Stanley Cup Finals: (WC2) Florida Panthers vs (P1) Vegas Golden Knights | VGK Lead 3-1

[Sticksandsun]

Re the time off, Barkov is hurt, Lustar is hurt, it'll do them good. Bobrovsky had 3 weeks off before he started vs Boston, he's traditionally played well rested. That +his age, I see it as a win. Avs had 9 days off last year before the finals and won pretty easily.

Re: last finals where 2 teams haven't won, this is the 1st since 2018 Caps/Vegas. Before that:

'07-Ducks/Sens
'99-Stars/Sabres
'96-Avs/Panthers

don't feel like going back further lol too lazy.

Yeah, Florida has multiple injuries and Bobrovsky went 29 days between starts last month, but these 10 days off are going to kill them? Lame excuse.

 

[Waterbuf]

Pretty torn, I kind of love both teams.

 

[behemolari]

This is first time Panthers are favourites and it will turn against them, Bob hot streak must be come down sooner or later. I have picked Panthers in 7 every time and do it again, but this is a toss up really

 

[Hostile Offer]

I don't really care for either team but should be an entertaining series anyway.

 

[Mobiandi]

Vegas sweeps

 

[Gentle Man]

Vegas will systematically deconstruct, frustrate, embarass, and obliterate the Panthers one game at a time.

-Bruce Cassidy

Sabrebowl 2023

Dale Tallon already has rights to this matchup

 

[Terry Yake]

vegas in 6

 

[ovikovy817]

2018: Vegas makes finals against former Southeast Division team making their second appearance in the finals after first appearing in the 90s and getting swept.

2023: Vegas makes finals against former Southeast Division team making their second appearance in the finals after first appearing in the 90s and getting swept.

You can also add that Caps and Cats both won the president's trophy the season before.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Vegas sweeps

No chance as Vegas always lays at least one stinky egg every series.

 

[Gentle Man]

If Karlsson and Pietrangelo can contain Tkachuk, Florida stands no chance. I don’t see Barkov kicking it up into high gear, he’s been pretty underwhelming. Florida is here because of two players, Bob and Tkachuk.

Only played 6 minutes in game 3 due to injury

PoMo also said it was related to the Quad overtime and Barkov taking 60+ faceoffs



Buddy also uses smelling salts on his eyes.

 

[Shad]

Really hoping Florida

 

[jackjohnson]

Really has to warm your heart to see a team like Vegas, whose fans have had it so rough, back in the finals.

Honestly I don't hate their team or their fans to be honest. I tip my cap to their GM and scouts for building such a team.

Florida takes it in 7 if Bob keeps the shield up but boy this Vegas team is a really really good team. It can go either way.

Vegas is far deeper in all areas and it’s not even close. Vegas bottom 6 kill Floridas bottom 6 and it’s not even close.

Yes this will be tough to predict but if Bob plays like he has and Tkatchuk plays like he has, Florida can win it in 6 or 7. If the break cooled off Bob then Vegas could win it. It all depends on which Bob shows up for the final because Vegas has better depth on D while their offensive depth is a wash.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Panthers in 7

 

[Paradise Circus]

“ Eichel playing in the SCF before McDavid or Matthews. Who would have made that bet?”

 

[Zalos]

As some others have said, this is in the hands of Bobrovsky. If he keeps on playing well, the Panthers will win for sure. They seem unstoppable.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

We'll see how the week and a half off, affected the Panthers.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Yeah I forgot about that one, that's definitely the most recent one. Before that, it would be the 2012 Kings correct?

Honestly I thought it was a bigger deal, I thought you'd have to go back like 20-30 years to find a matchup like this.

No, you asked about the previous finals between two teams who’d never won a Stanley Cup, and the 2012 Kings were up against the Devils who had won cups in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

2007 Ducks win over Senators
1999 Stars win over Sabres
1996 Avs win over Panthers
1991 Pens win over North Stars

 

[Aurinko]

We'll see how the week and a half off, affected the Panthers.

Bob is the obvious big one that can end the serie before it really gets going.

On the other side you have Adin Hill looking solid and W.Karlsson heating up and looking like the 2018 version who scored 43 goals and absolutely destroyed the league plusminus.

 

[mighty Stanley Duck]

I voted Vegas in 6.
Depth, Adin who is playing great good coach, D-very discipline and good in taking care of the puck in own zone...

 

[Bread4Life]

FLORIDA IN 6

 

[pb1300]

Vegas might have the better depth, but the high end talent is not above what the Panthers have. Vegas has also not played against a team that forechecks the way the Panthers do, or regardless of their lower pairing Dmen, the way they defend. They are relentless and hit everything. On one hand, the Panthers will be the toughest opponent Vegas has faced, while on the other hand, Vegas will not be the best team the Panthers have faced.

 

[heksagon]

Vegas is gonna make bobs life hell that's for sure.. Florida needs near perfect goaltending to win this series. And they need to be excellent on the pk. They can't afford to play run and gun against Vegas. That's when Vegas burns you

It's good then that Florida doesn't really play run and gun anymore, that was the style last year.

 

[MrSnrub]

The fact that you can go to the Vegas board and the gdt for a final clinching game is only on its second page is great proof that it is pretty shitty that this is their second finals in 6 years in the league

Hfboards fandom isn’t everything.

 

[hangman005]

Hfboards fandom isn’t everything.

Yeah expecting a team that only came into existence when the age of internet forums is long long long past its prime to have tons of fans on an internet forum is an interesting take, most Vegas fans are on reddit or other such places, personally I'll never understand it, forums are far superior they just are no longer hip.

 

[General Fanager]

Two teams that has never won the cup....should be fun


Ill go Panthers in 6