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Lightning Round: Vegas takes the lead in the Stanley Cup Final

Posted on by Igor Nikonov
Photo by Zalman Grossbaum on Unsplash

Yesterday, the Stanley Cup Final finally opened up with a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. Despite allowing the  first goal, the host team fought back to earn a 5-2 victory in Game 1, taking a lead in the final series.

The first goal of this year’s Stanley Cup Final was scored by Eric Staal during the Golden Knights’ power play. Vegas responded before the end of the first period, when Jonathan Marchessault scored his 10th goal of the postseason and fifth goal over the last six games. In the second period, the Golden Knights took a lead for a brief moment with Shea Theodore’s goal, which happened to be his first of the playoffs, but Anthony Duclair tied the game once again with 11 second left in the period. Since that moment, however, Vegas took the initiative, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period, claiming a very important victory.

Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore led their team with two points on that night, one of the two Eichel assists was on Zach Whitecloud’s game-winning goal in the third period. In the battle of goaltenders, Adin Hill topped Sergei Bobrovsky, stopping 33 out of 35 shots during the game.

Hockey News

During the league’s annual Stanley Cup Final press conference, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly talked to the media about some NHL-related topics, here are the main updates from the press conference.

The salary cap will likely increase by one million to $83.5 million this summer, due to significant escrow debt. A much larger bump, however, is expected by next summer. According to Bettman, the league estimates their revenue after the 2022-23 season at around $6 billion.

Despite a failed bid in Tempe, the Arizona Coyotes will explore other opportunities in different areas near Phoenix. Gary Bettman still believes this is “terrific” hockey market and the league don’t want to lose it.

Bill Daly confirmed that the league has discussed with the Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith about bringing an NHL team to Salt Lake City, but expansion isn’t the top priority for the league at this moment and the league will try to avoid relocation.

Per Bettman, the Ottawa Senators sale should be finalized within the next few weeks and the NHL commissioner also believes that all four bidding groups are still in for the potential acquisition.

MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, will host two Stadium Series games next February.

Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman both requested a meeting with Gary Bettman, which will take place after the Stanley Cup Final. Neither are currently eligible to work in the NHL, after their roles in mishandling sexual assault allegations from the former Chicago Blackhawks player Kyle Beach were revealed.

According to Bill Daly, the NHL’s independent investigator has completed their work looking into the 2018 World Junior gala and their report will be reviewed this summer.

Reportedly,  former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock will be named as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ new head coach once his current contract with Toronto expires at the end of June.

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