RECAP: Panthers falter in third period as Knights take Game 1 of SCF

LAS VEGAS -- The Florida Panthers are ready to settle in for a long series.

Letting the game get away from them in the third period, the Panthers were handed a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

But having won 11 of their previous 13 games, they certainly aren't hitting the panic button.

"It's the first game," said Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 29 saves in defeat. "It's a long series. We have a lot of hockey ahead of us. We play, we learn and we move on."

On the penalty kill in the first period, the Panthers broke the ice when Eric Staal, who was suiting up in the 100th playoff game of his NHL career, took a pass from Anton Lundell, skated around the net and beat Adin Hill with a nifty wrap-around for a shorthanded goal to make it 1-0 at 9:40.

Getting payback later in the period, the Knights made the most of their second power play when former Panther Jonathan Marchessault buried a one-timer from in close to make it 1-1 at 17:18.

Despite a long break in between games, the Panthers didn't show much rust early on.

"I think just continue to get better," Staal said. "I think we can get stronger. 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."

The Panthers nearly regained the lead less than a minute into the second period, but Hill made an eye-popping paddle save to deny Nick Cousins on re-direction attempt from on top of the crease.

That was one of seven high-danger saves for Hill in the game.

Putting the Knights on top, Shea Theodore made a few shifty moves to free up some space while walking the blue line before firing a shot through traffic and into the net to make it 2-1 at 10:54.

After a blatant boarding against Cousins went unpunished by officials, the Panthers instead made the Knights pay with a big goal. Following a faceoff win by Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Duclair beat Hill with a quick shot from the top of the right circle to make it 1-1 at 19:49.

Barkov leads the playoffs with 183 faceoff wins.

"A massive goal by Duke," Staal said. "Any time you can tie it in the last minute of a period, it's huge. We were comfortable in that all year long. I liked where we were at going into the third."

Getting the lead back for the Knights in the third period, Zach Whitecloud ripped a shot through some traffic and past Bobrovsky to make it 3-2 at 6:59. Later in the period, Mark Stone padded the advantage for Vegas when he intercepted a pass in the slot and scored to make it 4-2 at 13:41.

The Panthers challenged Stone's goal citing a high stick, but it was upheld by officials after a rather quick review.

On the power play with 1:45 left in regulation, Reilly Smith buried an empty-netter to make it 5-2.

The Knights earned seven power plays in Game 1, while the Panthers were given just three.

Near the end of the game, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett received misconducts following a multi-player altercation. Going back to a similar bruhaha that occurred in the first period, the Panthers once again seemed to end up with the brunt of the punishment from officials.

Looking ahead to Game 2, the Panthers are confident they can pull even in the series.

"I liked our start because there's so much unknown after we sat for so long," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "I liked how we came out there. We'll look at some things that we did with the puck and some short areas that we can improve on. There's a bunch of little things we can get better at, but it's going to be tight like that. Both goalies made some big saves."

CATS QUOTES

"We didn't score on our best chances, and they didn't score on their best chances. 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." - Paul Maurice

"It was a very good game, a very competitive game. It was a fun atmosphere. It was a great game. It was two good teams competing for the win. We're going to go on." - Sergei Bobrovsky

"I felt it was pretty competitive. Obviously 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." - Eric Staal

CATS NOTES

• Eric Staal's opening goal for the Panthers in the first period marked just the third time in NHL history that the first goal of the Stanley Cup Final has been scored shorthanded.

• Anthony Duclair scored his fourth goal of the playoffs.

• Eetu Luostarinen (undisclosed) missed tonight's game after being a game-time decision.

• The Panthers have scored five goals in the final minute of a period in this year's playoffs.

• Sergei Bobrovsky made nine high-danger saves.

• Aleksander Barkov led the Panthers with six hits.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Panthers will look to even up the best-of-seven series when they face off against the Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

To attend the watch party at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, click Video: FLA@VGK, Gm1: Staal nets SHG on wraparound in 1st.