The Vegas Golden Knights claimed Game 1 of the NHL Finals by defeating the Florida Panthers with a decisive 5-2 victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
The showdown began with Florida striking first in the 10th minute, as Eric Staal found the back of the net to give the Panthers an early spark. Vegas responded quickly, mounting pressure and turning the tide with goals from Jonathan Marchessault and Shea Theodore, shifting the momentum in favor of the home team. As the second period neared its end, Anthony Duclair staked Florida to a late push with a goal just 11 seconds before the intermission, leveling the score and setting the stage for a tense finish.
After the break, Vegas reclaimed the advantage in the third period. Zach Whitecloud converted a feed from Ivan Barbashev, putting the Golden Knights ahead once more. Across the rest of the stanza, Mark Stone added another tally for Vegas, followed by Reilly Smith, who sealed the scoring with the fifth goal for the Knights.
Florida’s netminder Sergei Bobrovsky faced sustained pressure, stopping many promising Vegas bids but allowing five goals on 33 shots. He remained busier than his counterpart, absorbing the onslaught as Vegas pushed for control in the matchup that started the series with high tempo and fierce intensity.
Across social media and live coverage threads, observers noted the Knights’ ability to convert on chances and maintain heightened pressure, helping them establish a 1-0 series lead that could shape the tone of the finals. Commentary from analysts highlighted strategic deployments, with Vegas finding success through balanced scoring and tight zone defense against a Florida squad known for its resilience and scoring depth.
As the night closed, the result set the tone for the championship series, establishing Vegas as the team to beat entering the remainder of the finals. Coaches will analyze this first game for adjustments, while players absorb the experience and prepare for a challenging path ahead in the pursuit of the title.
Earlier discussions around the finals included expectations surrounding Sergei Bobrovsky’s performance, with analysts weighing how the Panthers might adapt to the Knights’ structured forecheck and rapid transition game in the upcoming games of the series.