Stanley Cup Final Game 2: Vegas Routs Florida, 7-2, Before Giant Crowd Of 18,561 Monday; VGK Two Wins From Hoisting Stanley Cup

 

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   Story by Alan Snel   Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell

The Golden Knights dominated the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in a 7-2 rout Monday to win the first two games of the Best-of-7 championship series.

LVSportsBiz.com expected another monster crowd of 18,400 plus tonight. Attendance was announced at 18,561.

The big Vegas crowd had lots to cheer about in the first period — and for the rest of the game. The VGK scored seven times on 28 shots and knocked out Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the second period after the Knights assumed a 4-0 lead.

Original Misfit Jonathan Marchessault snapped a wrist shop past Bobrovsky on the power play to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

VGK never looked back.

“We finished the plays,” VGK coach Bruce Cassidy said postgame.

Tonight’s game was a man’s game — Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy

Meanwhile, VGK goalie Adin Hill — making fans not even think about Marc-Andre Fleury in the playoffs — continued his hot goaltending with several outstanding saves.

He even wielded the lumber like former Islanders goalie Billy Smith against Florida’s Matt Tkachuk, chopping at the Panthers’ Chucky before VGK center Jack Eichel started on a rush.

The push ended with veteran defenseman Alec Martinez snapping a wrister over The Bob’s shoulder and the Golden Knights enjoyed a 2-0 lead after one period.

It would prove to be a long night for the Panthers and their coach, Paul Maurice.

The Knights scored three straight goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie to win Game 1. It was the ninth postseason win for the VGK where the Knights were scored upon first.

The National Hockey League’s premier event brings together the world’s hockey world.

And the sport’s biggest stars like Wayne Gretzky also make cameos.

We also met up with ESPN NHL Network broadcaster and insider Kevin Weekes, a former New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender. Here’s our interview:

 

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The Golden Knights knocked out Bobrovsky in the second period.

Early in the second period, Nic Roy skated to a great shooting zone without being hit by a Panthers player and beat Bob for a 3-0 lead.

Then the Knights’ Mark Stone showed why he’s a premier player. With no stick, he skated over Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour, got a new stick on the fly, picked up the puck and then fed linemate Brett Howden who deked Bob and slid the puck into the goal.

Howden scored twice tonight: “It’s been great. It’s been a lot of fun for all of us. We’re just staying in the moment right now.”

Bobrovsky out. And Alex Lyon in.

VGK was cruising with a 4-0 lead.

Hill looked superb after two periods, stopping all 23 shots.

“This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey,” Hill said postgame.

 

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After Florida’s Anton Lundell scored only 14 seconds into period three, the Knights scored twice the seal the win.

Apparently feeling OK after getting rocked by a Tkachuk blindside hit, Eichel fed Marchessault for Marchy’s second tally of the game.

Eichel discussed the hard collision after the game:

“He’s fine. It was a clean hit. It’s OK to be hit,” Cassidy said. “Hockey can be a violent game.”

Later, Original Misfit William Karlsson raced in and set up Michael Amadio, who slipped the puck into an unguarded net.

It was 6-1 before Florida’s Tkachuk added the Panthers’ second goal of the period.

Vegas 6 Florida 2.

“Depth has been a strength all year,” Cassidy said. “We have the best team, one though twenty.”

The Panthers’ fans have been known to throw plastic rats on the ice after a big win. But one even found its way on the T-Mobile Arena ice tonight.

VGK winger Ivan Barbashev said the Knights have to get some rest and get used to the time change:

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