Author: Buffalo Winter

Congratulations Mr. Bettman

SC 5 – FLA 2 In an anticlimactic game five the Knights, Draft Kings, Fan Duel, (sports books in general) the Board of Governors (BOG), and sin city now have the Stanley Cup right where they want it, directly in the gambling center of North America…heavy sigh.

Mr. Bettman and the BOG endeavored to have the Stanley Cup awarded to a newly created franchise in its first season six years ago unlike cities granted a franchise before that were given cast-offs, unwanted, overpaid, underperforming, players without the guidance and care from the League’s commissioner. (But I digress)

I was able to enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs even with the poor officiating and obvious bias as it was nice to watch players like Mr. Kessel (scratched) earn another ring, former players that skated for Buffalo Mr. Carrier, Mr. Reinhart, and Mr. Fitzgerald were often in the mix.

The Knights have outstanding players in net with three top-notch goalies to call on (one injured), Captain Stone, Misters Stephenson, Marchessault, Karlsson, Barbashev, and Alternate Captains Smith and Pietrangelo along with third and fourth-line contributions throughout the playoffs deservedly became the Stanley Cup Champions for 2023.

The Panthers run out of time

SC 3 – FLA 2 There are just some teams fans like to cheer against and the Knights are developing into one such team as their core and best players put forth a victorious effort on the road before succumbing to chaotic belligerency.

Misters Stephenson, Stone, Karlsson, and Marchessault led their team offensively in a game where only one Knights’ forward was a minus, and after building a 3-0 lead early most suppositions was that the game was over.

Florida played solidly and did get within one goal and with moments remaining in the game and on the power play with the goaltender pulled the Panthers were as close as you can get to scoring without scoring as time ran out affording the Knights a 3-1 series lead heading back to Nevada for game five.

Soon after the game expired goon goaltender Hill decided to engage in the scrum in front of the net as he went in swinging, embarrassing violence, and fan reaction spoiled what was for the most part a very entertaining Stanley Cup Finals game four.

Cats Conquer

FLA 3 – SC 2 OT  The Panthers continue to defy and defeat and Florida’s first home game of the Finals proved to be the tonic required to get their skates back under them.

Perhaps by earning lesser penalties, the Panthers would significantly improve their chances of capturing the Cup with Florida the second most penalized team in the regular season and now leading this year’s playoffs in penalties they are gift-wrapping power plays for the Knights.

Mr. Hill allowed all goals at even strength producing a .870 save percentage and Mr. Bobrovsky was scored on only during the power play and one was at 4 on 3 earning a solid .926 save percentage for the Cats.

Game Four is scheduled this Saturday night and the puck drops at eight o’clock EST.

Cats Crumble

Knights 7 – Panthers 2 Last night was another disappointing effort in net, with more misconduct penalties earned, and if Florida does not turn it around at home they will become the 21^st team and the first team this century to be swept in the Finals.

The Knights played another solid defensive game blocking over 40 shots and offensively scored twice on the power play with Mr. Marchessault and Mr. Howden both scoring twice.

Mr. Tkachuk laid an awesome helmet-popping check that caused a stir as the recipient left the game but was on the bench for the third and contributed an assist just a couple minutes in so thankfully Mr. Eichel and his neck seem to be fine.

Leaving desert temperatures in the 90s and arriving in the 70s with rain the series resumes in Florida this Thursday evening at 8pm EST.

Game One

Knights 5 – Panthers 2 Florida scored first on a shorthanded effort by Mr. Staal and the Knights scored on one of their two power plays of the period to tie the game at one with less than three minutes in the first period.

In the second period, Mr. Theodore scored his first of the playoffs after dangling around Mr. Duclair at the blue line then nine minutes later Mr. Duclair got that one back on an unassisted goal (4) with 10 seconds remaining in the period tied at two.

The third period was messy with eight penalties and three misconducts and before the festivities began the Knights scored twice to take a 4-2 lead with the fourth goal challenged for high-sticking that failed and goal five on the power-play scored with a couple minutes left in the game.

Game Two is scheduled for Monday night at 8pm EST either Mr. Bobrovsky and the Panthers pounce back or the Knights will take a 2-0 series lead.