Golden Knights “Open” Florida, Win (5-2), Dropping The Panthers’ Final Round Record To (0-5)

The Las Vegas Golden Knights, in their second NHL final round in their six year existence, scored three, third period goals, to (5-2) the Florida Panthers, handing them a fifth loss in as many final round games.

Zach Whitecloud had the go ahead to stay, game winning goal, breaking a (2-2) tie with 12:48 left in the third period.

“L.V.” is now (2-0) in NHL final openers, the Panthers by definition are (0-2).

After “Vegas” opened “Wash” on Memorial Day night in ’18, the Caps reeled off 4 straight wins to get what is their lone crown in 48 completed seasons. (Actually no NHL season in ’05).

This was the seventh straight win by the home team in the final round opening game, the third longest such streak in best of 7 (began in 1939) NHL final series. (The home team prevailed in a fairly incredible 13 consecutive final round openers (’53-’65), winning the title each time and 8 straight seasons (’71-’78), winning the crown 6 times).

The #1 winner became the NHL #1 in ’16 and ’17 (Penguins) and the last two seasons (‘Tampa Bay in ’21 and the geographically close to Las Vegas, Colorado Avalanche last year), while as cited, L.V. lost 4 straight to Washington in ’18 and the Bruins then under current “Vegas” coach, Bruce Cassidy, lost in 7 to St. Louis, each team doing so after winning game 1.

By the way and admittedly it is sour “cherry” to a degree, did Kenny Albert in his first full NHL final, on a day his father hailed 2 others, note what I noted? (Don Cherry is nicknamed grapes. Alas dreams and goals, especially those in broadcasting sans “pull,” do wither/hurt to an exponential power without the aid of the sun.