhere to retreat, you have to attack to score and try to salvage the series. And it started opening up. With the defense, as we see in the final, it does not go smoothly. And Vegas takes full advantage of all his counterpart’s mistakes. Whether the “golden scumbag” will be able to shed the other not-so-beautiful part of his moniker by hoisting hockey’s most prestigious trophy over his head after the upcoming matchup or not, I don’t know. But they will strive for it and to achieve the goal they will probably be able to score at least three goals for their visitors.