2023 Stanley Cup Final picks: Golden Knights or Panthers?
The wait has been so long that it feels like the NHL offseason has fully begun. But, mercifully, the Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday with Game 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City.
Both teams have defied expectations to reach the final stage before the championship summit. Will the Golden Knights ride their forward depth and sturdy defense to their first Stanley Cup? Or will the Florida Panthers become the second No. 8 seed in NHL history to win it all?
The Daily Faceoff senior staff panel makes its predictions below for the Cup winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as playoff MVP:
The incredibly unpredictable postseason continues to pummel our prognosticators, with none of us even topping a .500 record through three rounds. The staff is evenly split in picking a series winner for the Final, with Vegas and Florida earning four votes apiece. Only one staffer has the series going seven games. Meanwhile, half the panel likes Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for the Conn Smythe. I’m zagging from the group by picking ‘Bob’ to become the first to win it on a losing team since Jean-Sebastien Giguere 20 years ago.
_____
Discover Betano.ca – a premium Sports Betting and Online Casino experience. Offering numerous unique and dynamic betting options along with diverse digital and live casino games, Betano is where The Game Starts Now. 19+. Please play responsibly.
_____
Recently by Daily Faceoff
- 2022-23 Stanley Cup Final preview hub
- Bold predictions for the 2023 NHL offseason
- The missing piece of the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup puzzle is ______
- Which core members of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be gone next season?
- Which NHL team will blow it up this offseason?
- Next year’s Devils: Which bottom-dwelling NHL team will break out in 2023-24?
- Who is the best current NHL player you’d trade for Connor Bedard?