The NHL will see a new champion this year. The final series between Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights starts early on Sunday Finnish time.
In the finals of the Stanley Cup, the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights will meet, neither of which has celebrated the NHL championship before. Both have played in the playoffs once: Vegas in their first season in the spring of 2018 and Florida in 1996.
Three Finns play in Florida: the forwards Alexander Barkov, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. In addition Tuomo Ruutu serves as the team’s assistant coach. There are no Finns in Vegas.
In the regular season, Vegas was number one in the Western Conference. It defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4–1, the Edmonton Oilers 4–2 and the Dallas Stars 4–2 on its way to the finals.
Florida, who coughed up in the regular season, made it to the playoffs with a wild card. In the first round of the playoffs, it already had a 1-3 loss against Boston, who set the record for points and wins in the regular season, but made its way to the playoffs. On the way to the finals, the Panthers also defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs (4–1) and the Carolina Hurricanes (4–0).
The final series starts on Vegas’ home field early on Sunday Finnish time. shows all matches on its channels.
Four wins are required for the championship
4.6. at 03:00 Vegas – Florida
6.6. at 03:00 Vegas – Florida
9.6. at 03:00 Florida – Vegas
11.6. at 03:00 Florida – Vegas
14.6. at 03.00 Vegas – Florida*
17.6. at 03.00 Florida – Vegas*
20.6. at 03:00 – Vegas – Florida*
* If necessary