The Vegas Golden Knights drew first blood with a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
At the end of the 60 minutes, it was a deserved victory for Vegas, but there were some moments that could have swung the game in either direction — most notably Adin Hill’s spectacular save on Nick Cousins with the score tied, 1-1, early in the second period.
The Golden Knights closed between -130 and -140, depending on the sportsbook for Game 1, and it looks like they’ll be in that range for Monday’s Game 2.
Panthers vs. Golden Knights prediction
(8 p.m. ET. TNT)
It may sound odd after a 5-2 loss, but there were some encouraging signs for the Florida Panthers in Game 1.
By the end of the game, the expected goals favored the Knights, 4.8 to 2.6, in all situations, but it was a true split (2.3 to 2.3, per MoneyPuck) at 5-on-5.
That is cause for optimism for the Cats, as it was expected that Vegas would be the stronger side at even strength in this series.
Florida’s biggest issue in the contest was its discipline.
You won’t win many games when you hand your opponents seven power plays, and the Cats paid the price.
Not only did the Knights score twice on the man advantage (Florida did have a shorthanded goal), but they were able to prevent the Cats from getting into any real rhythm.
Priority number one for Florida will be to keep Game 2 at 5-on-5 as much as possible.
The Knights were the least-penalized team in the league during the regular season, and the Cats were among the most, so the less special teams play, the better for the Panthers.
The lack of discipline is certainly a cause for concern, but it would be a lot more discouraging if the Panthers struggled to keep up with Vegas at 5-on-5 or didn’t look threatening.
The Panthers had plenty of chances to flip the script in Game 1 but were unable to make them count thanks to some terrific goaltending from Hill.
Betting on the NHL?
The final score may not have looked too kindly on the Panthers in Game 1, but under the hood, everything checked out just fine.
Back the Cats to even up this series in Game 2 on Monday night.
Panthers vs. Golden Knights pick
The Bet: Florida Panthers +120 (BetMGM)
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