The Stanley Cup playoffs – I have missed most of it, only following a little bit. I didn’t realize that the final has started. Ā TheĀ Vegas Golden Knights are taking on the Florida Panthers in a battle between the top seed in the West and the lowest seed in the East. That may seem like a lopsided series, but the Panthers have looked like anything but a No. 8 seed in the postseason. Florida took down theĀ Boston Bruins, the Stanley Cup favorites, in the first round before going 8-1 against theĀ Toronto Maple LeafsĀ andĀ Carolina Hurricanes in the next two rounds.
The Golden Knights were one of the favorites to win the West, and they’ve played like one. Vegas rolled through Winnipeg in the first round and defeated theĀ Edmonton OilersĀ in the second round. The Golden Knights took a 3-0 lead on theĀ Dallas Stars in the conference final, but the Stars clawed their way back for a couple wins before Vegas slammed the door with an emphatic Game 6 win. Both teams have looked worthy of the Stanley Cup through the first three rounds, but only one of them can win it all now. No matter who wins, we will have a first time Cup winner.