Recap: The Golden Knights came into Game 5 looking to raise the Stanley Cup on home ice. Captain Mark Stone came up with the opening goal 11:52 into the first period and Nic Hague doubled their lead 2-0 minutes later. After the opening 20 minutes, the Golden were two periods away from raising the Stanley Cup trophy.
The Panthers scored to get within one but the Golden Knights came storming back. Alec Martinez, Reilly Smith, Stone and Michael Amadio all recorded 2nd period to take a commanding 6-1 advantage.
Ivan Barbashev joined the scoring, giving the Golden Knights an astounding 7-1 lead. Florida scored a pair but Stone stepped in and took a long-distance shot giving himself a clinching game hat trick. Vegas ended Game 5 and the Stanley Cup Finals with an 9-3 over the Panthers.
In their sixth NHL season your Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions! (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: Yet another masterclass from the best team in hockey. The Golden Knights have won the Stanley Cup! (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
- The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup!
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Shea Theodore
** Jack Eichel
* Mark Stone
Kristopher Isom
Dude I’m so stoked!
Rashaad
When they lost game seven against San Jose in year two, the bull crap major call and Fleury all of a sudden not being able to stop a beach ball….
That has never left my memory. Even in the clinching game against Winnipeg when the Jets pulled their goalie with eight minutes left in the game I was nervous. I’m nervous with any three or four goal lead.
That demon has now been put to sleep forever. I am free. Thank you VGK
David Thew
The Panthets were outmatched from the beginning. VGK was being unappreciated. They were taken for granted. This wasn’t a game, it was a beatdown. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve been fighting the flu for 2 days. But, it was still a brightside in my day.
TS
David, nothing like a STANLEY CUP to cure what ails you!! Get well so you can celebrate with Vegas!! Yesssss!!
David Thew
Trying. Have to work. Thank God I’m my own boss.
Pistol Pete
Well, where do I begin?
First and for me, looks like my eternal optimism, viewing the future of the VGK through rose-colored glasses as some have said, was not unfounded after all. My undying support of ownership and management including trading assets to buy “shiny toys”, it all paid off. And oh yeah, the much maligned $10M guy may just be awarded the Conn Smythe ( not…it turned out to be Marchy and boy did he earn it!)).
All the credit goes to each every player for their sweat, blood, commitment, and undying belief they could go all the way, to Bruce Cassidy, to the much-maligned ownership and management, to the many unsung heroes who work for the VGK organization, to a loyal fan base, and a special mention to Adin Hill.
As has been widely reported in the media, Bill Foley stated well before operations commenced in 2017: “playoffs in three, Cup in six”. The first was fulfilled in the first year and now the second has been fulfilled. In the film “Valiant” he said: “I intend to create a dynasty here in Las Vegas”. Well guess what? That is the next achievable goal, a dynasty. Winning another Cup in the next year or two. Just look at this roster. Arguably the deepest four lines anchored by the best fourth line in the league, the best six man D corp in the league, two competent co-starting goalies in Hill (if they can re-sign him and need go figure out Lehner) and Thompson playing behind the best coached defensive structure in the league. This roster and its success is directly attributable to the shrewd management of George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon including the absolutely brilliant scuttling of DeBoer in favor of Bruce Cassidy. There are some aging players on the roster, however even for the eldest the window stays open for another two to three years in my opinion. And this postseason did not even require Dorofeyev and Cotter. Do not underestimate the depth of the VGK prospect pool either and the ability to draft over the next few seasons. Go Knights Go! The future is bright!
Pistol Pete
Bring on the 2023 NHL entry draft. Vegas has a first and two thirds. The second third a dividend from the Eichel trade. Could the timing be any better?
Pistol Pete
And a special mention to 35 year-old Alec Martinez who won his third Cup scoring in the last two games of the series. Worth every penny of his $5m+ contract. One year remaining. Does anyone really think Petro will not stay a force for the next few years? Stone, Stephenson, Martinez, Pietrangelo, Stone, Eichel, Whitecloud, Hague, Roy, Kolesar, Howden, Amadio, Hill, Barbashev. The evolution from year one. Smart savvy guys George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon.
Sorvino
Vegas has the greatest front office in the league.
TS
Pp, based on a couple prior posts from (new)people, there are those who are again questioning our legitimacy . Already trying to rain on our Parade. They couldn’t even wait a frigging DAY before bitching.
I SAY “GO POUND SAND! FLORIDA SAND!! AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, BURY YOURSELF IN IT!!!!”
Anand
TS, They did it!!!
Congratulations to everyone.
TS
Yesssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!
CAN IT GET ANY BETTER IN VEGAS???
David Thew
Exactly right. Miami, FL, is going through a catastrophe of epic proportions (and we aren’t talking about hurricanes). They are in mourning in Miami. Catchy praise.
TS
David:: HEY, I DIDN’T JINX THEM, AFTER ALL!!!!!!
David Thew
ROFLMAO…
TS
Me, too!! That old positive attitude might just be a THING!! And Karma? What a BITCH she can be!! ( yup, I said it…)
larry
Stanley Cup fucking champions!!!….i love the sound of that….helps to partially alleviate that damn unfathomable Sharks loss….that further damn and further unfathomable loss to the canadians…we roll 4 lines out there…6 deep on defense….oh and a goaltender i had little faith in during the regular season…and all of a sudden he is Ken Dryden in stopping everything…fighting for every inch of his crease and for his teammates…players buying into and accepting a new system…which in the first 20-25 games of the season looked downright scary to watch lol!!!…MARK STONE….crosschecked unmercifully against the Jets and Oilers….remained standing…..proved his mettle again and again that the other teams said fuck it…no point in doing so…only makes him stronger and his team feeds off of it!!….Eichel an absolute beast…joining Wild Bill as 200 foot center icemen…i pictured Stone carrying the Cup…the gloves and helmets flying off early yesterday afternoon….i was brimming with confidence that the series would be over at 8pm last night…full disclosure….i broke down crying as they celebrated….i was a huge Rangers fan from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s…they broke my heart over and over in losses to the islanders….i left the hockey world behind until I became a fan during season 2…and then a rabid fan thereafter….for VGK to fulfill that dream of winning the CUP….WOW and double WOW!!!
David Thew
I’m originally from Colorado, so I’m a Broncos fan, Nuggets fan, was an Avalanche fan. But, I have lived in Las Vegas for 26 and a half years so when the Knights came here right after the Mandalay Bay shooting, I embraced them as my hockey team. So much talent on their squad.
Richie-Rich
It’s true that Pistol Pete’s enthusiasm was completely unfounded. A year ago, there was no evidence whatsoever that Eichel’s surgery would be successful. The team was struggling under DeBoer, and injuries seemed to be an underlying issue that would be a problem this year. We saw the banishment of Max Pacioretty and the end of the line for Robin Lehner. Alex Martinez suffered a major gash to his face, and no one could be sure if he’d ever be the same. Mark Stone went through multiple back surgeries. When Logan Thompson went down to injury early in the year the NHL pundits declared that VGK’s hope for the playoffs were over. At the all star break our team was given almost zero chance of winning the Stanley Cup. That analysis would remain in place for the rest of the year as the odds makers had us as underdogs in every series.
Against Winnipeg, Hellybuck was supposed to wall us off and end our playoff run.
Against Edmonton, The Messiah, Connor McDavid and Draisatl were supposed to crush us with their power play.
Against Dallas, the Stars were supposed to be too bright for Vegas to reach the finals.
In the Stanley Cup final, the Panthers some analysts said that we’d likely be swept. We simply didn’t have the goaltending and our special teams would not be able to compete.
I have to admit, I was the complete opposite of Pistol Pete. All of the evidence didn’t support his undying support for this front office. I have to admit, in hindsight, that I was wrong. I underestimated the impact of Bruce Cassidy, and the ability of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Alex Martinez to overcome their injuries. Boston must be sick this morning for having fired Bruce Cassidy!
Putting the Original Misfits out on the ice as the starting lineup? GENIUS!
McCrimmon has to be given a lot of credit for rolling the dice and winning with Eichel, Barbashev and Aidin Hill. Sorry San Jose – you do suck!
There were so many highlights in this game and throughout the playoffs.
Jonathan Marchessault won the Con Smythe, but it could have gone to Hill, Stone or Eichel. They all were deserving, but I loved to see an undrafted mighty mite like #81 winning it. What’s even better is that I am sure that every single one of the Golden Knights are happy for Jonathan.
What a year.
What a series.
What a team!
I am now on the Pistol Pete positive mental attitude team!
Thank you Pistol Pete.
pistol
My pleasure R-R and an excellent summary btw. Could not have said it any better myself. I sure do remain postive going forward with Cassidy and this roster, the Cotter and Dorofeyev scratches and the prospect pool. A repeat is definitely possible. It will take a some good fortune, mainly lack of injuries including a healthy Mark Stone, but it can happen! Not blind optimism by me just assessing reality!
TS
I second the Thank You to you, Pp! I was happy to see your return to Sinbin..we needed some ” grounding” here, after so much BS about… OTHER TOPICS. Thanks for being a voice of HOCKEY FOR US ALL!
Richie-Rich
PP- Don’t forget Pachal. He’s another young defensmen who has great potential. I am going to savor this great playoff run and Stanley Cup Championship.
It’s too soon to start talking about the draft and offseason moves. I will save those thoughts for next week.
SAVOR THIS SEASON! ONE WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
Pistol Pete
R-R with respect to the offseason you have to admit now that the Eichel trade has been vindicated that the third rounder bonus from Buffalo will be sweet, a true “bonus”!
TS
Rr, IT WAS MAGIC. ABSOLUTE MAGIC THIS SEASON. Every time something Negative happened to tge team, they defied all the odds, all the negative trash, all the doubters, and CLIMBED TO THE PEAK OF HOCKEY!!
CAN YOU SAY CHAMPIONS??? HOO-RAH!!!
TS
Rr, you were always more if a realist. It DID look pretty gloomy for awhile. Last season hurt us. HUGE question mark. Most of us were feeling the uncertainties. But, starting with Cassidy’s timely hiring, our team got NEW LIFE. NEW DIRECTION. NEW HOPE. He was the difference- maker, more than any other. I was on board with him immediately, and the guys responded…ALL IN. The result is VEGAS HISTORY!!
P.s. you eat Humble Pie well!
Pistol Pete
This one for the McBashers.
https://theathletic.com/4608812/2023/06/14/golden-knights-foley-mcphee-mcrimmon-lebrun/
For the believers like me, how sweet it is.
Pistol Pete
R-R no offense btw! I am unfair to label all McPhee and McCrimmon doubters as “bashers”. There was always some basis for questioning some of their moves it’s just that in hindsight they were more right than wrong. I simply always deferred to their collective experience and ended up being justified in doing so.
Richie-Rich
I am guilty of McBashing myself. That’s all been wiped clean. Let’s see what magic he can pull off in the offseason! I hope those plans include deals for Hill and Barbashev.
Richie-Rich
STH 11,M,13&14
Pistol Pete
The $10m guy. More important so far to this team than McDavid has been to the Oilers because winning a Cup is everything and imo Vegas would not have pulled it off without him (and in all fairness the rest of the roster as well).
Bullish on the Eichel trade from the beginning including pushing for it to happen, believing he would apply his gifts to the 200 ft. game, putting the team before him, for me his first postseason performance has been unbelievably rewarding. His ability to take possession of the puck in the D zone and plow through the neutral zone into the O zone. He’ll only get better and to think he’ll be a force on this team for another ten years and how many more Cups? How many rookies will he mentor?
JoeInHendo
Congratulations to our Golden Knights! Stanley Cup Champions. Nothing else needs to be said other than when and where are we celebrating our team with the Championship parade? Go Knights Go!!
TS
Saturday night parade, 7pm( between Flamingo and Trop! Victory rally @ 9pm, Toshiba Plaza
Pistol Pete
As those who follow my posts know I’m bullish on Pavel Dorofeyev. As much as I respect what Michael Amadio has done for this team going from being picked up on waivers to scoring postseason goals, I see Cassidy striving to make Dorofeyev a linemate of Smith and Karlsson. Dorofeyev has made progress in physicality with his forechecking and toughness on the puck but he needs now to become more Barbashev-like when it comes to hitting. I can seriously see that happening. We’ll see how McCrimmon addresses the cap. Lehner iks a big issue, Hill and Barbashev may or may not be able to be re-signed and he’ll have to come up with an offer for Dorofeyev who will be an RFA. Zero chance he is not re-signed.
Dennis Grannen
I 100% agree about Dorofeyev,
I feel the same way about Paul Cotter, if both of them live up to their promise it will be great to have more than the one home grown impact player we now have on the team.
What Dorofeyev really needs now is a catchy nickname that Americans and and Canadians can both spell and pronounce.
Rick Schoen
With apologies to all the members of the Golden Knights, Kudos to Coach Cassidy. He is a master mind tactian. He created four lines that come at you from all angles. He crafted a defense that not only help our committed of goalies but locked down some of the biggest gunners in hockey. Cassidy looked at what the front office gave him to work with and did a masterful job of forging four lines that rolled over ever team they faced.
Pistol Pete
Let’s not forget Keagan Kolesar for his excellent forechecking and defending. Plus HE was the one who took Tkachuk out of the series. Any chance Tkachuk first hurt himself with the Eichel hit? Who knows but if so Kolesar finished the job!
VGK fan
Stanley Cup fucking champions!!!….i love the sound of that….helps to partially alleviate that damn unfathomable Sharks loss….that further damn and further unfathomable loss to the canadians…we roll 4 lines out there…6 deep on defense….oh and a goaltender i had little faith in during the regular season…and all of a sudden he is Ken Dryden in stopping everything…fighting for every inch of his crease and for his teammates…players buying into and accepting a new system…which in the first 20-25 games of the season looked downright scary to watch lol!!!…MARK STONE….crosschecked unmercifully against the Jets and Oilers….remained standing…..proved his mettle again and again that the other teams said fuck it…no point in doing so…only makes him stronger and his team feeds off of it!!….Eichel an absolute beast…joining Wild Bill as 200 foot center icemen…i pictured Stone carrying the Cup…the gloves and helmets flying off early yesterday afternoon….i was brimming with confidence that the series would be over at 8pm last night…full disclosure….i broke down crying as they celebrated….i was a huge Rangers fan from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s…they broke my heart over and over in losses to the islanders….i left the hockey world behind until I became a fan during season 2…and then a rabid fan thereafter….for VGK to fulfill that dream of winning the CUP….WOW and double WOW!!
I just saw this post and couldn’t agree more with what was said, I just have to add a couple of items to it, the Panthers did play a good 10 minutes in the first period, yet VGK came out with a 2-0 lead which is a testament to the boys, the Panthers then played a good first 8 minutes of the second period, and then it transformed and morphed into a 4-1 lead as I, and we all, witnessed the greatest and sustained 5 minutes of forechecking and puck retrieval that has EVER been seen at the Fortress, watching Eichel and the Boys win every board battle and controlling of the puck, and when Florida did clear lets not forget Pietrangelo headmanning the puck to Eichel to Marinez for a 3-1 lead!
Richie-Rich
It has been a couple of days. There are some big decisions ahead. Here’s my initial take of the 2023-2024 CAP (which is likely going up to $83.5 million). Teams can carry up to 23 on the roster, 20 players each night and 3 scratches.
It’s time to move on from Reilly Smith. If the VGK wants to keep Barbashev and Hill they are going to have to make room under the CAP. Smith (age 32) is still a solid line 2 forward and should be easy to trade. Barbashev (27.5) is a keeper. Offer him $5,000,000. Offer Aidin Hill $4,000,000 to remain a Golden Knight. This means we have to say goodbye to Laurent Brossoit and find a way to dump the Lehner contract. It’s unrealistic that we can keep him on LTIR forever and I don’t envision him ever playing for us again. That leaves our goaltenders as Hill & Thompson, and puts Barbashev on the top line with Eichel and Marchy.
Dorofeyev is a RFA and I envision him moving up to the NHL next year with a qualifying offer that will be CAP friendly.
Pachal is a RFA and I envision him being one of the 3. We can carry 23 on the roster, 3 healthy scratches.
Patrick is a RFA and I don’t envision him making the club.
Howden is an RFA and at 25 is worth trying to keep. The offer is going to have to be CAP friendly.
The other 3 RFAs (Marushev, Patera and Corcoran) should be in Henderson. They will either be trade bait or will remain in Henderson.
This is the end of the line for Quick and Kessel (UFAs).
We thank Blueger for his service (UFA) and he signs elsewhere.
Brossoit, as much as I like him, is the oldest goalie besides Quick. Hill(27) and Thompson(26) are the goalies for 2023-2024. Thompson was an all star, but he also is CAP friendly for 2 more years and doesn’t become a UFA until after the 24-25 season.
L1 Barbashev, Eichel, & Marchy $20,000,000 cap hit
L2 Stone, Karlsson, Amadio $16,162,500 capt hit
L3 Howden, Stephenson, Dorofeyev $5,175,000 cap hit
L4 Kolesar, Roy, Carrier $5,800,000 cap hit
D1 Pietrangelo, Martinez $14,050,000 cap hit
D2 Theodore, Whitecloud $7,950,000 cap hit
D3 Hague, McNabb $5,144,150 cap hit
G1 Hill $4,000,000
G2 Thompson $766,666
S1 Cotter $755,000
S2 Hutton $850,000
S3 Pachal $750,000
CAP 2023-2024 $83,500,000
ABOVE CAP $81,423,316
Leaves $2,076,684 under the CAP, the challenge will be able to keep Dorofeyev, Pachal and Howden.
Let the arguments begin! Speculating what the FO might do is a lot of fun. Knowing what they’ve done in the past, stand by for some major surprises!
Martin
I feel obligated to comment because I am so sick of the idiots that continue to say Bettman rigged the expansion draft so Vegas would win. That conspiracy theory is baked into Facebook. If you have any hockey sense you know that the way Bettman set up the Vegas expansion draft was fair and reasonable compared to past expansion drafts that were set up for failure for the new team(s). General Managers across the league have been quoted to support the new expansion draft format. The new expansion format is not a conspiracy! Why in the hell would the NHL want Vegas to win as opposed to any of the big 6 teams? And then the referees conspired so VGK would win? Did anyone watch the Oilers series where VGK got scored on 60% of the Oilers power plays? The refs loved to call VGK that series and they overcame.
I have been a player and a coach for over 40 years and as a kid idolized Wayne wherever he played along with a bunch of other players and teams,…Detroit, Yzerman, Probert, Konstantinof, Pittsburgh, Crosby…. I took a long break following the NHL until VGK started up. I live in Alaska and was on the phone for tickets the first day they were available for their inaugural season. I am not a bandwagon fan like everyone on Facebook says you are if you are a VGK fan. My wife and I have been to 10 games since, including game 1 of the finals this year. Our first game we watched JM 81 stood out above everyone, we new he was a star immediately. Loved MAF 29 from day one and PD did him dirty. Stone 61 wears my number and my son’s and is fantastic. First saw him versus Ducks when he was with Senators on a Disney trip. Jack #9…great playoff, give him the puck so he can enter the zone. How in the f$(&)&) hell can the Buffalo fans boooo him? He wants his own neck surgery? Fans are F’ing stupid. Vegas management had the balls to let him control his own body. It worked out. What a fantastic season, I have watched game 5 several times now, what domination. I wish we were there in addition to game one. I also wish I would have bet VGK IN 5 instead of 6.. However, we broke even with our game one one bet.
Closing, for the summer I would like to see Aiden Hill and Ivan Barbashev signed. Hill is such a fantastic player. Look at his demeanor at stoppages. Ivan, look at his hits and playmaking.
David Thew
I know the feeling. Being from Colorado (Vegas 26 1/2 yrs), I always watched and rooted for the Avalanche. But, when Vegas came out after the shooting, I embraced them. On a side note; I will NEVER embrace the Raiders (I’d rather piss glass). But, VGK is my team and I am proud of them.
lrry
Wild Bill…the meekest and worst interviewee that can possibly be…2 word replies..let me off the podium stage….put a few…a few hundred drinks in him…and man he really turns into Wild Bill…what an absolute joy and fun to see him as he was tonight…funny…hysterical and heartwarming!!!
Richie-Rich
I absolutely have no problem with his behavior. I do have some concerns about his health the next day though! As a Navy sailor, I’ve been there myself. Feeling like Mighty Thor! The next morning….not so much. Here’s to a back-to-back championship and 2 or 3 more.