The Vegas Golden Knights delivered a stunning offensive display in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, overpowering the Florida Panthers with a 7-2 victory at T-Mobile Arena on Monday. This commanding performance gives the Golden Knights a 2-0 series lead.
Vegas has showcased its offensive prowess throughout the NHL’s season finale, setting new records in the process. The team has seen nine different goal scorers find the net in the final, breaking the NHL record for the most by a team in the first two games of a final series. Their 12 goals in these games also tie an existing NHL record.
Former Florida Panther and current Golden Knights star Jonathan Marchessault maintained his scoring momentum with a two-goal performance in Game 2. The 32-year-old started the scoring with a power-play goal from the circle and added his second goal in the third period, stretching Vegas’ lead to 5-2.
After a scoreless start in the first five postseason games, Marchessault now claims 12 goals in the team’s last 12 outings, setting a franchise record for the most in a single postseason. The right-winger’s seven-game point streak also ties the longest playoff streak in Golden Knights history.
Brett Howden contributed two goals for Vegas, with his second goal pushing the team’s lead to 4-0 and prompting the Panthers to replace goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky. Additionally, Alec Martinez, Nicolas Roy, and Michael Amadio each added a goal in the dominant win.
In a post-game interview, Marchessault commended the team’s depth and discipline. “We know we have depth, we know if we roll four lanes and get a good forecheck, we’ll get rewarded,” he said. “Our discipline has been unbelievable.”
The Golden Knights are now only two wins away from securing the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup. According to NHL statistics, teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series boast an impressive .863 win percentage (347-55). In Stanley Cup Final series specifically, teams with a 2-0 lead have triumphed 90.6% of the time (48-5).
The series heads to Sunrise, Florida, for Game 3 on Thursday at the FLA Live Arena, where the Panthers will attempt to claw their way back into contention.
