STANLEY CUP FINAL
Vegas Golden Knights (1st in Pacific Division) vs. Florida Panthers (2nd Eastern Conference wild card)
The 2023 Stanley Cup Final has the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Florida Panthers. The Golden Knights and Panthers have both made one Stanley Cup Final appearance to date. The Panthers made the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche, and the Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, when they were defeated by the Washington Capitals. Since neither team has ever won the Stanley Cup, 2023 will see a team hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time. This marks the first time the Golden Knights and Panthers have met in the playoffs. In the 2022-23 regular season, the Golden Knights and Panthers met twice. Vegas won the first meeting 4-2 on January 12, while Florida won the second meeting 2-1 on March 7.
Prediction: Florida in six games.