FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Panthers - Game 64 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Panthers – Game 64 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (38-20-6)  | Florida Panthers  (32-27-6)

Adin Hill makes 36 saves, but The Golden Knights’ three-game win streak gets snapped after falling short to the Florida Panthers, 2-1. 

The Golden Knights vs Panthers first period. 

The Vegas Golden Knights started their five-game road trip but did not start in the right way losing 2-1 to the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fl. The Florida Panthers ended the Golden Knights’ three-game winning streak and are now 4-1-0 all-time against the Golden Knights in Sunrise.

Despite the efforts from Vegas goaltender Adin Hill finishing the game with 36 saves, the Golden Knights were outshot by the Panthers 42-32.

“We chased the game the whole night and never caught up to them,’’ Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We stayed in the game, which was good. … But you got to be ready when the puck drops. And they were; we weren’t.”

In Adin Hill’s last 12 games, he has stopped 318-of-342 for a .930 save %. Hill had only two games with a save % below .900 in that span.

With the loss, the Golden Knights are now tied with the Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division.

“We weren’t ready to start the game,” Shae Theodore said. “That’s kind of where it came down to bite us. Thought we played great in the second and third, but you need better starts down the stretch here.”

Theodore scored the goal for the Golden Knights in the second period, while Ryan Lomberg and Aleksander Barkov both scored for the Panthers.

The Panthers went on the board first. Five minutes into the first period, Ryan Lomberg fired a wrist shot from the high slot after a Vegas turnover at the blue line.

“We needed a big start, and I think the guys responded,” Lomberg said. “For the last chunk of games, there has been no doubt that guys are going to show up. These are all big games, which was a big win for us.”

The Golden Knights vs Panthers end of the first period.

Adin Hill made spectacular saves in the first period, but the Panthers controlled the tempo, outshooting Vegas.

The Golden Knights vs Panthers second and third periods.

The Panthers‘ tempo in the first period continued in the second. Aleksander Barkov scored four minutes in after one-timing Anthony Duclair’s centering pass to extend the lead for the Panthers 2-0.

But midway in the second, Shae Theodore cut the lead in half after scoring a power play goal, shooting from the point to make the score 2-1.

“We’ve had stretches where we’ve bounced back really quick,” Theodore said. “I think, especially this time of the year, that’s what we need to do.”

No goals were scored in the third,  and Vegas could not generate any offense as Sergi Bobrosvky ended the night with 31 saves to secure the victory for the Panthers.

“We stayed in the game, which was good,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The way we start, we’re never going to hang our hat on that, that’s for sure. But after the first period, you sort of wonder, how’s it going to go? And we eventually got ourselves in the game just because we were more competitive.

The Golden Knights vs Panthers final score was 2-1.

The Golden Knights will remain on the road when they play against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday. The puck drops at 4:00 pm. The game can be seen on  AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.