The Sixteen: Golden Knights Begin Quest for Stanley Cup Against Panthers

For the first time since 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023. They ousted the Dallas Stars in six games, while their new opponent, the Florida Panthers, were coming off sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

On Toshiba Plaza, Golden Knights fans were getting ready for Game 1 of the final series in typical Vegas fashion with a concert from Marshmello.

'The Final Conquest' began once the puck dropped on the evening of June 3, and Vegas was officially on the hunt to bring the first ever Stanley Cup to Las Vegas.

Eric Staal put Florida up 1-0 halfway through the opening period with a shorthanded goal. The Cats had the lead, until Jonathan Marchessault tied the game on the power play with less than three minutes to go in the period.

Something monumental happened less than one minute into the second period. Adin Hill made one of the best - if not the best - saves of the 2023 postseason. Hill sprawled across his crease and made a last-ditch effort with his stick to save a shot from Nick Cousins just in front of the goal line. In turn, The Fortress was on its feet chanting the goaltender's name.

Safe to say it went viral, and it's still being dubbed "The Save" by Vegas fans everywhere.

After Hill's show-stopping robbery, momentum shifted in the Golden Knights' favor, and Shea Theodore scored a gorgeous goal to put the Golden Knights up, 2-1.

Then, just as the Golden Knights thought they'd be heading into the third with the lead, Anthony Duclair tied it at 2-2 with 11 seconds to go.

The Golden Knights didn't back down in the third period as Zach Whitecloud gave them a 3-2 lead in his Stanley Cup Final debut.

Mark Stone followed Whitecloud's goal to extend the lead to 4-2, and Reilly Smith scored an empty-net power-play goal to finish things off, 5-2.

After the win, Hill's stick save was the main focal point of conversation.

"That's an unreal save. It's a game-changer," Bruce Cassidy said. "You need those saves at key moments."

Vegas' defense was extra appreciative of Hill's extraordinary efforts.

"It's unreal, it's kind of per usual at this point; him making those saves," Theodore said. "He's had our back the second he stepped in, and we've been fortunate to help him on the other end."

Hill was just one of the many players who continued to step up for the Golden Knights as they found themselves with a 1-0 series lead and just three wins away from ultimate sports glory.

Scoring Summary:
1st 9:40 | Eric Staal (2) from Anton Lundell (SH)
1st 17:18 | Jonathan Marchessault (10) from Chandler Stephenson, Shea Theodore (PP)

2nd 10:54 | Shea Theodore (1) from Brayden McNabb, Brett Howden
2nd 19:49 | Anthony Duclair (4)

3rd 6:59 | Zach Whitecloud (2) from Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel
3rd 13:41 | Mark Stone (7)
3rd 18:15 | Reilly Smith (3) from Jack Eichel (PP) (EN)