Three Keys To Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final

Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final happens tonight between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are up 3-1 in the series and are one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup after their victory in Game 4 over the Panthers.

They always say the fourth win is the toughest to get. We will find in Game 5 if the series is over and the Stanley Cup will be awarded or if this series heads back to South Florida for at least one more game.

The Golden Knights showed how dominant they can be during stretches of the second period of Game 4. You expect the Golden Knights to come out and try to look to end the series early. And most expect to see that Vegas team who showed up and made quick work of Dallas in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final in Game 5.

On the other side of things, the Panthers have been in this position before down 3-1 in a series. The Panthers came back against the Boston Bruins in the first round, but this is a different animal considering the injuries the Panthers are dealing with. Not to mention history is not on their side as only one team has ever come back from down 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final to win. The Toronto Maple Leafs came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings. It is tough to do.

The question will be can Florida build off the end of Game 4 against Vegas or will Vegas come out with a motive and look to end the series early? And if it is the latter then Sergei Bobrovsky better be on his game or else the Stanley Cup could be won in the first period.

Let’s find out here as we take a look at three keys to Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final between Vegas and Florida.

2023 Stanley Cup Final: Keys To Game 5

1. Strong Start – First Goal Sets The Tone

As stated off the top the Vegas Golden Knights will look to end Game 5 quickly. Probably within the first 10 minutes of the period. That will follow a pattern of how they closed out the series early in the playoffs. Especially against the Dallas Stars. Everyone remembers Game 6 and what they did in the first period. And when the Golden Knights want to they can take over a game quickly.

Vegas showed signs of taking over the game in Game 4 but sat back way too much to allow Florida to get back into the game. That game was over in the second period before a flukey goal got the Panthers offence going. The Golden Knights had to survive thanks to the play of Adin Hill. Expect head coach Bruce Cassidy to have his team ready to go and out for the kill in Game 5. Vegas knows what is at stake.

Six years ago in Vegas, they saw the Washington Capitals lift the Stanley Cup on their home ice. Now they want to be the team that does it. There might be some nerves with so much on the line, but Vegas has been so business-like, expect them to bring their best game.

Florida will need to survive that early onslaught or else they will be heading home for the season. Even if they get the first goal, they can’t allow Vegas to build any momentum after that. Bobrovsky has to be on point and the Panthers must set the tone. But as we have seen Vegas can play any style. And if Vegas gets the first goal the runaway train could be coming quickly on Florida.

The first period will be huge.

Around Full Press Hockey

Stanley Cup: Sergei Bobrovsky Rebounds As Florida Panthers Get Back in the Series

NHL: Matthew Tkachuk Has Clutch Gene For Panthers

Stanley Cup: Adin Hill Shuts the Door As Vegas Takes Commanding 3-1 Series Lead

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers Defense Starting to Look Formidable

MLB: Feast or Famine: Tigers Seek Offensive Consistency

PODCAST: Stanley Cup Final Preview – Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers

2. Depth Scoring Matters

We said going into Games 3 and 4 of this series, and even before the series started, DEPTH SCORING MATTERS!!!

Vegas is winning the battle of the depth scoring through four games. The Golden Knights are just a deeper team than Florida plain and simple. Through four games in the series, the Golden Knights have 11 different goal scorers. Add Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson to that list of names. Not to mention Jonathan Marchessault who is tied for the playoff lead in goals with 13. He is on a nine-game point streak. Oh yeah, Jack Eichel does not have a goal in the series but his impact is being felt in other places. If you go down the list it is a who’s who for Vegas.

Meanwhile, Florida needs to get more from their depth scoring if they want to extend the series. Aleksander Barkov has three points in his last two games including a goal. But he needs to do more. Brandon Montour is finding the back of the net, but the Panthers need more from Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aaron Ekblad. Especially with Matthew Tkachuk injured and ineffective, the Panthers need others to step up.

3. Control Your Emotions

Both teams will need to keep their emotions in check. We saw what happened in Vegas during the first two games, the Panthers were undisciplined and it cost them. Maybe they found their edge back after what happened in Game 4. Look we saw that in Round 1 against Boston, a similar skirmish got the Panthers going allowing them to rally to defeat Boston.

This is just a different animal. End-of-the-game stuff is one thing. During the game is another thing and Vegas has not fallen into the trap set by the Panthers. They just haven’t. Again go back to how Vegas has performed all season it has been business-like, especially in the playoffs. Especially in close-out games. While the Golden Knights might have some nerves they will not show it.

Florida has to be smart because it could lead to penalties which could lead to goals for the Vegas powerplay. And if Vegas has a lead similar to Game 4, they can’t take a dumb penalty or get into a fight with any of the Florida players to change momentum in a game. Keeping your emotions in check is so huge especially in a closeout because of what’s on the line for both teams.

Look we know what both teams can do. The fourth game is always the toughest to win, especially for the home team trying to clinch a series with the Stanley Cup in the building. Florida has been here before and will rely on that, but the Panthers earlier in the playoffs were not as banged up as this one is. Adin Hill has to just continue to play within himself and the Conn Smythe Trophy could be his.

This will be an exciting game and it will be interesting how these keys play out in Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.