Key Takeaways
Bobrovsky Cools Down, Hill Heats Up
Teams need a hot goalie if they expect to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers have been riding a red-hot Sergei Bobrovsky all playoffs, but he cooled off in Sin City.
The Golden Knights scored the first goal and never looked back. By the end of the first period, the Panthers were down 2-0. Bobrovsky coughed up two more goals in the second period, and the Golden Knights chased him out of the net with seven minutes remaining in the period.
We can be a little better in front of our goaltender, added Maurice. Got him out to keep him rested.
Bobrovsky, a 13-season veteran and two-time Vezina Trophy winner, had never given up four goals in consecutive playoff games. Backup goalie Alex Lyon finished the game, but he wasn t any better. He gave up three goals in the third period and finished with 12 saves.
On the other side of the ice, Adin Hill from the Golden Knights has been spectacular in net in the first two games of the series. Hill held the Panthers to two goals once again and added 29 saves.
Hilly s been unreal for us, said Golden Knights winger William Carrier. He s unbelievable.
Hill made the save of the playoffs in a and he stayed hot in Game 2.
It s probably the most fun I ve ever had playing hockey, said Hill. I m enjoying it, cherishing every day.
Hill saw his Conn Smythe Trophy odds jump to +500 as the third-highest favorite on DraftKings NHL awards board.
Panthers Get Physical with 14 More PenaltiesMatthew Tkachuk finally scored a goal for the Panthers in the third period, but he spent a significant amount of time in the penalty box in Game 2. He earned three, 10-minute misconduct penalties in the first two games, including two on Monday night.
The Panthers had 14 penalties in Game 2. The team logged 130 penalty minutes in the first two games, and Tkachuk has 36 of them. The Golden Knights only have 72 minutes in penalties this series.
We’re a big, physical team, said Tkachuk. That s how we have played the last second half of the year and been successful. Don t think there s teams that play as physical as we do.
Tkachuk also leveled center Jack Eichel, who was skating with his head down in the zone in the second period. It was a clean hit, but Eichel headed to the locker room and didn t return until the third period.
The hit on Eichel caused a post-whistle tussle between Tkachuk and Golden Knights bruiser Ivan Barbashev. Both players were given 10-minute misconduct penalties.
Tkachuk thinks returning to their home ice will lift the Panthers out of their doldrums.
Going home and playing in front of our amazing fans, and the momentum we ve had playing there like the last month, and honestly since January, we ve been a solid home team, added Tkachuk. We re going to need them and hope to come out in Game 3 playing our best hockey of the season. If we do that, that ll be a recipe for success for us, and can make this a series.
South Florida will host its first Stanley Cup Final home game since 1996 when the Panthers made their first and only appearance in the championship series.
The Panthers are a slight favorite in Game 3 at -120 odds on the moneyline. The Golden Knights are an even-money underdog at +100.
