With Memorial Day behind us, summer has (un)officially arrived in all its glory, which means it time for some hockey trophies to be awarded. Here’s your open thread for the hockey weekend, which includes a big game for a trio of Blackhawks prospects.
Saturday, June 3
Stanley Cup Final
Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights – 7 p.m. CT (TNT, TBS)
Series tied 0-0
Do the Blackhawks get credited with an assist if the Panthers win the Cup? Asking for a friend.
A late-season victory by Chicago over the Pittsburgh Penguins was a significant boost for Florida’s then-dwindling playoff hopes, as the Panthers squeaked into the postseason as the second wild card team in the Eastern Conference. But the overwhelming majority of the credit goes to the Panthers, who’ve taken the opportunity presented to them and ran with it, now with a chance to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Forward Matthew Tkachuk has fully an NHL star with a team-high 21 points (9 G, 12 A) in 16 playoff games. Defenseman Brandon Montour has an insane average ice time of 27:35 and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has emerged from a subpar regular season with an incredible postseason appearance: 11-2 record, .935 save percentage and 2.21 goals-against average.
As for Vegas, the No. 1 seed from the Western Conference has had a collective forward effort powering its way to the Final, led by the quartet of Jack Eichel (6 G, 12 A), Jonathan Marchessault (9 G, 8 A), Ivan Barbashev (6 G, 9 A) and Mark Stone (6 G, 9 A). Combine that scoring with the postseason emergence of goaltender Adin Hill (7-3, 2.07 GAA, .937 SV%) and it’s added up to a Vegas team just four victories away from its first Cup win in franchise history – a history that’s in its sixth season.
Sunday, June 4
Memorial Cup Final
Seattle Thunderbirds vs. Quebec Ramparts – 6 p.m. CT (NHL Network)
Over in Western Canada, three Blackhawks prospects have helped the Thunderbirds arrive on the precipice of Seattle’s first Memorial Cup title, the trophy annually awarded to the top team in the CHL. Forward Colton Dach had a goal in Friday’s semifinal win over the Peterborough Petes:
The back of the net had an appointment with the Dachter. @SeattleTBirds | @NHLBlackhawks | #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/LdwHB5lmyV
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 3, 2023
Blue-liners Nolan Allan and Kevin Korchinski – both Blackhawks first-round picks – will also be key factors for Seattle with a championship on the line.