Here are some takeaways from Day 30 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Fleury continues to shine for Vegas
Marc-Andre Fleury was the best player on the ice in the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-1 victory against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, according to Vegas coach Peter DeBoer. Fleury made 28 saves, including several sharp ones when the Canadiens were outplaying the Golden Knights in the first period. He's now 9-4 with a 1.84 GAA, .927 save percentage and one shutout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after being voted a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL for his play during the regular season. Not bad for a 36-year-old who lost the No. 1 job to Robin Lehner in the playoffs last season. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Montreal must find way to slow Vegas defensemen
The Montreal Canadiens have faced some formidable offensive defensemen during the first two rounds of the playoffs, like Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets. But they hadn't yet seen a corps of defensemen flex its collective scoring muscles like the Vegas Golden Knights did in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals on Monday. Golden Knights defensemen combined for six points (three goals, three assists) in a 4-1 win against the Canadiens. Shea Theodore scored two points (one goal, one assist); Nick Holden and Alec Martinez scored one goal each; and Brayden McNabb and Zach Whitecloud each had one assist. Carey Price said it's an issue Montreal will have to address. "They've got some solid [defensemen] over there," the Canadiens goalie said, adding that, "they were getting pucks through and jumping in on the rush. That's what good D do. I just have to find a way to mitigate that." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer