The Stanley Cup will be in the building Tuesday night as the Vegas Golden Knights try to wrap up their first NHL championship in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers.
The Golden Knights took a 3-1 series lead on Saturday night behind two goals by Chandler Stephenson, then held off a furious rally to win 3-2 before a big scrum erupted.
Vegas went to the Stanley Cup Final in its first season in 2017-18 and if it clinches in Game 5, it would be the fastest non-Original Six expansion team (six seasons) to win a Cup, beating out the 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers’ seven seasons.
The Panthers, however, are 3-0 this postseason when facing elimination as they overcame a 3-1 series deficit in the first round against the record-setting Boston Bruins.
Here’s a closer look at Game 5:
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When is Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final?
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 13, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
How can I watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final?
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final will be shown on TNT and truTV. A pregame show begins at 7 p.m. ET.
How can I live stream Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final?
Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final can be live streamed at TNT.com, on the TNT app or on streaming services that carry TNT.
What is expected goaltending matchup for Game 5?
Vegas’ Adin Hill (10-4, 2.11 goals-against average, .934 save percentage) vs. Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (12-5, 2.50, .924)
Will there be lineup changes in Game 5?
The big question is the availability of Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, who flew with the team to Las Vegas but didn’t practice on Monday. He wasn’t on the ice for pregame warmups. He was knocked briefly out of Game 3 by a big hit and returned to score the tying goal. He was clearly hurting in Game 4 and was limited to four shifts in the third period.
What do the Golden Knights need to do to win Game 5?
Stay focused. The last four championship teams lost their first attempt to clinch. The last to win: the 2018 Washington Capitals, at the Golden Knights’ arena. … Rely on their veterans. Alex Pietrangelo, Ivan Barbashev, Stephenson and Alec Martinez are former Cup winners. Pietrangelo and Martinez have scored Cup-clinching goals. … Keep doing what they’re doing. The Golden Knights are getting scoring throughout the lineup, playing strong defense and blocking shots in front of Hill.
What do the Panthers need to do to win Game 5?
A big game from Bobrovsky, particularly early in the game. He has rebounded from being pulled in Game 2. Remember that he stopped a breakaway by Brad Marchand in the final seconds of Game 5 in the first round, keeping the Panthers’ season alive. … Find a way to compensate for a limited or unavailable Tkachuk. Anton Lundell looked good in Game 4. … Captain Aleksander Barkov needs a repeat of his Game 4 performance. He had his first points of the Final, had six shots and won 15 of 24 faceoffs.
