Is It A Cinch For a Clinch For The Vegas Golden Knights?
The Vegas Golden Knights moved a win away from winning the Stanley Cup in their sixth season of existence as they moved to 7-3 in this year’s playoffs when listed by the NHL betting lines as the underdog.
After splitting the two games in Florida following a hard-earned Game 4 win, Vegas can clinch the title on home ice on Tuesday night.
When looking at the NHL news, star forwards Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights missed time during the game. Tkachuk missed more than 10 minutes in the third period. He was on the ice for the final 2:26 as Florida pressed for the tying goal with the goalie pulled. Eichel was hit in the head by a shot by teammate Jonathan Marchessault and had to head to the locker room. He was able to return to the game. The hope is that with two days between games, both players will be good to go in Game 5.
The final 17.4 seconds were played with a two-man advantage for Florida after veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was called for a delay of the game penalty for flipping the puck over the boards. Florida had previously pulled its goaltender.
“You trust the guys that are out there,” Pietrangelo said. “And they came through.”
When looking at the NHL predictions, the Golden Knights are currently -165 in the odds to win Game 5.
Stephenson To the Rescue
The last time Chandler Stephenson played in the Stanley Cup Final, he was helping the Washington Capitals deny many of his current teammates a chance to lift Lord Stanley’s cup in the Golden Knights’ first NHL season.
Stephenson had an understated role on that Washington team and he did not record a point in the five games in the series. There was nothing understated about Stephenson’s role in Game 4.
Although he was tied for ninth in the odds to be the first goal scorer, Stephenson scored just 1:39 into the game and that carried a price of +1400 according to the NHL betting lines.
Stephenson scored again at 7:28 of the second period followed by a William Karlsson goal to give Vegas a 3-0 lead.
wanna see Chandler Stephenson score a goal? wanna see him do it again? �� pic.twitter.com/qFcNZYdfCF
— z – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 11, 2023
Stephenson became the third Vegas player to hit the 10-goal mark in this year’s playoffs after scoring his first two goals in this series. He made the most of opportunities as the two goals came on three shots on goal.
A Huge Hill To Climb
The list of goalies to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs include some legendary names. Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden, current Vegas Golden Knights’ goalie Jonathan Quick and Bernie Parent.
Hill would be the first goalie to be named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in his first season with a team to win the NHL championship. Glenn Hall was named the Conn Smythe winner in 1968 in the first season with the St. Louis Blues, but he was a member of the losing team.
It will also mark the first time that a goalie was named playoff MVP after appearing in less than half of his team’s games during the regular season since Dryden burst onto the scene as a rookie in the 1971 playoffs.
Hill has a save percentage of .950 and 1.63 goals-against average in his 10 wins compared to a save percentage of .894 and 3.46 GAA in his four losses.
He has some work to do as Marchessault (-550) is the current front-runner to win the Conn Smythe according to the NHL odds with Hill coming in at +1000.
What a Finish
Hill got plenty of help as his teammates blocked the first five shots headed on goal after Brandon Montour pulled the Panthers within a goal at 3:50 of the third period.
It took more than six minutes for Florida to get a shot through to Hill. The Vegas goalie would be just a little busier later in the period.
The last shot on goal registered by Vegas came with 2:44 to play.
Hill made four saves over the last 2:27 and it was somewhat chaotic around the Vegas net in the closing seconds. Hill finished with 29 saves on 31 shots as he continues to make the best of his first playoff experience after not taking part in the playoffs in his first five NHL seasons. He began the playoffs as the backup to Laurent Brossoit. Brossoit suffered a lower-body injury in the second-round series against Edmonton as he joined fellow goalies Robin Lehner and Logan Thompson as goaltenders unable to play.
Been There, Done That
Be careful when counting the Panthers out. Florida went on the road down three games to one to face a Boston Bruins team that set the NHL records with points and wins during the regular season.
Florida won that first-round series, beating Boston twice on the road to start this remarkable journey that landed the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final as the No. 8 seed.
The Panthers lead all playoff teams with eight road wins. Florida also has the best winning percentage in one-goal games even after the Game 4 loss. The Panthers are also 7-0 in overtime games and that is something that those taking part in live betting will be ready to jump all over if three periods of hockey are not enough to decide things on Tuesday night.
