This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.
Good morning to everyone but especially to...
THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Golden Knights are adding some silver to their trophy case. After blasting the Panthers, 9-3, in Game 5 and tying the Stanley Cup Final single-game goal record in the process, Vegas is your Stanley Cup champion.
Mark Stone scored once in each period to become just the third player with a hat trick in a Stanley Cup Final-clinching game.Nicolas Roy (twice), Alec Martinez, Reilly Smith, Michael Amadio and Ivan Barbashev also scored for Vegas.The Golden Knights' offense was clearly dominant, but so was their defense -- especially the penalty kill. The Panthers went 0-14 on the power play this series, becoming the first team to fail to score a power play goal in the Stanley Cup Final since the 1948 Red Wings.Overall, the Golden Knights outscored the Panthers by 14 in the series, the second-best margin in the Final ever.Those numbers really do tell the entire story. This was complete domination, devastation, mastery -- you name it. It speaks volumes that of all of the scorers listed above, none of them won the Conn Smythe Trophy. That honor went to Jonathan Marchessault, who led the team with 25 postseason points.
This Vegas team was simply overwhelming, writes our Austin Nivison.
Nivison: "After a long run of playoff brilliance from both players, Stone and Jack Eichel saved their best performances for last. Eichel was all over the ice, making plays on the backcheck and the forecheck. He was rewarded with three assists and finished the playoffs with 20, which led the league. All Stone did was seal a Stanley Cup victory with three goals. His hat trick was the first in a Stanley Cup Final since Colorado Avalanche legend Petr Forsber pulled it off in Game 2 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, which was also against the Panthers."Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for...
USATSISTEFON DIGGS AND THE BUFFALO BILLS
Star Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was not at Buffalo's mandatory minicamp practice Tuesday, an absence that has head coach Sean McDermott "very concerned."
Late Tuesday morning, McDermott announced everyone except Diggs was in attendance.Shortly thereafter, Diggs' agent, Adisa Bakari, said Diggs was in Buffalo (and had been since Monday), had spoken with McDermott and GM Brandon Beane, and would be in attendance for all of minicamp.The truth, though, is that Diggs was in Buffalo on Monday and Tuesday... but left before Tuesday's practice.The absence is not contract-related -- Diggs got a huge extension last offseason -- nor is it football-related, quarterback Josh Allen explained after practice.This obviously isn't Buffalo's ideal start to the summer. After making the AFC Championship Game in 2020, the Bills have lost in the Divisional Round in two straight seasons. Last season, Diggs was visibly frustrated with Allen and left the locker room in a hurry after losing to the Bengals in the playoffs, a loss Diggs was still taking hard months later.
Tuesday, Allen indicated he and Diggs have a strong relationship, something that has played out on the field. Since arriving in Buffalo in 2020, Diggs is tied with Davante Adams for most receptions in the NFL.
