Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was pretty great. There were a lot of goals and chances. The matchup heading into the game was intriguing and it was great to see it unfold. Vegas was able to squeak out the 6-4 victory with an empty netter.

There were some things that happened that are pertinent to Penguins fans. Ryan Reaves scored for the second consecutive game. That’s a good thing. That helps his team. I wouldn’t expect that to continue based on his years of service in the NHL, but any goals from him are a bonus and the last two games the Golden Knights have gotten that bonus. Even if any other league would have called a cross check on the play. I know the two goals are going to rile up a certain faction of fans that think the Penguins were wrong to trade for Derick Brassard. I bet you’ll see some people in the Pittsburgh media go down that road as well. It’s a dumb road. It’s OK to acknowledge the two goals being a positive without pretending that it is the norm for a player like Reaves.

Tom Wilson also scored. That was a good thing just like the Reaves goal was. However, Tom Wilson just can’t help himself and once again delivered a predatory check, this time to Jonathan Marchessault. He’s the new Matt Cooke. The old Matt Cooke didn’t learn anything until the league took a ton of money from him. Tom Wilson apparently didn’t get the memo that Ryan Reaves was on the other bench. He didn’t seem to care. For those thinking that the Wilson hit on Brian Dumoulin wouldn’t have happened if Reaves was still on the team… Reaves never fought Wilson so there wasn’t even a “successful” retaliation.

Marc-Andre Fleury came back down to earth with an .857 save percentage, but it still didn’t matter. The Golden Knights continue to find a way. Braden Holtby’s .848 paved the way for a Vegas victory. Both goalies have had a great playoffs and I wouldn’t expect both to have that poor of a performance on the same night again. Then again they are goalies so they probably will.

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