Some mockery a Stanley Cup final between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knightsbut it’s enough to make a Hollywood movie with this unforeseen scenario.
Okay, Miami and Las Vegas aren’t the markets of New York, Los Angeles or Toronto, but there are so many little stories in this historic duel that it could make a great movie.
Unlike many others, I don’t think NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is disappointed. The Golden Knights are his little baby and what’s happening in Florida right now is extraordinary. In addition to the Panthers, the Miami Heat are also in the NBA finals after an exciting series against the Celtics
from Boston.
There’s definitely excitement in the Florida air, and it’s great for hockey, especially as the Panthers have their first player since 1993 in the spotlight in Matthew Tkachuk.
Right now he’s my pick to win the Conn-Smythe Trophy, which is given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. It’s amazing what he’s achieved and I’m not just talking about his four game-winning goals, three of which came in extra time.
His leadership qualities and personality make him an exceptional ambassador, and in a way he fascinates people here much like Wayne Gretzky did when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1988. Don’t get me wrong: I’m in no way comparable to Gretzky as a player, but Tkachuk’s charisma is undeniable.
Tkachuk and the Megastars
Megastars Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal even invited him to the Miami-Dade Arena to cover the sixth game between the Heat and the Celtics on TNT television on Saturday.
The fact that the Panthers eliminated the Bruins was no stranger to this decision, but it took a real personality to work with these guys.
A cause for celebration, Bettman, and it shows just how much Tkachuk has become the figurehead of the formation in his first season in Florida.
He may be the one who will take the rivalry between the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning to a new level, but he has other fish to fry right now.
The indestructible Marchessault
Other intriguing stories in this series finale include that of the Golden Knights’ Most Valuable Player, Jonathan Marchessault, a complete player and a minor pest in his own way. He never got over the fact that the Panthers let him go in 2017 after a 30-goal season and that it could well haunt him
old team.
Of course, goalkeepers are always the center of attention at a series finale, and what a contrast this time! On the one hand there is the 70 million goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky, who is on fire, but who can be forgiven for a lot. On the other hand, Adin Hill, a career aide who had become the Golden Knights’ fourth goalie but is doing a good job.
Pressure on Bobrovsky
Hill, who will be a free agent this summer, has everything to gain in this final. If he leads Vegas to the cup, he could get the contract of his life. Conversely, Bobrovsky has everything to lose. Well, his fortune is secure, but his reputation is less secure. Despite his excellent work in the last series, if he loses the final against an unknown goalkeeper like Hill, it will stick in his skin.
For the first time in four years, he has the platform to prove he’s really worth 70 million and he has no right to miss his shot, especially as we’re dealing with two evenly matched teams making four three-pointers. There is a risk that everything will be played in front of the net and I believe we will see a grand final.
– Interview by Gilles Moffet
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Montréal and Florida
To be honest, I don’t know how Sergei Bobrovsky would have survived four years of repeated underperformance in a market like Montreal, Toronto or New York. He would have been booed in any game, but it’s easier to forgive in Florida. There he has a golden chance to go down in history, but he mustn’t believe that his counterpart, Adin Hill, won’t be up to the task. The Oilers and Stars may have underestimated the perennial 27-year-old backup player. Imagine the reactions if Carey Price lost a final to Hill. Bobrovsky finds himself in such a situation.
Poisoned Gift
Defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in four games could be a toxic gift for the Panthers. If they resume the collar in Las Vegas on Saturday they will have 11 days off. This is a lot and it will be difficult to restart the machine. I’m sure Coach Paul Maurice does whatever it takes to keep focus, but trust me, Florida is an easy place to get out of hockey. Nevertheless, I predict a victory for the Panthers. If Sergei Bobrovsky plays like he did against the Leafs and Hurricanes, the Golden Knights won’t score many goals. On the other hand, the Knights have home field advantage and it’s very intimidating to play there.
Montembeault number one
With the gold medal that Samuel Montembeault won with Team Canada at the World Cup, it has just been confirmed that he is still making progress and is now the Canadian’s number one goalkeeper. We know the limits of Jake Allen as Montembeault continues on his rise. This time he’s just proved he’s capable of big saves when it matters most, and his reputation is growing as a result. There are a lot of NHL players in this tournament and they all saw that. It will help him in his future negotiations and maybe open doors for him later. For example, a veteran like Tyler Toffoli might be asked by his GM what he thinks of Montembeault, and his affirmative answer might result in a contract or trade offer. By the way, congratulations to head coach André Tourigny and his assistant Alex Tanguay, my former teammates.
