(WGR 550) - We finally have our two contenders that will compete for the chance to hoist the most famous trophy in sports.
The 2023 Stanley Cup Final will feature a pair of teams looking to win their first championship in NHL history. It will also feature two teams that have made it to the Final in years past, only to come up short when it mattered most.
The Vegas Golden Knights were the best team to come out of the Western Conference in both the regular season and playoffs, while the Florida Panthers are just the fourth 8-seeded team in NHL history to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
How did the Panthers and Golden Knights punch their tickets to the Stanley Cup Final? Let's take a look back at the Conference Final action of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Panthers sweep away Hurricanes, 4-0
It was a painful four-game sweep for the Carolina Hurricanes, because they certainly didn't play like a team that got swept. In fact, the Hurricanes were, arguably, the better team for most of the series.
The Hurricanes certainly had the goaltending in the series to stick with the Panthers. Both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta combined for a 1.50 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. They only gave up 10 goals in the four games played, and stood on their heads to try and keep the Hurricanes alive.
However, it was the scoring for Carolina that came up completely dry after getting plenty of scoring in Round 2 against the New Jersey Devils. Six players finished for the team lead in scoring for the Hurricanes against Florida with just two points. However, players like Sebastian Aho, Martin Necas, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Staal and others failed to find the back of the net in the series.
In addition, half the scoring didn't come for the Hurricanes until their backs were against the wall in Game 4. Carolina scored just three goals in the first three games of the series, which just can't happen against a Panthers team of this caliber.
To rub more salt in the wound for the Hurricanes, they have not won a game in the Eastern Conference Final since 2006 when they won the Stanley Cup. That's an 0-12 record with a chance to play for another championship.
Speaking of the Panthers, two players helped carry the torch to get Florida back to the Stanley Cup Final: Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky. And there's a case for both players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, even if they fall to Vegas in the Final.
Starting with Tkachuk, what more can you say? Four goals in the series, three of which were game-winning goals. This included overtime winners in Games 1 and 2 in Carolina, followed by the incredible series-clinching goal with just 4.3 seconds remaining in Game 4.
Tkachuk is the motor that keeps the Panthers' Ferrari running, and it is running at peak efficiency. When the 25-year-old is playing on top of his game, there is little anyone can do to stop him, as well as his teammates.
In 16 playoff games this year, Tkachuk has put up nine goals and added 12 assists for 21 points, which leads all players heading into the Stanley Cup Final. More importantly, he's tied an NHL playoff record for most playoff overtime winners in one postseason run with three.
As long as Tkachuk goes, the rest of the group will follow.
However, not to be outdone, Bobrovsky has not only provided the much-needed stability in goal, he's been posting numbers that are eye-gawking.
Just in the Hurricanes series alone, Bobrovsky only gave up six goals-against, while posting a 4-0 record, a 1.12 goals-against average, a .966 save percentage and a shutout in Game 3.
Overall this postseason, the 34-year-old has posted an 11-2 record, a 2.21 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage and his one shutout. He has been able to reach the Vezina Trophy level of play he has displayed in the past during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, which has seemed like a very long time coming in Florida.
While Tkachuk and Bobrovsky have carried the load for Florida, they still continue to get quality depth production up front from the likes of captain Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, and Anthony Duclair.
Production from the blue line has lacked a bit lately, but that's not to say they have not played poorly. Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, Radko Gudas and Gustav Forsling have all performed very well in their roles, and have continued to provide some solid play at both ends of the ice.
How much magic is left in the tank for the Panthers heading into the Final? The No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference will continue to need the reliable all-around production to get them to the top.
Related
Golden Knights clobber Stars, 4-2
While Vegas' play was not entirely perfect in their series with the Dallas Stars, they certainly showed how dominant they can be when the window opens to lay down the hammer.
The Golden Knights' top line of Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault continues to be a wrecking ball on the ice, combining for 17 points (6+11) in the series against Dallas. The Edmonton Oilers had difficulties trying to contain them in Round 2, and the Stars certainly didn't have too many answers for them in Round 3.
While Eichel produced the least amount of points in the series on that line with four assists, he still leads the Golden Knights in scoring with 18 points (6+12) in 17 games played this postseason. He is also second in overall scoring among players heading to the Final, three points back of Tkachuk.
Marchessault is right behind Eichel atop the team lead in scoring with 17 points (9+8) in 17 games in the playoffs. His play in Rounds 2 and 3 have helped him ascend into the conversation for the Conn Smythe Trophy with Eichel as playoffs MVP from Vegas.
Barbashev sits comfortably in a tie for third in team scoring at 15 points (6+9) with captain Mark Stone (6+9), who continues to show this postseason why he remains one of the best two-way forwards in the game.
William Karlsson is the overall leading goal scorer for the Golden Knights with 10 this postseason, which also leads all players still competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Like the Panthers, Vegas' production from the blue line has been relatively quiet as of late, but that's not to say they have struggled in any way.
In fact, the strong defensive play in front of goalie Adin Hill has made the 27-year-old netminder a sudden favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy. While they gave up an average of 32.8 shots-against to the Stars in the series, the defense never faltered in front of him and kept Dallas away from many prime scoring chances.
Despite the strong play in front of him, Hill has really been instrumental in providing the goaltending assurance the Golden Knights needed this postseason. Against the Stars, he posted a 4-2 record with a 1.99 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage and two shutouts in Games 3 and 6.
Overall this postseason, Hill leads the NHL with a .937 save percentage for goalies who have played, at least, eight games. He also sits second in all goaltending with a 2.07 goals-against with, at least, eight games played.
Related
As for the Stars, after suffering defeats in Games 1 and 2 in overtime on the road, they completely lost composure in Game 3 with a 4-0 loss on home ice. It was a chance to bounce back and prove they had what it took to stick with the Golden Knights, but they ended up putting themselves against the wall.
This included captain Jamie Benn taking a silly cross-checking penalty early in the game that not only resulted in a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct, but also a two-game suspension.
Dallas did all they could in Games 4 and 5 to extend the series, including an overtime winner from Joe Pavelski in Game 4, the Stars got beat down in Game 6 on home ice in a 6-0 loss. After getting out to a sluggish start and falling behind 3-0 in the first period, all the Golden Knights had to do was contain Dallas' best players and the game and series was over.
Despite Jason Robertson finally breaking through with five goals in the series, as well as Roope Hintz and Pavelski continuing to produce for the Stars, the rest of the offense went quiet in the series. Players like Benn and Evgenii Dadonov only produced one point in the series, while Wyatt Johnston, Mason Marchment, Radek Faksa and Tyler Seguin were all held off the scoresheet.
This postseason has been the tale of two Jake Oettingers in goal for the Stars. When he was on his game, he was unbeatable. When he was struggling, he was one of the worst netminders.
In his six games started for the Stars against the Golden Knights, Oettinger was pulled once, and went 2-4 with a 3.84 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage.
Stanley Cup Final prediction: Golden Knights over Panthers in six games
Despite the Cinderella run the Panthers have been on, the Golden Knights are just an overall deeper team than their counterparts. While Florida may have the edge in net with a veteran like Bobrovsky, Vegas has the pieces up front and on the back end to contribute and outlast the Panthers.
The Panthers absolutely have the tools to down the Golden Knights and win their first title, but it'll come down to the play of Tkachuk and Bobrovsky. Can both continue to carry the load and dominate the opposition? Will Vegas find a way to shut down Tkachuk and put relentless pressure on Bobrovsky?
If they can, Florida may be in trouble. Still, this has all the makings of a classic series that easily could go the distance.
If Vegas wins the Stanley Cup, peg Marchessault as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner with his continued ability to find the back of the net in clutch moments.
If Florida wins the Stanley Cup, it's hard to deny Tkachuk as the MVP of the postseason.
Related
