I don't believe the game or series was "fixed". I mean if you want to talk "fix" conspiracies, look to the Tampa Bay series. Tampa Bay Lightning, had one of the best regular season records in NHL history. They looked to have all the pieces in place. Scored a lot of goals, Solid defense. Good goaltending. They were a huge 6/5 favorite to win the Stanley Cup. Almost even money out of 16 teams. What happens: They get swept in 4 straight and most games weren't even close.
Now back to the knights. I don't think the game was fixed, but it was a horrendously bad call. For those that may not have watched, here is the recap. Series tied at 3, Game 7, Golden Knights dominating, ahead 3-0 half way through the 3rd period, when a 5 minute major cross-check penalty is called on them. Sharks score 4 goals during that 5 minute power play to take the lead. Knights tie the game in the last minute but lose in overtime.
That cross check was NOT a 5 minute major penalty. IT WAS a penalty, no doubt and what a stupid play for a team leading by 3 goals with 10 minutes left. You don't want to open the door to any momentum shift in a game you are dominating. Just no need. But again, that was not a 5 minute major, which allows a team to score multiple power play goals as opposed to the traditional 1 during a regular penalty. I personally have never seen 4 goals during a 5 minute power play, but that is what you open the door to with this kind of call. If you call a 5 minute major penalty, it better be something really egregious. This was just a garden variety cross-check, in which the player being cross-checked lost his balance and fell to the ice. And to make that call there, midway through the third period of a game 7, that is really bad refereeing.
Now that said, that play didn't lose the game for the Knights. It did take away almost certain victory, but they still had a chance and to their credit managed to tie the game in the final seconds. And then they had 18 minutes of overtime in which they still could have scored and won. They didn't. AND this game wouldn't have even been necessary if the Knights had won Sunday's game 6 on their home Ice as they should have. So I am not going to blame the game or series on the refs, the Knights should have taken care of business both Sunday night and in this game and that means not taking a penalty (even a regular 2 minute cross-check) with 10 minutes left in a game that you are cruising.