NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Final Edition – June 8, 2023

June 7, 2023

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* Multiplatinum-selling rapper and Florida’s own Flo Rida will take the stage outside FLA Live Arena – and be followed later by a flyover from four F-16 jets – before the Panthers and Golden Knights clash in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Thursday marks the 27th anniversary of the first-ever Final game in the state.

* Jack Eichel returns to the building where he was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and eyes a first among U.S.-born players in League history when he skates in his 20th career postseason contest.

* Adin Hill has manned the crease for the Golden Knights since taking over in Game 3 of the Second Round and shined to date in the Stanley Cup Final, a stretch that includes a highlight-reel stick save and a pair of performances with a .930 save percentage or higher.

PANTHERS LOOK TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY WITH FIRST WIN IN FINAL

On the 27th anniversary of the first-ever Stanley Cup Final game played in Florida (Game 3 of 1996 SCF), the Panthers return home to FLA Live Arena with hopes of clawing their way back against the Golden Knights as they seek the franchise’s first-ever win in the championship series.

* The Panthers rallied from a 3-1 series deficit en route to a Game 7 win against the 65-win Bruins in the First Round and now will try to become the fifth team in NHL history to win multiple best-of-seven series in one year after facing a multi-game deficit in each. The four clubs to do so are the 2022 Rangers (trailed 3-1 in R1 and 2-0 in R2), 2011 Bruins (trailed 2-0 in CQF and 2-0 in SCF), 2009 Penguins (trailed 2-0 in CSF and 2-0 in SCF) and 2003 Wild (trailed 3-1 in CQF and 3-1 in CSF). Boston and Pittsburgh both won the Cup.

* This is the fifth time Florida has faced a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven as the club eyes its first series victory in that scenario. The Panthers can look to three players on their current roster with experience winning a best-of-seven after losing the first two games: Brandon Montour (0-4—4 in 7 GP) helped the Ducks rally past the Oilers in the 2017 Second Round (4-3 W); Marc Staal skated in the first of four New York victories as the Rangers overcame the Capitals in the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals (4-3 W); and Eric Staal potted 2-6—8 in the 2006 Conference Quarterfinals against the Canadiens as the Hurricanes came from behind in the opening round of their eventual championship run (4-2 W).

EICHEL LEADS GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO FLORIDA IN SEARCH OF 3-0 SERIES LEAD

On June 26, 2015, Jack Eichel walked into FLA Live Arena (then called BB&T Center) ready to his hear his named called at the 2015 NHL Draft. Nearly eight years later, Eichel will return to the building where he was selected second overall by the Sabres, behind Connor McDavid, but this time as the playoff scoring leader for the Golden Knights and with a chance to move within one victory of lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time.

* Eichel is one of five players in the series who was drafted in Sunrise in 2015, along with his Golden Knights teammates Keegan Kolesar (No. 69 by CBJ), Adin Hill (No. 76 by ARI) and Nicolas Roy (No. 96 by CAR) and another first-round pick in Florida’s Colin White (No. 21 by OTT).

* Eichel (6-16—22 in 19 GP) leads Vegas and is tied with Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk (10-12—22 in 18 GP) for the second most points in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He trails only Mark Recchi and Eric Staal for the most points by a player in their first trip to the postseason and can join Mikko Rantanen (3 GP in 2022) as the second player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) with multiple points in each of his first three career games in the Stanley Cup Final.

* Vegas can become the 12th different franchise in NHL history to take a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final (with the 11 clubs combining for 28 total instances accompanied by a 27-1 series record). The only franchise that joined the NHL since the start of the 1980s that has done so is Tampa Bay (led 3-0 in 2021, won 4-1).

KING OF THE HILL: ADIN CONTINUES TO SHINE FOR GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Adin Hill (9-3, 2.06 GAA, .937 SV%, 2 SO in 13 GP) has risen to the occasion for the Golden Knights since entering the crease in Game 2 of the Second Round against the Oilers. Hill, with a save percentage of .943 and .935 in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, respectively, leads all goaltenders in the category this postseason and sits third in goals-against average (min. 5 GP).

* Hill has guided the Golden Knights to within two wins of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup and has done so in his debut postseason. With a victory in Game 3, Hill (9-3 in 13 GP) can tie for the third-fewest games in NHL history to reach 10 playoff wins. The only goaltenders to achieve the feat in fewer than 14 games are a pair of Conn Smythe Trophy winners: Jean-Sebastien Giguere (12 GP in 2003 w/ ANA) and Patrick Roy (13 GP in 1986 w/ MTL).

WILL HIGH-SCORING TRENDS FIND THEIR WAY TO FLORIDA?

After 16 goals were scored in Vegas – the most through two games in the Final since 1982 – the Golden Knights (12 goals) will look to continue their scoring prowess against the Panthers (4 goals) in Game 3. In 2022, the Avalanche and Lightning combined for 22 goals through the first three contests – also the most since 1982 (24) – with Tampa Bay posting a 6-2 win in Game 3 on home ice (250 miles across the state) to cut its series deficit in half.

* Jonathan Marchessault (12 in 19 GP) needs one goal to tie Leon Draisaitl (13 in 12 GP) for the League lead this postseason. Marchessault, whose path to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final includes stops with both Florida teams, can become the 10th player in the past 50 years to score in each of the first three games of the Final – a feat only Jake Guentzel (2017) and Steve Yzerman (1997) have achieved in the past 35 years.

FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2022-23 KING CLANCY MEMORIAL TROPHY

Flames forward Mikael Backlund, Islanders forward Anders Lee and Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse are the three finalists for the 2022‑23 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” The winner will be revealed live during the 2023 NHL Awards at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Monday, June 26 (8 p.m. ET, TNT, SN, TVAS).

NHL SCOUTING COMBINE CONTINUES IN BUFFALO
Over 100 of the top prospects for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft are in Buffalo this week for the 2023 NHL Scouting Combine presented by adidas, which will conclude with fitness testing on Saturday. The event has returned to KeyBank Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y., with the prospects taking part in team and media interviews, fitness testing and more.

* Adam Fantilli could return to Michigan for sophomore season

* Connor Bedard says he plans to work on net-front scoring this offseason
*Connor Bedard, likely No. 1 pick, joins ‘NHL Draft Class’ podcast from Combine

* Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt leads AHL Top Prospects Team

* Final Rankings via NHL Central Scouting Bureau(includes four lists)
* #NHLStats: 10 Things to Know About Connor Bedard
* #NHLStats Prospect Profiles (Top 5 North American & International Skaters)
* NHL Draft on Records.NHL.com: No. 1 Picks | Year-by-Year Picks