Florida Panthers vs Vegas Golden Knights | 2023 Stanley Cup Finals Preview

The Stanley Cup Finals are finally set, and it's the Florida Panthers taking on the Vegas Golden Knights for the Greatest Trophy in all of Professional Sports, the Stanley Cup. Both of these teams had very different roads to the Finals throughout the Playoffs. The Panthers were written off very early, facing the Presidents Trophy-winning Boston Bruins. They went down 3-1 in the series before coming all the way back to win the series in Game 7. They took all that momentum and ran through the rest of the East Bracket, eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs (4-1) and the Carolina Hurricanes (4-0). Matthew Tkachuk has put this team on his back and carried them through the Playoffs. He is second in the Playoffs in Points with 21 and tied for third in Goals with 9. Tkachuk also had three of the four Game Winning Goals in the Eastern Conference Finals in Games 1, 2, and 4 to seal the deal. The Panthers had a tough road and have made it count all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1996. The Vegas Golden Knights will represent the Western Conference. Their road wasn't as tough as the Panthers, but is there really an easy road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? The Knights’ path had them having to beat the Winnipeg Jets (4-1), Edmonton Oilers (4-2), and the Dallas Stars (4-2). Now, people had a lot of concerns with the Goaltending situation in Vegas and how far not having Robin Lehner would take them. They sure answered those concerns mightily all season long with strong play in net and in front, especially in the Playoffs. They were able to beat the Jets easily, shut down the powerhouse that is the Oilers and send the Stars packing. The team in front proved that whoever is in net doesn't matter because they are playing with a purpose and are looking to bring home the Cup for the first time in franchise history. This Vegas team is also the healthiest they have been since getting to the Finals in 2018 against the Washington Capitals. Looking back on the Conference Finals, what went wrong for the Stars and the Hurricanes? Vegas and Dallas went at it in 2020 for a chance to head to the Cup Finals. You know it was fresh in many players' minds on the Knights roster, and they were definitely looking for redemption. Vegas' veteran leadership kept this team in control and composed all season long. For the Hurricanes, it was just a matter of not getting bounces. It's been a challenging road for them in the East Finals, going 0-12 in their last three trips there. The Hurricanes were in every contest, and all finished in one-goal games. It was a hard-fought series for both Eastern Conference teams. Only the Panthers got all the bounces throughout the series. Will the bounces continue for the Florida Panthers as they prepare to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights for Lord Stanley's Cup?