Excitement Builds for the Stanley Cup Final
A viral video from some time ago has kept people buzzing. In it, a guy takes a plate of food from what seems to be his wife and proclaims, “That’s delicious, I’ll eat 14 more just like that.” Honestly, that’s how I feel about this Stanley Cup Final. I could easily watch multiple games just like it.
Sure, there might only be three games left in the series, but I think this one will be crucial. The Golden Knights are set to face off away from home in Game 5, which is a big deal.
Now, I’m not sure about the credibility of this website, but it mentioned that in the NHL series, which had played the last seven games and was tied 2-2 before Game 5, the winner had an 82% chance of clinching the series. Basically, whoever wins this next game is likely to lift the Stanley Cup.
The road ahead will be tough for both teams, but Vegas seems ready for the challenge. They might have won both games in Carolina if a few calls had gone their way. Realistically, they’ve had opportunities to win in every game; sometimes the puck just doesn’t bounce your way. I suggested that Carolina switch their goaltender for Game 4, and they did, which worked out. Maybe it’s time for Vegas to consider a change with Carter Hart and give other players a shot.
The Carolina Hurricanes have lost more games in this series compared to their previous three series combined. Yet, they maintain a persistent spirit and usually stay competitive. In this match, they went ahead 3-1 early in the first period but quickly let it slip away in the second. They managed to score again and added an empty-netter to end it 5-3.
The defense, now featuring a new goaltender, faced just 21 shots. While three of those found the net, allowing that many shots isn’t catastrophic. It will be interesting to see how the Golden Knights respond to Brandon Bussi if he gets another opportunity in goal. Allowing three goals isn’t ideal, and with a save percentage of .857, his performance could certainly be better.
We’ve really managed to come back in these games, and I don’t see any reason to stop now. Both offenses are strong, averaging over eight goals a game, even with fewer shots. I believe this is another opportunity for us to take control.
Hart is likely to remain in goal for Las Vegas, as will Bussi. It’s not so common to go up against the same starting pitcher two years in a row, but you can definitely learn trends from goaltenders and adjust your game plan accordingly. So, giving myself permission to expect over 5.5 goals again seems reasonable.
