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This trio of forwards saw the most ice time against the Panthers’ explosive line of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Nick Cousins. For just the second time in their entire playoff run, Florida didn’t get an even-strength point from any of the three. The play of the Knights’ fourth line was a big reason for that: Bending but not breaking, checking hard and mixing it up with the Panthers but not crossing the line. Beyond that matchup, the Knights’ fourth line kept the energy up shift after shift early in the game.
“We just read off each other pretty well,” Roy said. “It’s not really complicated the way we play, right? Three big guys. Be hard on the forecheck. Be hard to play against. When we have the puck, we protect it well. But we’re also really good defensively.” — Wyshynski
The legend of Adin Hill grows
Adin Hill is going to get paid this summer. It’s hard to believe the goalie was only acquired for a fourth-round pick, and technically was Vegas’ fourth-stringer.
The 27 year old — a pending unrestricted free agent — has showed up consistently ever since taking over the net. And his stretching paddle save on Nick Cousins early in the second period to keep the score tied 1-1 was the highlight of the night.
As Zach Whitecloud told me after the game: “That right there literally is who Adin Hill has been for us since he came to us. … You love playing for a guy like that because no matter the situation, he shows up.” — Kaplan
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Adin Hill makes phenomenal stick save for the Golden Knights
Adin Hill makes a phenomenal stick save as the Golden Knights keep it even in the second period.
Rough stuff gets going early
A tug of the sweater followed by a quick jab attempt or two to the face. Usually, an exchange such as that could lead to a reaction. This is what Matthew Tkachuk was trying to elicit from Alex Pietrangelo late in the second period, only to have the Golden Knights alternate captain hold firm.
That particular exchange with Pietrangelo and Tkachuk was one of many between the Golden Knights and Panthers. It’s also possible that it could serve as a prelude in a series that could be decided by what team can master what it means to play the game within the game. If so, then it leaves both teams trying to toe the line that allows them to be physical while not being reckless.
Here’s something to keep in mind. The Golden Knights went from averaging 7.18 penalty minutes per game in the regular season to 14.8 penalty minutes in the playoffs. As for the Panthers? They are averaging 14.65 penalty minutes per game in the playoffs after averaging 12.17 per game in the regular season.
“We’ve done it all year. We’ll stick up for one another but it’s also the maturity of this group, just being able to kind of hang back a bit,” Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill said, after he was part of a first-period scrum that saw him jab the Panthers’ Nick Cousins. “It’s like when they do that stuff, they’re going to try and instigate us. We don’t need to react. We need to stay focused on the game plan.” — Clark
