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Vegas Golden Knights Beat Panthers 9-3, Claim First Stanley Cup

By Richard Jelinek

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: Members of the Vegas Golden Knights pose with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Florida Panthers to win the championship in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: Members of the Vegas Golden Knights pose with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Florida Panthers to win the championship in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights are the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions.

Vegas defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 in game 5 to win hockey’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. The Golden Knights withstood a Florida team without its leading scorer, Matthew Tkachuk. Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel had three assists in the deciding game, and Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault had one assist to push his overall point total in the playoffs to 25 points on 13 goals and 12 assists.

Vegas Golden Knights earn first Stanley Cup in franchise history

Vegas win brings plenty of storylines

When the clock ran out of time and the Golden Knights were declared Stanley Cup champions, there were players who had been through a lot to get to this point. Marchessault was dumped by Florida to Vegas in the Golden Knights expansion draft. Marchessault was coming off of a good year with hopes of exceeding his point totals the next year. Instead, he was claimed by Vegas and the rest is history. This move paid off for Marchessault and Vegas as he is now a Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner. Forward Jack Eichel, who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres second overall in the 2015 NHL draft, found a new home in Vegas. After years of frustration and altercations with Sabres management over a much needed back surgery, Eichel was traded to Vegas. Eichel received the surgery and came back looking like that second overall pick. Eichel also can call him a Stanley Cup champion as he played well in the Golden Knights Cup run. Goaltender Adin Hill was the story of the playoff run for many people. After going undrafted in the WHL, Hill played in the minors and being cut from a minor league team, Hill was able to secure a fourth string goaltending spot. He was then traded by the San Jose Sharks to Vegas for a fourth round pick.  Hill came out of nowhere to become the number one goaltender in Vegas, something even Hill did not see coming.  After many years of frustration, these players made it work in Vegas and now the team as a whole can celebrate.

Total team win by the Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights were dominant since game 1. They did not allow Florida to play their game and suffocated them in the neutral zone and in the defensive end. Florida came in the SCF on a high after eliminating the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. However, the Panthers ran into a machine in the SCF. Vegas played this series as well as one team could have hoped and it turned in their favor. The special teams, 5 on 5, goaltending, and coaching were all in favor of Vegas, which is why they won the series. Hill, Marchessault, and Eichel will get the headlines but the Golden Knights did this as  team.

Vegas players with more than one Cup

Many players on the Golden Knights roster won their first Stanley Cup last night in the 9-3 win. However, there are a few players who have now won multiple cups. Defenseman Alec Martinez and goaltender Jonathan Quick both won Cups in 2012 and 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings. Iron Man Phil Kessel won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. Forward Chandler Stephenson won a Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018 and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo won it all with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

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