How Vegas outmuscled Florida in Game 4 to move within a win of their first Cup

Stanley Cup Finals: Vegas embraces the grind

If the Golden Knights have taught the hockey world anything, it’s that size matters. Vegas blocked 31 shots in Game 3 and blocked 30 shots in Game 4. Vegas has always been reliant on their defensive prowess. It’s something head coach Bruce Cassidy has preached since September.

"“The shot attempts to me is an interesting analytic because there are teams that pound the puck from anywhere, and there are other teams that play maybe for a better look, for high-percentage shots,” Cassidy told EP Rinkside. “I think we fall into the latter and Florida’s the former. I see it with Carolina and Calgary, certain teams we play against. We know what’s coming, so cover at the front of the net. That’s what happens. A lot of these do get blocked if we’re sort of on our toes, and we know maybe what’s coming before it arrives. So there are tendencies, and we look at those, just like teams will look at our tendencies.”"

The Panthers had sustained offensive zone time. But they couldn’t penetrate the middle and failed to score. Much of that is due to Vegas’s size. They use it offensively too. Their shooters have held onto the puck more than in their previous series. It’s allowed for other Golden Knights players to bump Panthers defenders away, create screens and take away the eyes of Sergei Bobrovsky.

"“We know our size and the advantage it can be,” defenseman Nicolas Hague told the Athletic. “And we try to use it. It’s not always about crushing hits. More just about a good stick, good body positioning, not being pushed around by a forecheck.” “You also have to be able to move, and that’s where we have a really good combination where we can skate with it, too. I think it helps us a lot to play both sides of it. You look at a guy like Shea (Theodore), who skates as well as anyone and also has a big body. It’s nice to have when you’re looking for those things.”"

The Golden Knights don’t have any undersized defensemen. Alec Martinez is 6-1, 210 pounds. Alex Pietrangelo is 6-3, 215 pounds. Brayden Mcnabb is 6-4, 215 pounds. Shea Theodore is 6-2 197 pounds. Hague is 6-6, 230 pounds. Zach Whitecloud is 6-3, 207 pounds.

Successful Cup-winning teams like the 2019 St. Louis Blues and the 2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning had strong, skilled defense lineups. It included players like Colten Parayko (6-6, 228 pounds), Victor Hedman (6-7, 244 pounds), and Ryan McDonagh (6-1, 215 pounds). Last year, the champion Colorado Avalanche added Josh Manson (6-3, 218 pounds).

It reinforced the importance of size and reach in playoff hockey. Possessing both size and skill on the blue line is critical to success. If the Golden Knights knock out the Panthers, it may confirm that more prominent players are needed on defense in the NHL. But as Barkov said, “You’ve gotta win four.”