5 TAKEAWAYS: Golden Knights 5, Panthers 2

LAS VEGAS -- Paul Maurice said it best after the game.
"Breathe," the Florida Panthers head coach told the media in his postgame conference.
Taking their first loss since May 10, the Panthers opened the Stanley Cup Final with a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

The key word in the above sentence is "seven."
Despite being down 0-1, the Panthers know there's still a lot of hockey left to play.
"It's just one game," forward Anthony Duclair said confidently. "For us, we've been in this position before. … Learn from last night, watch a little video on Sunday] and just have fun. When you're in this position, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you've got to make the most of it."
For a quick recap of the game, click **[HERE**.
To read up on five key takeaways for the Cats, continue below.

1. STAAL'S SHORTY

The Panthers couldn't have asked for a better start to Game 1.
Showing no signs of rust despite their long layoff, they broke the ice at 9:40 of the first period when Eric Staal took a pass from Anton Lundell, who showed great patience on the play, skated around the cage, pulled Adin Hill out of his crease and tucked in a wrap-around to make it 1-0.
For Staal, the goal came in his 100th career playoff game.

"It felt good," Staal said. "It would've felt a lot better in a win, but none the less it was a great play by Lundy to make a good hard pass. I was able to drop him and come around. It felt good."
An unusual start, Staal's goal marked just the third time in NHL history that the first goal of the Stanley Cup Final was scored shorthanded. Per NHL stats, the only other two such instances occurred in 1997 (Kirk Maltby, Detroit) and all the way back in 1936 (Bucko McDonald, Detroit).
A Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes in 2006, Staal's goal was also his first in the Stanley Cup Final in 17 years, which is the longest span between Final goals NHL history.
As a former champion, Staal also knows a series isn't over after just one game.
"I think we can get stronger," the 38-year-old veteran said. "I think there's areas of our game that were real good tonight, and then there's areas where we can get better. It's the first one. We'll regroup, recover tonight and tomorrow, and then be ready for Game 2."

2. GOALIE DUEL

Both goaltenders were in the zone in Game 1.
With highlight-reel stops coming from each end of the ice, Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 29 saves for the Panthers, while Hill made 33 saves for the Knights. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, Bobrovsky went 9-for-11 against high-danger shots, while Hill stopped all seven he faced.
Hill's biggest stop came early in the second period when he robbed Nick Cousins of a goal with a stunning paddle save. As for Bobrovsky, the majority of his big saves came in 1-on-1 battles, including when he flashed leather on a great look from Brett Howden in the first period.
"We didn't score on our best chances, and they didn't score on their best chances," Maurice said of the goaltending duel. "They got a couple point shots that snuck their way through. We snuck one through. The best chances both teams had, both goalies made great saves on."
Per MoneyPuck.com, both Bobrovsky and Hill saved more goals than expected.
"I felt pretty good," said Bobrovsky, who leads all goaltenders in the postseason with 11 wins. "I saw the puck well. The movement was good. Everything was good. It was a great game. I was really happy to be there, to play that game and to face that team. It was a good game."

3. DUKE GETS IT DONE

Pucks. On. Net.
With just over 10 seconds remaining in the second period, Duclair got the game all squared up for the Panthers when he pounced on the puck after a crucial faceoff win the offensive zone and ripped it past Hill from the top of the right circle to make it a 2-2 game.
For Duclair, the goal was his fourth of the playoffs and first-ever in the Stanley Cup Final.

"It's a great feeling to see that puck go in," said Duclair, who also registered a blocked shot and a takeaway in Game 1. "Just to tie it up going into the third was huge. It's one of those things you dream about your whole life. You're finally here, so you don't want to take it for granted."
Getting more and more dangerous with the less time there is on the clock, the Panthers have scored five goals in the final minute of a period this postseason. Dating back to 1998, Duclair's goal was the eighth-latest scored in a period in the Stanley Cup Final, according to NHL stats.
"A huge goal," Staal said. "A massive goal by Duke. Any time you can tie it in the last minute of a period, it's huge. We were really comfortable in that all year long."

4. OUT OF THE BOX

The penalty disparity in Game 1 was fairly lopsided.
By the time the dust had settled, the Panthers had received three power plays, while the Knights were sitting on seven of their own. Regardless of how that ended up happening, the Panthers know they can't afford to spend that much time in the penalty box moving forward in the series.
With those power plays, Florida went 0-for-3, while Vegas finished 2-for-7.
"I felt it was pretty competitive," Staal said. "We've got to learn a little bit with the penalties. That's too many. You can't take that many penalties at this time of the year and expect success offensively. It's tough. It's tight out there. I think we can learn from some of that."
That being said, some of the calls made by officials were head-scratchers.
In addition to a blatant boarding on Cousins being missed, the punishment for two separate scrums wasn't exactly equal. During the initial big scrum in the first period, Hill got away with punching Cousins twice with his blocker. During the second big scrum toward the end of the game, both Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk received misconducts for similar actions.
But, as they always say, these sort of things should even out as the series goes on.
The less self-inflicted wounds, the better.
"You're trying to play on that edge without going over it," forward Sam Reinhart said. "They're a team that when they have a lead, it's tough to come back on. They're comfortable with the lead, and that's where they want to be. It's never easy trying to come back in a game like that."

5. UPDATE ON EETU

After being a game-time decision to play, Eetu Luostarinen sat out Game 1.
Dealing with an undisclosed injury after blocking a shot against the Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, Luostarinen, a key piece for the Panthers both at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill, skated the two days prior to the game, but in the end was unable to take the ice.
Maurice said the next update on Luostarinen will come prior to Game 2.
In 16 playoff games, Luostarinen, who has been lining up on the left side of the third line for most of Florida's run, has registered five points (two goals, three assists) and 13 blocks. On the penalty kill, the 24-year-old forward is averaging 1:45 of ice time per tilt.
If Luostarinen can return for Game 2, the Panthers should receive a big boost.