Mick Lehkonen scored twice, including the game-winner at 11:13 of the third period, and Alexi Zvedkin stopped 31 of 33 shots for the Vice (16-8 in the postseason). Elias Thornton had a goal and two assists and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
"This group is special," Lehkonen said. "We knew what it took. We'd been here before."
Miami took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals from Thornton (power play, 6:42) and Jake Oduya (14:17). Vegas responded with goals from Eero Mäkinen (18:03) and Andre Villishinko (2:14 of the second) to tie the game 2-2 entering the third.
Lehkonen's winner came on a redirection of a point shot from Vic Bellman. Chad Frank added an empty-net goal at 18:58.
Zvedkin was especially sharp in the second period, stopping all 14 Vegas shots including a breakaway chance from Allen Zevchinko.
Vegas forward Robert Piper (0 points, minus-1, 12:34 TOI) had a shot hit the post with Zvedkin out of position at 8:47 of the second period.
"It hurts," Piper said. "We were right there. We just couldn't finish it."
Tyler Haskell made 27 saves in the loss.
The Vice went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. Vegas was 0-for-3 on the power play.
"We'll be back," Villishinko said. "This isn't the end of anything."
June 22, 11:47 PM
Red:i cant
Red:we were so close
Joel:Im sorry.
Red:i keep seeing that last shot. the one that hit the post. i was right there joel i was right fucking there
Joel:Red.
Red:im sorry i just
Red:i dont know why im texting you
Joel:Because you needed to.
Red:yeah
Red:can you just
Joel:What?
Red:i dont know. talk. say something. anything
Joel:I'm here.
Red:okay
Read 12:34 AM
July 14, 9:23 PM
Red:started training again
Joel:Already?
Red:cant sit still
