Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to take a two-game series lead with a victory in Game 2. Early in the period both goaltenders made several key saves keeping it tight. Vegas drew a penalty at the seven minute mark and Jonathan Marchessault took advantage on the power play. Ten minutes later Alec Martinez flipped a puck into the net to give Vegas a 2-0 lead.
A few shifts into the second frame, Vegas took a 3-0 lead. Nic Roy shot through scored his second goal of the postseason giving the Golden Knights a commanding three score advantage. Brett Howden joined the offensive party minutes later with a weaving highlight reel goal.
A weird hop found its way into the Vegas net quickly to start the 3rd period. It didn’t take long for the Golden Knights to make up for it though as Marchessault tallied his second of the night. William Karlsson set up Michael Amadio for a tap-in to give the Golden Knights a 6-1 lead that would eventally be extended to 7-2 with Howden’s second of the night.
The Golden Knights win both Games 1 and 2 at are two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup. Vegas will take their 2-0 series advantage to South Florida for two contests. Game 3 is scheduled for 5 PM on Thursday. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: A lot like Game 1, the Golden Knights were the more effective team on the forecheck. The difference in Game 2 was that the effectiveness was taken up even another notch by Vegas. They were all over the Panthers in the offensive zone and consistently forced turnovers and uncontrolled exits. From there, the Golden Knights’ skill took over as they created chance after chance that no goalie could stop. It was an absolute clinic in a game in the Stanley Cup Final. Incredible. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
- VGK exposing FLA’s defense with tenacious forechecking
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Ivan Barbashev
** Jonathan Marchessault
* Adin Hill
The Golden Knights have won Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
They are officially as close as they've ever been to winning it all. This is incredible.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
The first "We Want The Cup" chant of the Final is ringing from the rafters of T-Mobile Arena.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
That's 41.7% of games for those scoring along at home. https://t.co/5pvufRo8jO
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
Connor Hellebuyck was supposed to be a problem.
Jake Oettinger was supposed to be a problem.
Sergei Bobrovsky was supposed to be a problem.This ain't the Golden Knights of old. This team finishes against everyone.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
A dominant 1st period from the home team.
Smothering the Panthers all over the ice, especially their best players. Tkachuk has turned into a liability.
Brilliant way to start Game 2.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
The Golden Knights are blocking absolutely everything the Panthers are putting at the net.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 6, 2023
Former season ticket holder
VGK plays hockey Fla plays rollerball
We got this
David Thew
Yep, the Panthers continue to get flustered and they lose their composure. VGK is rolling right now.
knights fan in minny
total dominat ion by the boys what else can you say about aidan the wall hill blue line was good clean slate for the penalty kill marchy is the man.balanced scoring barbashev is playing outstanding back check forecheck hitting people chipping in goals and assists. florida is more worried about hitting guys then playing the game their defense sucks nothing but hacks celebrate tonight sin city well deserved
Frank
Dominant performance. That is all.
Jailbird
We totally dominate the kitties! They are embarrising themselves with their chippy bullshit. Was glad to see Barby knock that #7 out of the game. Jack dodged a serious injury. Showed me a lot, him coming back and finishing the game. We are just so much a better hockey team!
TS
Jb, when Eichel got up and struggled to the bench in severe pain, I think every fan thought he was DONE. ( was that a revenge hit on him because of Gouda’s exit??) His neck and head took a vicious snap. Did he EVER surprise us all by his return!!
ENTIRE TEAM PLAYED LIKE THEY DESERVE THE CUP… AND DAMN RIGHT, THEY DO!!
Pistol Pete
Two down and two to go. The VGK has been really good on the road all year including the postseason where they have won every first or only game of a trip including closing out two series. I don’t see them losing both games in Florida.
knights fan in minny
balance and depth nothing better
Bobby
Exactly! We have a complete team that stands up for each other, and plays hockey the right way. So proud of this team and the city’s love and support. OUR team!!! 2 WINS TO GO!!!!!!!
Roberto
Meanwhile on ESPN: “Yes a Stanley Cup game, thank you cool. 30 seconds of that is plenty. Now let’s get back to ten minutes of in-depth coverage on this Southern Miss v East Carolina college baseball regional and really dig in what happened. We know dozens across a couple of states are captivated” …
Frank
ESPN SUCKS A FAT ……. well you know. Hockey is too good for the likes of ESPN.
knights fan in minny
espn is a joke tnt is muchbetter love bissonette
TS
Last night’s pregame show/ intermissions were very entertaining– those guys were having a good time in Vegas. Good coverage and analysis, and some humor to spice it up!
Note: if the sound system gets any LOUDER, we’ll need Closed Captioning to understand these guys–ridiculous! My ears were ringing, and I watched from HOME!!
TS
WE WANT THE CUP!!!!!!
larry
Nothing more can be added to a totally dominating performance tonight …except for 2 things lol:
I said it for 82 regular season game…and i said it at the beginning of the playoffs…Kessel must be benched…and zowie he is put on the sideline and suddenly VGK can roll 4 lines seamlessly and beautifully!!
Game 3 the amazingly resilient Jack Eichel will score a goal…and his celly will be priceless and all his teammates will all be as exuberant as Stoney is to celebrate our 200 foot center!!!
Roberto
Phil was hired because he could get through an entire 82 game schedule while always on his skates. He did exactly that. He helped VGK weather a bunch of injuries, including Stone’s, without the team skipping much of a beat. He kept the locker room light, and put some goals in the net.
Mad respect for Phil Kessel. The team would not be here if not for his regular season work in its many forms. I ever see that guy around Vegas, I’m buying him as much junk food as he wants. No limitations.
VGK fan
Minny,
Barbie, Howden, and Hill are all going to get a pay raise probably not by us, since we have no money unless the NHL raise the cap more than the 1 million they currently scheduled to do.
There is talk about moving the cap higher than $1 million but I haven’t heard how high it might go if anyone knows please tell us.
knights fan in minny
eddie o keeps saying barbashev will get paid i hope the front office is listening.could be a quiet candidate for conn Smythe.
Vic
VGK need to sharpen their pencils to come up with the impossible task of signing both Barby and Hill. Would be nice, but these two will be paid well for excelling when it counts.
Refs throwing around 10 minute misconducts like candy. Complete overkill when you send guys off for minor clutching and grabbing near the end of the game. What happened to 2 minute roughing and unsportsmanlike penalties?
THE hockey GOD
@ Vic
the refs were repeated warning the rat cats to cut out the “junk”. They were warned and warned and warned again. The NHL came down on refs. And the Refs came down on the players. This sort of “junk” results when NHL attempts to take fighting out of the game. We’ll see if this continues into Game 3.
Vgk fan
Vic,
I was at the game VGK was dominant and Florida new they had to play dirty its the only way they can win.
The refs waited til VGK was up 3 before they started handing out 10 minute game misconduct. This game was over early.
Awesome atmosphere I’ve been to over 50 games this year and the Hill introduction in game 1 was the 1st time I can remember not here the PA announcement of his name it was just so crazy loud.
larry
Roberto you are a perfect example of drinking the kool-aid…go knights go!!
Rob S.
Really, larry? Two of the best-played games in VGK history in the last three days and all you have is…ripping on Phil Kessel? Wow. Just, wow.
larry
Just pointing out the obvious Rob…youre welcome.
Rob S.
Two games to go and you’re patting yourself on the back over trashing someone who hasn’t even played in the playoffs?
Behold larry, Exhibit A that this is “the dumbest and least-sophisticated fan base in sports.”
THE hockey GOD
it’s 3 am and just getting back from the Strip, boy it was wild there.
The true fans started the SHA NA NA hey hey hey GOOD BYE chant. From the rafters. Then the fake noise took over. Pathetic display of drowning out the fans. They’ll figure it out one day.
VGK need to keep focus, the rat cats play junk hockey, it was on full display and the cats have a bunch of junk players on their bench. Don’t see how they play this way without the coaching staff’s approval. They are targeting key areas of specific players. And this should not be allowed.
David Thew
Agreed. They are playing cheap hockey. They remind me of the Hanson brothers from Slap Shot. Hats off to the VGK for not biting. They are staying disciplined.
Mark Taylor
Eichel is a frigging warrior, he just makes everyone better with his play. He definitely has respect in the locker room. It amazes me that Florida is going “Hanson bros” on us, we have so much discipline, our guys are focused. Eichel is going to lift his “Cup” soon while that one dimensional scoring hog is clipping his toe nails.
TS
Game 1: BLOWOUT
Game 2: BLOWOUT
Conclusion: Panthers can’t beat the VGK into submission. Playing like ice assassins, will not win a CUP. SKILL WINS A CUP. GREAT HOCKEY WINS A CUP. Panthers have Little to none. none. WE DO. That is why we WILL LIFTthe CUP!!
( Is it any surprise the Cats play as dirty as they do?? Their coach not only allows it, coaches it, but he’s a nasty piece of work himself!#!#)
TS
If anyone heard the “live mike” of the Refs in Game 1, the Refs REPEATEDLY warned the Cats to STOP THE BULL, esp. Post-whistle. ALL GAME LONG.
Well, that dirty play led to Game 2, when the Refs decided to make a statement: NO MORE BULL, OR YOU WILL WATCH FROM THE LOCKER ROOM!! (Refs can’t afford to ” lose the room”!!)
THE hockey GOD
i don’t see why NHL doesn’t suspend tchoke for at least one game for getting three ten minutes misconducts in two games.
wait a minute, when he is out there it’s like he is playing for VGK ?!?
knights fan in minny
i was thinking the same thing
vgk21
another big win!
2 down, and 2 to go.
Vgk are keeping their focus and composure. they have more depth and are using it beautifully.
big sigh of relief for Knights fans when Jack came back.
Mark Taylor
Eichel is a frigging warrior, he just makes everyone better with his play. He definitely has respect in the locker room. It amazes me that Florida is going “Hanson bros” on us, we have so much discipline, our guys are focused. Eichel is going to lift his “Cup” soon while that one dimensional scoring hog is clipping his toe nails.