NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Final Edition – June 11, 2023

June 11, 2023

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* The Golden Knights are one win away from becoming Stanley Cup champions. They will head home with a 3-1 series lead after fending off another late comeback attempt by the Panthers.

* Original Golden Knights forward William Karlsson secured the game-winning goal in Game 4 to help Vegas set up its first-ever potential Cup-clinching game, Tuesday on home ice at T-Mobile Arena.

* The Golden Knights can become the 23rd club to win the Stanley Cup since 1927 when the trophy first was competed for only by NHL teams and the 21st active franchise to claim the prized trophy.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS HEADING BACK TO VEGAS WITH CHANCE TO LIFT LORD STANLEY

Goals by Chandler Stephenson (2-0—2) and William Karlsson (1-0—1) allowed Vegas to build a 3-0 lead, but Florida pushed back with another multi-point effort by defenseman Brandon Montour (1-1—2) and drew a power play in the last 20 seconds of regulation as Game 4 went down to the final buzzer. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill made 11 of his 29 saves in the third period, including eight in the last 10 minutes of play, and threw out the pad for good measure to deny Matthew Tkachuk after time had expired.

* Stephenson jumpstarted the Golden Knights in Game 4 by scoring 99 seconds into the opening frame, the fourth time the club has scored within the first two minutes of a game in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only four teams in NHL history have had more in a single postseason: 2019 Blues (6), 1991 North Stars (5), 2010 Canadiens (5) and 1981 Rangers (5).

* It was the first career goal in the Final for Stephenson, who soon followed it up with his second to boost his totals in the Final to 2-3—5. All of those points have come this year, despite skating in all five contests for Washington as they defeated Vegas in the 2018 Final to end their inaugural season.

* Karlsson, one of four players selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft still with the club, scored his third career playoff game-winning goal and first since Game 3 of the 2018 Second Round (a span of 80 games without one). Jonathan Marchessault, another of the remaining expansion picks (selected from Florida), notched an assist on the play to extend his franchise-record point streak to nine games (though his goal streak was halted at four).

* Nicolas Hague, the fourth NHL Draft pick in the franchise’s history (No. 34 in 2017), also contributed two points and became the ninth different Golden Knights player with a multi-point showing in the 2023 Final. Hague is the only Vegas draft pick to skate for them this postseason.

ONE MORE HILL TO CLIMB WITH CUP A STONE’S THROW AWAY

Adin Hill delivered another solid performance in his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final while captain Mark Stone did the same with assists on each of the first two goals Saturday.

* Hill became the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 10 wins in a single postseason after not playing in the team’s opening round. His nine victories entering Game 4 were already the most in that scenario and one more than the next closest (Michael Leighton: 8 in 2010 w/ PHI). Hill is among the top 10 for fastest to 10 career playoff wins, with each recorded in one playoff year.

* Stone became the third Golden Knights player with at least 20 points in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each of the past four clubs to have as many 20-point scorers won the Stanley Cup: 2022 Avalanche (4), 2020 Lightning (3), 2018 Capitals (5) and 2017 Penguins (4). The last team meeting that criteria that did not win the Cup was the 2016 Sharks (4). Stone (2-4—6) has recorded a point in all four games of the Final, including back-to-back multi-point showings that have put him one back of teammate Jonathan Marchessault (4-3—7) for the series lead in points.

THE STANLEY CUP WILL BE IN THE BUILDING TUESDAY ON TNT, SPORTSNET & TVAS

For the first time, the Golden Knights will play a game with a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup. That contest will take place Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena – nine days shy of the seven-year anniversary of the League officially granting an expansion franchise to Las Vegas.

* The Golden Knights (6th season) can become the seventh franchise in NHL history to require six or fewer seasons to win their first Stanley Cup. The only clubs to do so are the Maple Leafs (1918 as Arenas; 1st season), Montreal Maroons (1926; 2nd season), Rangers (1928; 2nd season), original Ottawa Senators (1920; 3rd season), Bruins (1929; 5th season) and Oilers (1984; 5th season).

* The Golden Knights can become the second major professional sports team in Las Vegas to win a championship, following the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA in 2022.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS SET AND TIE RECORDS WITH ANOTHER NARROW VICTORY IN FLORIDA

Vegas posted the first road win by either team this round and the 47th by a visiting club in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, equaling 2012 for the most ever in one postseason. Florida will have to establish the record Tuesday to keep their Cup hopes alive.

* Victories at FLA Live Arena have been hard to come by of late, with six in a row decided by a one-goal margin including just two with the visiting club coming out on top (also TOR in Game 4 of R2). The Panthers (6 GP; 4-2) became the fourth club to have at least six consecutive home games decided by a one-goal margin in one playoff year, following the 2015 Rangers (8 GP; 6-2), 2017 Senators (6 GP; 4-2) and 2012 Capitals (6 GP; 3-3).

* Just before the Panthers began their attempt to draw even in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, the stars came out to raise the decibels at FLA Live Arena. South Florida native and country music star Cassadee Pope, Season 3 winner of ‘The Voice,’ performed the national anthem and Brooks Koepka – owner of five major championships in the PGA – rocked an Aaron Ekblad jersey while beating the pre-game drum and leading the ‘Let’s Go Panthers’ chant.

LARDIS SHINES AT FITNESS TESTING TO CLOSE OUT NHL SCOUTING COMBINE
Nick Lardis, the No. 27-ranked North American Skater who plays for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL, closed out the 2023 NHL Scouting Combine presented by adidas by finishing atop the fitness testing in four categories: Vertical Jump, Squat Jump, No Arm Jump and Pull Ups. Lardis completed 15 consecutive pull ups, one ahead of a group of four players that included the No. 1-ranked skater, Connor Bedard.

* CLICK HERE to view the top 25 results from each fitness test.

* Next up, the prospects will converge on Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, with Round 1 taking place on Wednesday, June 28 (ESPN, SN, TVAS) and Rounds 2-7 taking place on Thursday, June 29 (NHLN, SN, TVAS).