Golden Knights chase Sergei Bobrovsky, rout Panthers in Game 2 of Stan…

The Vegas Golden Knights chased Sergei Bobrovsky from the net, kept top scorer Matthew Tkachuk mostly in check and knocked the playoffs’ leading hitter out of the game.

That’s why they lead the Florida Panthers 2-0 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final after a 7-2 blowout victory Monday night in Las Vegas.

“It was a good performance by us,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Our guys were ready to play.”

Bobrovsky’s strong play had helped the Panthers rally past the No. 1 overall Boston Bruins in the first round and he gave up two or fewer goals in eight of the next nine games to help the Panthers reach the Final for the first time since 1996.

But the Golden Knights scored four goals against Bobrovsky in each of the first two games at T-Mobile Arena. Bobrovsky was pulled in the second period in favor of Alex Lyon.

Jonathan Marchessault and Brett Howden each had two goals as Vegas became the first team since the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes to score five or more goals in each of the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final. Game 3 will be Thursday night in Sunrise, Florida.

A closer look at Game 2:

Golden Knights overwhelm Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky

Bobrovsky didn’t play poorly in the Game 1 loss, but the Golden Knights used the same strategy to beat him in Game 2.

Former Panther Marchessault drew a penalty and then scored on the power play, firing a puck through a Mark Stone screen. Vegas’ Alec Martinez also scored through a screen, shooting the puck past Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura. Bobrovsky was screened by his defenseman, Casey Fitzgerald, on the third goal.

“If we’re going to be there, we’ve got to block them,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “We’re working on it. We’re trying, but we’re about 3 inches off on those shots.”

The fourth goal, by Howden, was assisted by Stone and the Golden Knights bench. Stone broke his stick in the Vegas zone,…