Yep, . . . and from a certain point of view, not really.
These were my ideal types of games. The majority of that series was the lethal one goal defense. While high risk, focuding almost solely on distrustrupting and countering the opponents strategies and tendencies, not making offense plays that could generate a chance for the opponent, just countering them and wearing out their bodies and playbooks while they’re trying to “just get that one goal”. . ,
Keep the scoreboard close while making the use up and expose resources. . .
Fleury played excellent but absolutely. What was telling for me about this entire series was watching Vegas employ a 5 man defensive structure everytime they were on the ice almost. They would allow their speed to carry them in transition, and forecheck where applicable. But when the puck was in their end they saved most of their youth/speed for that, to close the distance and allow very few odd man breaks. Then once the Kings would forecheck and win some battles, Vegas would again use all 5 in the back end to try to impede the shots.
LA had some good chances, but they would usually have to work 2-3x as hard to get those good chances, and even then there is still Fluery to deal with. LA also had an awful hard time getting bodies to the front of the net, more so than I've ever seen for the way they traditionally play. This allowed Fluery to challenge far more aggressively, you could see him coming far out of the paint to challenge long shots. A lot of that had to do with the gap control and spacing of the Knights imo. When LA would get the puck, by employing man on man coverage in the Zone very tightly and chasing very hard they would force the Kings to space out so far when they were in the offensive end. This would keep a lot of open holes, and prevent crowds from forming around their goalie, in the shooting lanes, etc.
We've talked about this before but this is the type of "speed" game I think you and I reference. It isn't that they don't employ speed players, it's that the system works as such so everyone regardless of skillset can be in on it, and the speed players aren't just trying to force breakways and scoring chances, they are smartly leveraging their assets in a way that impedes the opponents abilities.
Gerard Gallant though deserves so much of all this credit, fantastic coach, Florida was boneheaded for letting him go he's the perfect type of coach to give to younger players looking to become full time NHLers, and given the crop Vegas has had to work with he was absolutely ideal for them.