LAS VEGAS | Sticking after the whistle, sniffles during stoppage time, attackers jostling the goalkeeper: the first game of the final gave the impression that each team wanted to mark its territory.
In this little game, we can believe that the Panthers hold the advantage. Within their group, there are a few individuals who are quick to nag the opponent. Matthew Tkachuk and Radko Gudas are pretty good at it.
Moreover, at the end of this first meeting, Jonathan Marchessault, in the colorful language that we know him, did not hesitate to decry the intentions of his opponents.
“We will play whistle to whistle. We will not be put in the shit with the junk after the whistles. It was silly, “said the Golden Knights forward, recalling that he and his teammates had to be careful not to fall into the trap.
Pietrangelo the target
The caveat is worth sharing and hearing as Anthony Duclair reiterated his group’s intention to get inside the heads of Golden Knights players.
“Like Marchy said, junk, we’re going to see a lot of it,” Duclair said. In the final, there is a lot of emotion. We’ll see.”
This means that Alex Pietrangelo, often on the receiving side of these small blows during stoppage time, should expect to receive his share of visits.
“I don’t know why I was targeted,” the 33-year-old veteran said.
But the quarterback of the Golden Knights has seen others. He knows the reality of the final round, he who reached it during the conquest of the St. Louis Blues, in 2019.
“I can take it. I’ve been there before. Being tough and fighting back is not always the right reaction to have,” he said.
More legs, fewer sticks
Duclair may stipulate that he and his teammates will have to make sure not to exceed the limits and remain disciplined, they are not unaware that the massive offense of Vegas has offered a rather irregular return (19.5%) from the start of the spring tournament.
In these circumstances, it is less embarrassing to allow oneself certain largesse.
“We still have to stay calm. We saw it yesterday [samedi] with the goal of Marchessault. We will have to work more with our legs and less with our stick,” he nevertheless maintained.
Beyond the risk of seeing the massive attack of the Knights know a jolt, it would not be advantageous for the troop of Paul Maurice to be deprived of important elements for several minutes during the match.
A reality the Panthers had to deal with when Sam Bennett and Tkachuk received 10 minutes for misconduct when the score was 4-2.
“Seeking to tire our defenders is part of their strategy. We were surprised to see that it was practically after every whistle, said William Carrier. But we thought we had to stay disciplined and you see, their two best players since the start of the playoffs were taken out.
This prank that occurred in the last moments of the third period was quite likely to seal the outcome of this first meeting.