The Vegas Golden Knights struck first by following the script that has been so successful for them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, coming from behind to win with discipline, offense and a dash of the unexpected from Adin Hill.

Zach Whitecloud and Mark Stone scored less than seven minutes apart in the third period, Hill made 33 saves that included a highlight-reel stick save with the game tied early in the second period, and the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

The Golden Knights improved to 8-3 when allowing the first goal in the playoffs. They have nine come-from-behind wins.

“We don’t change anything,” said Stone, the Vegas captain. “We stick to the program. We stick to what makes us successful. We don’t get rattled.”

Max Scherzer became the latest starter to silence the Phillies in a 4-2, sweep-clinching victory at Citi Field on a gorgeous afternoon for the 38,302 on hand and for the Mets.

The Mets (30-27) outplayed Philadelphia (25-31) in the three-game set, won their eighth straight home game and await the Blue Jays, who  visit Queens on Friday.

In a series in which the Mets dominated, their bats were barely needed. Kodai Senga, Carlos Carrasco and Scherzer combined to pitch 20 innings in which they gave up two earned runs.

The Mets improved to 16-0 in games their starter goes at least six innings, a testament to both strong bullpen work and the sky-high upside of a rotation with two future Hall of Famers, one of whom starred Thursday.

“He’s been Max,” manager Buck Showalter said of Scherzer, who confirmed as much.

Anthony Volpe, Greg Allen and Isiah Kiner-Falefa took care of the heavy lifting early. Aaron Judge provided the final punch. 

Judge homered for the third time in two games, Volpe and Allen also went deep and the New York Yankees stretched their winning streak to four with a 10-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

The Yankees moved a season-high 11 games over .500, and have posted 20 runs and 30 hits in the first two games of the series against one of the American League’s top pitching staffs. 

“Everybody’s chipping in right now and everybody’s passing the baton, and good things are happening when you’re not afraid to pass it to the next guy,” Kiner-Falefa said. 

Judge hit a towering fly ball on the first pitch of the seventh inning from reliever Darren McCaughan that carried just enough to clear the fence in left-center field, even if it would not have been a homer at Yankee Stadium.

While Judge hitting another homer will get the headlines, it was Volpe’s long ball that broke open the game. With two outs in the third inning, Seattle starter Logan Gilbert caught too much of the plate with a 1-2 slider and Volpe drove the pitch 413 feet for a three-run shot and a 6-0 lead. It was Volpe’s eighth homer of the season and snapped a 2-for-22 slide for the rookie.