The 2023 Stanley Cup Final looked to be slipping away from the
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And it wasn’t just by scoring the equalizer with minutes to play in regulation; it was his top-to-bottom performance with linemates Nick Cousins and Sam Bennett.
Vegas must hold those three — and Tkachuk in particular — to the perimeter in Game 4, and not allow the same Grade-A opportunities offered up to them on Adin Hill in Game 3.
The Golden Knights can get caught over-pursuing and then giving those topflight skaters too much room to operate in front of the net. Boxing out well and collapsing away so Florida’s best shooters can’t get set will hold those snipers at bay, let Hill see any pucks that do come his way and give the Golden Knights a quick transition back to offense.
Let the stars come out
It’s not like Jack Eichel and William Karlsson haven’t contributed throughout the Cup Final. But neither player has scored a goal against Florida (and Eichel hasn’t lit the lamp since Game 5 of Vegas’ second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers).
The Panthers showed in Game 3 the importance of a team’s best players stepping up at key junctures. Vegas may have enviable offensive depth, but that wasn’t carrying the day on Thursday and can’t solely be relied upon to make a difference in Game 4.
The shift must eventually come from those yearlong contributors finding their own way onto the board in meaningful ways (like say, how Tkachuk did in Game 3).
If Vegas can ignite the likes of Eichel and Karlsson, it could not only lead to a 3-1 series advantage on Saturday but put some serious doubt into the Panthers’ minds from there.
