After cruising through the Eastern Conference finals, the Florida Panthers stumbled against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, with Vegas striking first in a 5-2 victory.
But the Panthers did plenty of punching of their own.
Panthers forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett were both tossed with 4:24 left in the game after taking cheap shots at Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague during a scrum while Florida trailed 4-2.
Tkachuk sucker-punched a defenseless, helmetless Hague with a left hand to the face while ex-Ranger Marc Staal held Hague, prompting Golden Knights center Jack Eichel to go after Tkachuk.
Later, just as it seemed the scrum was finally being broken up with Hague breaking free from Staal’s clutches, Bennett skated over and hit Hague with a left hand.
The Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk punches the Golden Knights’ Nicolas Hague during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 3, 2023.TNT
The Panthers’ Sam Bennett punches the Golden Knights’ Nicolas Hague.SportsnetThat was all the fight the Panthers had left, as a Reilly Smith empty-netter with 1:45 left secured the win for the Golden Knights.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who had been on a dominant run in goal for Florida, was tagged for four goals on 33 shots, while counterpart Adin Hill stopped 33 of 35 shots.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice didn’t seem the least bit worried about dropping Game 1.
“We lost the first game of the Boston series, got a little better. Then we lost two more, got a little better. Everybody just f–king breathe,” Maurice told reporters after the game. “Right? I feel like you people have been here. You’re tight. Gotta loosen you up a little bit.”
Marc Staal #18 and Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers fight with Nicolas Hague #14 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of Game 1 of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final on June 3, 2023.Getty Images
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers and Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights fight in the third period of Game One of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final on June 03, 2023.Getty Images Tkachuk was held off the scoresheet in Game 1 after recording 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) over the first 16 games of these playoffs.
The Panthers will try to pull even in Vegas Monday night before the series shifts to Sunrise, Fla. for Thursday’s Game 3.
