In their first matchup since last year's Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers sought revenge against the Vegas Golden Knights and succeeded with a 4-2 victory. The game was marked by a fight between Panthers' Ryan Lomberg, in his first game back from injury, and Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar, which ended abruptly when Lomberg landed a decisive punch, sending Kolesar straight to the dressing room. The fight had a backdrop of tension, as Kolesar had previously injured Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk and labeled the team as soft. The score at the end of the second period was tied at 2-2, with the Panthers leading in shots 34-16. Lomberg, who was in a cast last year, credited Kolesar for agreeing to the fight, allowing him to 'even the score.'
Panthers-Golden Knights game provided a reminder: No love is lost between these two teams https://t.co/8krfczcMwq
Ryan Lomberg needed one swing on Keegan Kolesar to get redemption for Kolesar's hit on Matthew Tkachuk in the Stanley Cup Final. If nothing else, Saturday served as another reminder: No love is lost between the #FlaPanthers and Golden Knights. https://t.co/YLTXLphsLm
Panthers knock off Golden Knights in Stanley Cup rematch https://t.co/MpwXfkwFjy https://t.co/O784k3nWjI
In response to the hit on Tkachuk in the playoffs, Lomberg said Kolesar offered to fight him right after, but Lomberg’s hand was in a cast. “Credit to him for letting me get redemption for last year. … He gave me a chance to even the score. Obviously a pretty tough customer.”
Panthers' Ryan Lomberg has one-punch knockdown of Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar https://t.co/v8fy4Qja77
Ryan Lomberg gave Keegan Kolesar some credit for obliging his request to fight today. Kolesar told him he missed his chance last year, but he obliged after Lomberg told him he was in a cast last year. “He gave me a chance to even the score and he’s a really tough customer.”
Panthers pounce on Golden Knights, brawling their way to a 4-2 win in Stanley Cup rematch https://t.co/IlAvxLd1Xt
Takeaways as Panthers beat Golden Knights in first matchup since Stanley Cup Finals https://t.co/3GeyLpFUTn
END OF 2: Panthers 2, Knights 2 Shots: 34-16 FLA
In his first game back from injury Keegan Kolesar drops the gloves with Ryan Lomberg. Lomberg landed the first punch, it dropped Kolesar to the ice, and he went straight to the dressing room.
Lomberg takes down Kolesar with one punch. 👀 https://t.co/jGKnYRDEFx
Welcome back, Keegan Kolesar. Gets into a fight with Ryan Lomberg, Kolesar gets caught with a short right jab and the fight ends as quickly as it started. The perfect summary for the Golden Knights' start.
Well. Quick scrap. Ryan Lomberg vs. Keegan Kolesar. Lomberg gets Keegan with a punch right to the jaw. Kolesar goes right down the tunnel. Wow.
Ryan Lomberg just walloped Keegan Kolesar in a fight. Kolesar fractured Matthew Tkachuk’s sternum in the Stanley Cup Final last year, then called the Panthers soft. There’s some history there…
Ryan Lomberg and Keegan Kolesar drop the gloves. The fight lasted ... one punch. Lomberg wins easily with the right hook. #FlaPanthers
No matter how much they said they wanted to move on, the #FlaPanthers are extra motivated to get revenge on the Golden Knights after last year’s Stanley Cup Final. And the matchup couldn’t have come at a better time for the struggling Panthers. STORY ⬇️ https://t.co/Nw1amnvw6g