VGK Takes Game 1, But The Real Noise Starts Now

Vegas has already drawn first blood, and that changes the temperature around the whole Final. The Cup series now shifts from opening-night polish to the hard stuff that separates a good story from a champion. There is also more international hockey chatter, a GM change in the mix, and a mock draft angle hanging over the day like a scout with a stopwatch. This one has the kind of league-wide ripple effect that front offices love and fan bases dread.