In Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2, securing a 3-1 series lead and the chance to win their first Stanley Cup at home on Tuesday night. Chandler Stephenson scored two goals, while William Karlsson added the game-winner.
Florida’s Brandon Montour and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers, who fell behind 3-0 before showing signs of life. With goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky pulled in the final two minutes, the Panthers made a final push, but Vegas goaltender Adin Hill made 29 saves to fiercely defend his own crease and secure the victory.
Florida’s Comeback Efforts and Vegas’ Determination
The Panthers, also in search of their first Stanley Cup, rallied from a 3-1 series deficit earlier in the postseason to defeat the Boston Bruins in seven games. However, they were unable to repeat their comeback efforts against the Golden Knights.
On the other side, Vegas came into the game determined to secure their first championship in just their sixth year of existence. The team’s owner, Bill Foley, had set a goal to win the Stanley Cup within that period of time, and the Golden Knights reached the final in their inaugural season in 2017-18 before losing to Washington in five games.
Key Players and Contributions
Stephenson, who beat the Knights five years ago as a member of the Capitals, was a trade acquisition, as was first-line center Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone, who had two assists in Game 4. Hill’s strong performance in goal was also crucial to the team’s victory.
A couple of original Knights players also played a key role in the team’s success. Jonathan Marchessault assisted on Karlsson’s goal that made it 3-0, his 24th point that ties for the playoff lead in scoring.
Florida’s Final Push and Vegas’ Defense
Despite missing leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk for several shifts, Florida continued to apply pressure to Vegas and got a few more big stops from Bobrovsky. A 6-on-4 advantage with 17.4 seconds left in the game provided a final flurry for the Panthers, but they were unable to score their first power-play goal of the series.
The game ended on an ugly note, with several Panthers and Golden Knights pushing and shoving each other after the whistle as plastic rats and bottles fell from the stands. However, Vegas emerged victorious, one win away from delivering a championship to Las Vegas.
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