The common definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. How do you remedy this? MAKE A BIG CHANGE. Let's say your team had success like a Finals appearance or a President's Trophy, but haven't gotten to lift the Stanley Cup. So they made a HUGE trade and are reaping the rewards of it right now. This profile fits the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers as they prepare for the Stanley Cup Finals starting Saturday June 3rd.
Stars to watch: Whenever there's a championship worthy trade, I always dub it a "Brendan Shanahan trade". After all, it's a trade where a President's Trophy team acquires a player that is the missing piece. Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk fits that description perfectly. After getting pushed around and swept by their cross state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in last year's 2nd round, Florida GM Bill Zito made the gutsy decision to trade 115 point scorer Jonathan Huberdeau AND defenseman Mackenzie Weegar to Calgary for pending RFA Matt Tkachuk. Tkachuk rewarded the Panthers with an MVP worthy season. His 40 goals, 69 assists gave the American forward a career high 109 points a season after his first 100 points season in Calgary. Many critics thought Calgary won this trade and that Tkachuk would never duplicate his 104 point season without Johnny Gaudreau feeding him the puck. Instead, Tkachuk raised his game and nothing shows it better than in the playoffs. Not known as a playoff player, Matt Tkachuk has continued his regular season success in the Spring. He has 4 game winners in his 9 goals and 12 assists for 21 points (2nd in the NHL playoffs). Tkachuk has been outstanding in every facet of the game as he's scored in the clutch whether it's the Panthers needing a spark to his 4 OT game winning goal.
Though Vegas has always tried to make the big splash in their brief history, there's one thing their franchise lacked: a true number one center. In November of 2021, GM Kelly McCrimmon pulled the trigger and ended the Jack Eichel Saga in Buffalo. Eichel needed neck surgery and every NHL GM was concerned about who he would be after it. In 34 games, Eichel "underperformed" to the tune of 14 goals, 11 assists, 25 points. That's not the numbers you want from a #1 center. In 67 games this season, Eichel was just under a point-per-game with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists). However in his first playoff in his career, Eichel has seized the moment. While Eichel has a mere 6 goals, his 12 assists gives the Massachusetts native 18 points in 17 playoff games. That's not all that's catching attention as Eichel has been a solid defensive player and he even had to go toe-to-toe against Connor McDavid; the man drafted ahead of him in the 2015 NHL Draft. And those concerns about Eichel's ability melted away watching him quickly take the puck up ice, look off a pass and fire it past Stewart Skinner in round 2.
Goaltending: It almost seems like a story worthy of Lazarus, but Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky has found the game that got him a $10m / 7 year deal in 2019. At no point has he lived up to the contract...that is until this playoff. Bobrovsky never got a save % over .911 in his 3 previous playoffs with the Panthers and his goals against were never below 2.70. This playoff, Bobrovsky watched Alex Lyon start games 1, 2 & 3 vs the Boston Bruins, but when his number was called to start Game 4, Bobrovsky still wasn't impressive. His .833 save % was not very impressive and he wasn't much better in a Game 6 win with a .856 save %. However, Bobrovsky took a magic potion to regain his 2019 form. In his last 12 games, Bob is 11-1 with a .942 save % and that includes two games below .900 and 6 overtime games (one of them went almost 140 minutes). His .935 save % and 2.21 GAA have made him a Conn Smythe candidate as he has stymied the 2nd ranked, 9th ranked and 15th ranked offenses from he regular season. After all, he recorded a shutout without getting credit in his 4 OT win vs the Carolina Hurricanes.
There's so many ways to describe the Vegas goaltending situation, but they're like a craps table. You get a shooter rolling the dice and they can get hot or cold and a new shooter takes his place. The Knights used 5 goalies during the regular season with rookie Logan Thompson between the pipes for 37 of them. However, it was Laurent Brossoit starting the playoffs after a strong 6-0-1 finish to the season. He would lose Game 1 vs Winnipeg, but win the next 4 games to advance. In the 2nd Round, he got lit up by Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers until a lower body injury knocked him out of Game 3. So Vegas turned to journeyman Adin Hill. Hill stopped all 4 shots in the Game 2 loss to Edmonton in relief and then the next 24 Oilers shots in Game 3 when he stepping for the injured Brossoit. In his 11 playoffs games, Hill has two games with a save % below .914 (both losses), but his .937 save % puts him tops among all goalie this post season. His two shutouts of the Dallas Stars helped, including the one in Game 6 to eliminate the Stars. Can Hill keep it going through the Finals?
Under-the-Radar players: In the 21-22 season, winger Anthony Duclair scored 31 goals until an Achilles injury sidelined him to till the final 20 regular season games. In his return, Duclair would score twice with 7 assists. In the playoffs, Duclair has matched the 9 points and scoring big goals for the Cats. Duclair has already surpassed his 3 points in last year's playoff run. If he can continue to produce against a VERY solid Vegas defense, the Panthers may hoist the ultimate prize in two weeks.
Rangers fans need to skip to the next paragraph, but Brett Howden has been solid for the Golden Knights and his 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points show his production. He rewarded coach Bruce Cassidy's trust in him with Game 1's OT winner against the Dallas Stars and has played on a line with Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone. Howden will need to continue this play in order for the Golden Knights to claim the Cup.
The Florida Panthers will win if... They continue their outstanding board work. Since Game 5 vs the Bruins, it seems like the Panthers haven't lost a single board battle. Of course that's not true, but it's how it seems. Unlike Bobrovsky's previous Cinderella run with Columbus in 2019, he's continued to shine and the Panthers have flourished in the spotlight. After nearly sweeping the Maple Leafs (whose fans chanted "We Want Florida"), the Panthers announced themselves as an actual contender. For everyone wanting Florida, they've found themselves WATCHING Florida right after it. This is the Finals and you can't take a team for granted. Paul Maurice has pushed all the right buttons since March. This isn't the 1996 Florida Panthers that worked hard to get here with defense and grit. Don't get me wrong, this team has it too, but this team also can knock you down, steal the puck and put it in your net in the blink of an eye. If Matthew Tkachuk continues to dictate the play, this Vegas may go bust and Florida will claim the prize.
The Vegas Golden Knights will win if... Their balance continues. Williams Karlsson just set the Golden Knights playoff record for goals when he scored his 10th goal to eliminate the Dallas Stars. While Florida has scratched and clawed their way past Boston, Toronto and Carolina; Vegas has busted out Winnipeg, Edmonton and Dallas who were all very solid teams. Bruce Cassidy has shown that his time in Boston wasn't just successful because of the talent in Beantown. This team is balanced, hardworking and if they take a lead, they'll shut you down. If Adin Hill continues have every shot hit him (by design), the Golden Knights will finally claim the prize that eluded them in 2018.
Prediction: There's been so many times in these playoffs where you can't help but dread to make a prediction. What will the key factor be? The Stars could cancel each other out, but can the bottom six carry the load. Will Bobrovsky continue to steal games for the Cats? This is the toughest prediction to make in the playoffs and fitting that it's the last series...UGH!!!!! One of these teams will fulfill their destiny...the other will end with a "yeah, but..." for their already successful season. When all else fails, go with your gut. Panthers will continue to get the goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk will score 2 more game winners. It seems that this magic carpet ride will take the Panthers to a whole new world as Stanley Cup Champions. Panthers in 6.
Tune in for our Stanley Cup Finals Preview May 31st at 6 pm.
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