Adin Hill Backstops Golden Knights To Game One Victory

Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final is in the books. The Vegas Golden Knights took a 1-0 series lead thanks to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers thanks to a fabulous performance by Adin Hill.

Adin Hill Comes Up Clutch Again for Vegas in Game 1

Hill was the story of this Game 1 as he picked up his eighth victory of the postseason. After the final horn went off, Hill was named the third star of the game as he stopped 33 of 35 shots. He really kept the Golden Knights in the game especially when Florida was charging.

Both teams survived the opening 10 minutes especially Sergei Bobrovsky of Florida and Adin Hill of Vegas. Early on both goalies were tested with Bobrovsky setting the tone with his save on Brett Howden. Hill responded by making several key saves in the first period, but it was Hill’s highlight reel save at the beginning of the second period that turned the tide for Vegas.

The first one came in the second period. With the game tied at 1-1 to start the 2nd period and the Panthers flying in the Vegas end, Hill made sure the momentum did not swing Florida’s way. Florida moved the puck around so well it got Hill out of position. Matthew Tkachuk sent the puck to a wide-open Nick Cousins, but it was Hill’s paddle that made sure the puck did not enter the net. Hill also got help from Alex Pietrangelo, who got the puck out of the slot.

Late in the third period with the Golden Knights up 4-2, Hill robbed Sam Reinhart on a breakaway. Reinhart was looking to cut the lead to 4-3 with the Panthers second shorthanded goal of the night. Instead, Hill stuck with him as Reilly Smith iced the game with an empty net goal to make it 5-2.

That save of Cousins was the turning point of the game and allowed Vegas to get going.

Golden Knights Relentless On the Puck

The Golden Knights were relentless on the puck all night long. Shift after shift winning every puck battle along the boards. This was evident on the game-winning goal by  Zach Whitecloud in the third period.

With the game tied at 2-2 midway through the third period the Golden Knights struck to regain the lead once and for all. Whitecloud was credited with the game-winning goal with a shot from the point that beat Sergei Bobrovsky under the glove.

Vegas was able to get a breakout of their zone as Jonathan Marchessault sent the puck up to Jack Eichel. Eichel fed Ivan Barbashev, who was robbed by Bobrovsky. Eichel stuck with it getting it back to Barbashev. From there Barbashev sent it to Whitecloud for the winner. It was another shot through a screen.

It was not the only goal scored through a screen. Shea Theodore‘s goal to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 also shot through a screen. This time by Bobrovsky’s own player. Again Vegas won a puck battle to keep the puck alive. Theodore made a great play at the line before scoring.

Later on in the period the Golden Knights were at it again when Mark Stone made it 4-2. It all started with a foot race won into the Florida zone to waive off an icing. From there the Golden Knights got to work moving the puck around pinning the Panthers in their defensive zone. While the Panthers tried to clear the puck, Stone knocked the puck and shot it passed Bobrovsky. The goal was challenged and upheld as Stone displayed his hand-eye coordination.

Even on the opening goal by Marchessault, the Golden Knights relentlessness was on display. While Vegas was on the powerplay, the Golden Knights did not allow the Panthers to clear the puck. Chandler Stephenson wins the battle behind the net and gets the puck to Marchessault for his 10th of the playoffs. Marchessault was due for a power play having hit four posts in the previous series on the power play.

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It was a great start to one of the more anticipated Game 1s in a long time. Both teams did not waste time getting pucks to the net and bringing physicality. There was no feeling out process and many thought there would be.

So much for rust for either team. While there were periods where the Panthers looked like a team that was off for 10 days, they were able to keep pace with Vegas on the physicality. Both teams had their skating legs as the first period flew by. Even though these teams had not met since March, it felt like there was no love loss between the Panthers and Golden Knights.

However, you could see in the end the Panthers did not have their legs. Eric Staal opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. But Vegas just took it to them for most of the game. Many thought the momentum would change when Anthony Duclair scored with 10 seconds left in the second. But it was not meant to be.

While Bobrovsky did not play poorly, he did not play like the other three series. Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 34 shots faced. He gave up four goals for the first time since Game 6 against the Boston Bruins in the first round. The Panthers will need a better performance from him and the rest of the team in Game 2.

However, the issue for the Panthers is they have not played a team like this all playoffs long. Vegas can match their intensity. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennet tried to get under the skin of the Vegas players toward the end, but Vegas not having any of it. But with game action under their belt expect a better Panthers team in Game 2.

Don’t expect Vegas to change a thing, but expect them to improve in areas as well.

Game 2 is set for Monday night in Las Vegas.