Thanks to the crushing victory, Vegas already took a 2–0 lead in the NHL finals series. Ismo Lehkonen praises, among other things, Vegas’ ability to win loose pucks in his observations of the second game and criticizes Florida’s ability to concentrate.
Early on Tuesday morning, the Vegas Golden Knights were a rude host to Florida in the second part of the NHL Stanley Cup finals. The Knights crushed Florida ugly 7-2.
It now leads the match series with 2-0 wins and is only two wins away from the first championship in the club’s history.
‘s hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen highlighted three themes from the match.
Vegas’ defensive toughness and speed
During the spring, Vegas has become known as a high-quality scoring machine. It won 14 matches in the playoffs and scored at least four goals in thirteen of them. Seven goals were scored on Tuesday. Still, Lehkonen is particularly impressed by the team’s defensive toughness and speed.
On Tuesday, Florida was able to open its tap only after the match had already been decided.
– There is constant pressure on the puck player and the gaps are closed in the background. There is no space available anywhere, so making a game is difficult. There are no passing combinations in Florida’s game. They tried hard to push up from the side of the game, but that way was always blocked, Lehkonen opens.
And Vegas doesn’t let up in any of the three areas of the game.
– Vegas has a lot of puck steals, because their package is so tight and their defense is good. I think Vegas had 29 puck steals in the first five sets in this series. Now, of course, the question arises as to whether Florida has done its homework in this regard. Are there models ready, how to relieve that pressure, Lehkonen asks.
Playing ice hockey and singles
This is the area where Vegas has schooled Florida the most rudely of all. Florida has recorded a lot of shots in the statistics, but it has not been on the same wall as Vegas when it comes to loose puck and grappling. The difference in this respect has been huge.
– Vegas wins all loose pucks and duels and determines the direction of the game through that. They can do whatever they want through it. Once the puck is won, they immediately have the next move ready. Whether they go upright, sideways or backwards, there are plenty of options.
Florida’s focus has been on totally irrelevant things in the series, mostly post-whistle wrestling and silly ice-outs. There hasn’t been any information about the actual severity of the situation. That’s why Lehkonen scolds Florida’s key players in strict terms.
– This situation should now be recognized at the individual level. Everyone should think, am I the one who wins these situations all the time. This is purely a matter of character. Do you want to get there a little easier? At this level, those struggles have to be taken to at least levels if you are in the core.
– The situation is problematic because Vegas does not have a single weak Lenk in that team. I can’t catch anyone there for underplaying and I’m really looking with a magnifying glass to see if there’s anyone there who won’t go into corners or gaps. Was not. The situation is different with the other team. The work of an NHL player is not a part-time job, Lehkonen reminds.
Playing without a puck
As the third theme, Lehkonen raises Vegas’ puck-free playing. As stated, the pride of the casino city has scored a lot of goals throughout the spring and played a high-quality puck game, the core of which is the very high-quality action of a player without a puck.
– From the opening game, the movement of players without the puck is different. Right from the start, we go at maximum pace. This is one of the big laws of ball games, how the player without the puck defines the game, and not the one with the puck. And conversely, in Florida, it’s always the player with a puck, who tries to do something, because people without pucks don’t do the work, says Lehkonen.
– In the attack zone in Vegas, one makes a mask and the other three look for a free spot with hard tempo skating. Excellent to do.
You can watch the goal summary of the second final game of the NHL in the video below.