Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis: Stanley Cup Parade Will Be Bigger Than People Expect
Jun 8, 2018
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis reacts as he takes part in a sendoff rally after an NHL hockey practice, Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is expecting a massive celebration following the first Stanley Cup win in franchise history.
After the Caps beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night to end the series, Leonsis said the following, according to ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski:
"I think it's going to be much bigger than everyone is expecting. We want to be able to say thank you to people in Virginia and Maryland and Washington, D.C. My goal is to create something that elevates and unites all of the people in our community, so people think happy thoughts about Washington, D.C."
Washington has been a championship-starved area, as no major professional sports team had won a title since the Washington Redskins in 1992 until Thursday.
Leonsismade it clear that he fully intends to thank the fans for the support they showed during Washington's long-awaited Stanley Cup run, as well as the players for getting the team to the top of the hockey world:
"To be honest, the next couple of weeks are going to be all about the fans, all about the city, all about the players. The amount of respect that the Stanley Cup has ... there's nothing like it in any other sport. We have a lot of work to do. We'll try to make it very, very family oriented. To make sure it's not just the players, but it's the mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters."
Prior to this season, the Capitals hadn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1997-98.
On the strength of 15 goals and 12 assists by ConnSmytheTrophy winner Alex Ovechkin, however, Washington finally managed to slay its postseason demons.
The Caps have yet to announce an official date or location for their parade, butWyshynski listed the area surrounding Capital One Arena,RFKStadium and the National Mall as possibilities.
Capitals Win 2018 Stanley Cup Final: Score, Celebration Highlights and Reaction
Jun 7, 2018
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals hoists the Stanley Cup after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Given it is the first time in their 44-year history that they have hoisted the Cup, there was quite the celebration in Las Vegas and back home in the nation's capital.
After having a pair of one-goal leads in the second period, Washington entered the third trailing 3-2. It got the equalizer from Devante Smith-Pelly midway through the third. Moments later, Lars Eller scored what turned out to be the Cup-clinching goal:
Ellers was the one who gave the Capitals their first win this postseason with a double-overtime score against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 3 of the first round. Now, he got the goal that gave them their 16th and final victory of the playoffs.
That sent the fans back at Washington's Capital One Arena into pandemonium:
From that point on, it was all about killing the final seven-plus minutes of game time. Even with a clock malfunction, Braden Holtby and Co. found a way to keep the puck out of the net.
Fourteen years after being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Alexander Ovechkin finally delivered a championship to Washington:
— Steve Chenevey FOX5 (@stevechenevey) June 8, 2018
Washington had to rally from a 0-2 series deficit to Columbus in the first round, but the Blue Jackets put aside their disappointing defeat and made sure to send along congratulations:
It was a bittersweet moment for Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper, who as a Vegas native is a noted Golden Knights fan:
Congrats not only to the @Capitals and the players, but to the whole City of DC. What a year, what a series, and so well deserved! The Cup is coming to town! @Holts170 you are an absolute stud!🔥 #DMV
I’m so proud to be born and raised in Las Vegas and so proud to call the @GoldenKnights my team! To be able to root for a team from my home town for the first time in my life was the most fun I’ve ever had! Now I understand what it means to be a fan! What a year fellas!⚔️ #VGK
I think it would only be fitting for us the @Nationals to rock the red tmrw night in support of the @Capitals winning the Cup! What do you say?🏒🤟🏼 #DMVfamily
It was a night nobody in Washington will soon forget.
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals Win 1st Stanley Cup with Win over Golden Knights
Jun 7, 2018
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal with right wing T.J. Oshie during the second period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
It took 43 seasons, but the Washington Capitals are finally Stanley Cup champions.
Washington defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena, winning the series 4-1 and earning the right to lift the fabled trophy for the first time in franchise history.
The championship required a dramatic comeback, as Devante Smith-Pelly's third-period goal tied the game at three before Lars Eller scored the winner on a play that will forever be remembered in Washington sports lore.
Andre Burakovsky gathered a loose puck behind the net and found Brett Connolly, who fired a shot at Marc-Andre Fleury. The Vegas goaltender let it leak through his pads, and Eller was waiting behind him to score on the wide-open net.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 8, 2018
Smith-Pelly and Eller played the roles of final-period heroes, but only after Jakub Vrana and Alex Ovechkin found the back of the net during a memorable second period that featured five total goals.
It was appropriate Ovechkin scored in the title-clinching contest because the one thing missing from his illustrious resume was a Stanley Cup. It also capped off a historic postseason since his 15 goals set a franchiserecordfor a single playoff run. The future Hall of Famer was emotional in the closing stretch, practically begging the clock to run out while his side was ahead.
Ovechkin is the headline-maker given his status as a generational talent and the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP, but his wasn't the only inspirational story on Washington's side.
Goaltender Braden Holtby wasn't even the starter during his team's first two playoff games but rescued Washington in the first round and was brilliant throughout the rest of the postseason. While he allowed goals to Nate Schmidt, David Perron and Reilly Smith in the hectic second period, he stood firm during the final 20 minutes and allowed his team to battle back for the win.
It was more of the same for a goaltender who allowed more than three goals just twice these playoffs and tallied two shutouts while facing elimination in the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Holtby not only won the Cup by stopping 28 of the 31 shots he faced (.903 save percentage), but he also outshone his counterpart, who is a legendary performer at this time of year.
While Fleury has three Cups to fall back on from his Pittsburgh Penguins tenure and knocked out the Capitals during last season's playoffs, Wednesday's performance was another forgettable one in a series of struggles. His save percentage in the prior four games was a lackluster .845 after posting .977, .935 and .938 in the first three rounds, respectively, and Washington's relentless attack flummoxed him again.
Ovechkin even attempted to get under his skin before the game started:
While Eller's goal was the winner, Smith-Pelly's was one for the highlight reels. He gathered a pass with his skate and buried a shot past Fleury as he was falling to the ice. It was hard to blame the goaltender for that one, although the final goal was a clear mistake.
Both goaltenders would surely like to forget the second period, during which everything went off the rails with dramatic momentum shifts and five goals. Vrana started the scoring by going top shelf over Fleury's glove, and Smith finished it for Vegas when Holtby was well out of position on a cross-net pass from Alex Tuch.
In between was a memorable stretch that saw Schmidt's shot deflect off Matt Niskanen's skate and five-hole Holtby, Ovechkin capitalize on a one-timer after drawing a penalty less than a minute later and a goaltender-interference review on Perron's goal.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 8, 2018
The second period was the last time the Golden Knights beat Holtby in their inaugural season, which saw them stun nearly everyone associated with the sport and reach the game's biggest stage.
While Vegas didn't lift the Cup, it turned in one of the most memorable first seasons in sports history and the team nearly achieved the seemingly impossible.
However, the Capitals finally reached the NHL mountaintop.
Capitals' Devante Smith-Pelly: Donald Trump Says Things That Are Racist, Sexist
Jun 6, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Braden Holtby #70 and Devante Smith-Pelly #25 of the Washington Capitals celebrate their team's 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Two days ago, President Donald Trump canceled the planned celebration of the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl championship over dissatisfaction with the number of players expected in attendance.
It looks like he could be dealing with the same thing should the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup Final.
Capitals winger Devante Smith-Pelly told Michael Traikos of Postmedia News Wednesday he has his "mind made up" about whether he would attend a potential White House visit with the team.
"The things that he spews are straight-up racist and sexist," Smith-Pelly said. "Some of the things he’s said are pretty gross … It hasn’t come up here, but I think I already have my mind made up.”
Trump has taken criticism for his racially charged rhetoric and allegations of sexism throughout his campaign and eventual presidency.
He has been insistent that athletes "respect the flag" by standing during the national anthem. NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling for the anthem in 2016, starting a trend that drew the ire of the president and much of his base. Trump has called on the NFL to suspend or fire players who kneel for the anthem.
The NFL enacted a policy that would punish teams if players did not stand during the anthem. After astatementfrom the White House canceling the planned event, Trumptweetedcriticism of those who kneel during the anthem despite no Eagles players having done so during the season. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders alsosuggested the Eagles were pulling a "political stunt."
Smith-Pelly, who is black, wasracially tauntedby Chicago Blackhawks fans earlier this year.
The Capitals currently hold a 3-1 lead over the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
Capitals vs. Golden Knights 2018 NHL Final Game 5 Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream
Jun 6, 2018
Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny (6), of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the third period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Washington. Capitals won 6-2. Skating past Kempny are Vegas Golden Knights forwards Alex Tuch (89) and William Karlsson (71), of Sweden. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
When the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals take the ice for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 7, the sport's top prize will be in the building. By winning Game 4, the Capitals have seized a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and will have a shot to close out the 2017-18 season as champions.
Monday marked the third consecutive win for Washington in the final, with the Caps rebounding from a tough Game 1 loss. Head coach Barry Trotz has been quick to make adjustments, and the Golden Knights haven't been able to find the extra gear that the Capitals have.
When the home team wins game 4 to go up 3-1, that team goes on to win the series 87.1% of the team.
Despite that, Washington knows that the last win is always the toughest. The Golden Knights have been skating against minimal expectations all season long, but have continued to surprise. They are clearly a proud group and won't go down without a fight on home ice—where they were 29-10-2 during the regular season.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, for his part, seems to be staying focused.
"It feels nice, but it's not over yet," the veteran sniper told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com following the victory on Monday night. "We have a couple of days and watch the game. I don't think we played our best."
While the final score read 6-2, Ovechkin has a point. Vegas dominated play early, and if not for some nifty footwork from T.J. Oshie and Devante Smith-Pelly on the first and third goals of the contest, the series could well be tied.
It's not, though, and you won't want to miss the potential chance to watch Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby and the rest of the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup on Thursday.
Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Schedule
When: Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET
Television: NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS
Stream: Hulu, NBC Sports Live, NBC Sports App
Updated Odds for Game 5
Washington: +124 (bet $100 to win $124)
Vegas: -137 (bet $137 to win $100)
Odds appear courtesy of OddsShark.com and are accurate as of 5 p.m. ET on June 5.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 04: Vegas Golden Knights fan Jay Bryant-Chavez of Nevada reacts after Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals scored a first-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during a Golden Knights road game watch party for Game Four o
Vegas Will Win Game 5 If...
The Stanley Cup Final hasn't been quite as lopsided as Washington's 3-1 lead would suggest. Vegas had every opportunity to jump out to an early lead in Game 4, and if not for hitting a few posts, we could be talking about a fresh best-of-three series for the Stanley Cup.
They've frequently been on the right side of the possession war, have been generating plenty of quality chances and have a goaltender who is typically pretty solid in Marc-Andre Fleury. The pieces simply haven't fallen into place for the Golden Knights, and they're quickly running out of time to make that happen.
It's tough, but Vegas needs to remain inside of itself while trying to claw back into this series. If they try to run and gun with the Capitals, they'll be toast. That isn't how they made it this far, and it isn't how they'll make the final competitive again.
Vegas needs to take things one period at a time, and its top forwards must start capitalizing on their precious chances. Washington is blocking shots like they're the old-school New Jersey Devils all of a sudden, which certainly makes this tougher. But a win in Game 5 is far from impossible.
The recipe for a Golden Knights win looks easy on paper, but it will be difficult to execute. They'll need an early goal to put pressure on Washington, and staying out of the penalty box will be key. Oh, and Fleury needs to play like he was two weeks ago, or else we may as well call this series now.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Avi G
Washington Will Win If...
If you're a Golden Knights fan, it should intimidate you a bit that the Capitals keep winning games that they probably shouldn't. That's because Washington has clicked on all cylinders at various times during the Stanley Cup Final, and during those stretches, it is clearly the quicker, more skilled team.
Ovechkin is going to hit the ice for Game 5 like he's been shot out of a cannon; he'll lead by example, and if the Capitals can continue to jump out to leads in the first period, then they're cutting Vegas off at the knees.
That'll be a big component of their approach in Game 5. Score early, take the crowd out of it and wear away the Golden Knights.
Holtby has been everything he's needed to be since Game 2, the power play has been fantastic and depth players such as Smith-Pelly and Brett Connolly are scoring important goals. It's a tough combination to top, which is part of the reason why the Capitals have the series lead despite not always being the better squad.
It will also be paramount for Washington to keeps its emotions in check. Playing with a fire is one thing, but skating loose and taking bad penalties will only neutralize the team's chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
Golden Knights vs. Capitals: Game 4 Stats, NHL Final 2018 Game 5 Schedule, Odds
Jun 5, 2018
Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly (25) celebrates his goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
After winning Game 4 on Monday night, the Washington Capitals are now just one victory away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. The home team Capitals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and snagged a 4-0 lead off a power-play goal from John Carlson less than five minutes remaining in the second frame to seal the deal.
The Vegas Golden Knights saw two key chances hit the post early, which could have changed the tide, but the quick-strike goal never came, and the Capitals were eventually able to sit on their big lead in the third period.
The Golden Knights will have a hard time forgetting their missed opportunities—especially the ones they had prior to T.J. Oshie's goal nearly halfway through the first period, which gave Washington the all-important 1-0 lead. While Vegas did a better job of getting the puck to high-danger areas in Game 4 than it did in Game 3, many of the subsequent shots failed to hit the net.
Knights did a better job at getting close shots in game 4 compared to game 3 but hit the net very rarely. pic.twitter.com/MVIRMefLMQ
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) June 5, 2018
The Capitals continued to block shots by the boatload (they were credited with 24 in Game 4), and Braden Holtby was up to the task whenever pucks actually made it to him.
We have a potential closeout game on Thursday night in Las Vegas, and you're not going to want to miss it.
Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Schedule
When: Thursday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET
Television: NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS
Stream: Hulu, NBC Sports Live, NBC Sports App
Updated Odds for Game 5
Washington: +102
Vegas: -132
Odds appear courtesy of OddsShark and are accurate as of midnight ET on June 5.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights stops a shot against the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Capitals defeated the Gol
Game 4 Stats to Know
Four
That's how many consecutive games Marc-Andre Fleury's all-situation save percentage has dipped below .900. All goals aren't the fault of the netminder, but the Flower has to be Vegas' best player if the team wants to win. So far in the Stanley Cup Final, he simply hasn't been.
Fleury hadn't lost three consecutive games all season long, and the last time he played four straight games with a .900 or worse save percentage was during the second round of the playoffs in 2014. The Pittsburgh Penguins lost that series, and not surprisingly, the Golden Knights are on the verge of letting this one slip away as well.
All the goals that the Capitals scored weren't the fault of Fleury—Oshie's goal and Devante Smith-Pelly's backbreaker with less than a minute to go in the first period were off odd bounces—but this has been an uncharacteristic run for the netminder.
And it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Nine
That's how many more five-on-five scoring chances the Golden Knights had than the Capitals, according to Natural Stat Trick. The final even-strength tally was 23 scoring chances for Vegas and 14 for Washington, and it shows just how many opportunities the visiting squad had to sneak back into Game 4.
It's tough to climb out of a 3-0 hole, but it's far from impossible. The Golden Knights controlled much of the play early, and if they'd managed to score first, then we could be looking at a best-of-three series as we head back to Nevada.
Things didn't shake out that way. A quick burst of three goals from the Capitals in the back half of the first period more or less put this one out of reach, and the Vegas roster has a long flight back home to think about what might have been.
All told, the Golden Knights had 62.2 percent of the scoring chances for and still lost Game 4 by four goals. Yikes.
Two
As in two-way deal, which is the kind of contract Smith-Pelly signed with the Capitals this past offseason. There was some doubt about his ability to make the team out of training camp, yet here he is now, scoring dagger goals in the Stanley Cup Final.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Braden Holtby #70 and Devante Smith-Pelly #25 of the Washington Capitals celebrate their team's 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washing
Scrambling to replace the offensive contributions of Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson, both of whom scored 20-plus goals in 2016-17, Washington appeared to be scraping the bottom of the barrel while trying to add talent. Smith-Pelly was one of the forwards who landed a contract a few days into free agency.
Despite the lack of faith that this kind of deal generally means to a veteran (and a head coach who "wasn't a big fan" of him at first), Smith-Pelly skated in 75 regular-season contests for Washington and carved out a role for himself on the bottom six. The signing now looks like a masterstroke for general manager Brian MacLellan, who was taking a chance on the forward when he inked him.
After all, the Capitals are Smith-Pelly's fourth team in seven seasons. He's scored in back-to-back games for Washington, though, and both markers have been big ones. Smith-Pelly's goal in Game 3 snuffed out any hopes Vegas had of a comeback, and his marker in Game 4 gave the Capitals the 3-0 lead at the very end of the first period.
He now has six goals in the playoffs, which is just one shy of how many he produced during the regular season.
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals Crush Golden Knights, Take 3-1 Lead in Stanley Cup Final
Jun 4, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Michal Kempny #6 of the Washington Capitals is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Washington Capitals are one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time ever.
Washington steamrolled the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on Monday, taking advantage of a solid performance from goaltender Braden Holtby, goals from T.J. Oshie, Tom Wilson, Devante Smith-Pelly, John Carlson, Michal Kempny and Brett Connolly, and four assists from Evgeny Kuznetsov to move to the doorstep of franchise history.
While Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is a three-time Stanley Cup winner from his time on the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was Holtby who played with a veteran's poise. He saved 28 of 30 shots (93.3 save percentage) and helped kill all four of the Golden Knights' power plays, continuing the stellar play he has demonstrated throughout the postseason.
He has settled in after a 6-4 loss in Game 1 and extended his winning streak to three after allowing three combined goals in Games 2 and 3.
With one more win, Holtby will etch his name in Washington sports lore. He rescued the Capitals from a 2-0 deficit to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round after not starting the first two games, vanquished the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and tallied shutouts in Games 6 and 7 against the high-powered Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.
Sometimes even clutch performances require luck, though, and Holtby had it on his side Monday with multiple Vegas shots ringing off the post.
None stood out more than James Neal's look in the opening minutes. He had a wide-open net but drew nothing but iron, missing a golden opportunity to put momentum on Vegas' side after two straight disheartening losses.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 5, 2018
The visitors felt the pain of the miss even more when the Capitals blitzed them for three goals during the rest of the period, essentially ending the contest before the initial intermission.
Oshie scored first, finding the back of the net from point-blank range on a rebound from Kuznetsov's shot. Kuznetsov wasn't done making things happen, as his perfect centering pass set up Wilson's goal to make it 2-0 before his cross-ice pass to Carlson for a one-timer over Fleury's glove made it 4-0 in the second period.
That'll be one (1) goal for Timothy Jimothy Oshie and the @Capitals.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 5, 2018
It was a dramatic shift from Game 2 when there were questions about whether Kuznetsov would even take the ice again after exiting with an injury he suffered from a Brayden McNabb check into the boards.
While Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of a Stanley Cup to cement his legacy is a primary talking point with the Capitals, Kuznetsov has been the leading scorer throughout the NHL in these playoffs and is building a legacy of his own.
It wasn't all Kuznetsov, as Smith-Pelly's goal in the first period made it 3-0 and continued his postseason resurgence as a scorer:
Washington wasn't about to move a single win away from its first championship without making its long-waiting fans sweat a little, and Vegas received third-period goals from Neal and Reilly Smith to trim the deficit to 4-2 heading into the closing stretch.
It was to no avail, though, as Fleury was far from his typically cold-blooded self this time of year and allowed two more goals after his team climbed back into the game. Kempny and Connolly created breathing room by beating the veteran and fostered frustration on Vegas' side as the two teams fought multiple times in the final few minutes.
Fleury stopped just 17 of 23 shots (73.9 save percentage) and failed to live up to the standard set by his counterpart.
As a result, the Golden Knights will need to win on their home ice in Thursday's Game 5 to preserve their season and force another contest back in Washington.
Golden Knights vs. Capitals Live Stream, TV Schedule, Odds, Pre-Game 4 Comments
Jun 4, 2018
Vegas Golden Knights forward David Perron, left, speaks to the media as defenseman Luca Sbisa, left, of Italy, listens, Sunday, June 3, 2018, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. The Golden Knights will play the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Monday night in Washington. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
Monday was a reset day of sorts for the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. Now three games into the Stanley Cup Final, trends are starting to emerge, and the head coaches of both teams are trying to make changes on the fly.
We saw a prime example of that in Game 3, when Washington did everything it could to hang with Vegas' early push. The Golden Knights have tried to secure the early lead through the majority of this season, and the quick starts have helped push them to this point in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Capitals were ready on Saturday night, though, and Washington excelled at moving the puck quickly throughout the contest.
Jim Corsi of NHL.com wrote a wonderful breakdown of what has made the Eastern Conference Champions so successful over the last five periods or so and touched on that aspect of their game:
"...Washington has moved the puck faster than Vegas, and when it does that, its skillset starts to show.
"When you add in the aggressiveness of the Capitals' play as opposed to waiting for things to happen, there lies a bit of the rub that the Golden Knights have had with other teams. They've beaten teams with speed and their energy and scoring by committee. Now they're getting beat by those very same things."
It was evident in the final two periods of Game 2 and the entirety of Game 3 that the Capitals had simply found another gear. Now it's on the Golden Knights to dig deep to try to match the skill, speed and intensity of Alex Ovechkin and Co.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 02: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals get into an altercation in Game Three of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 02: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals passes the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Three of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on June 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty
Game 4 Quotes and Storylines to Know
Capitals Know There's Still More Work to Do
Players on both rosters are trying to keep their heads level. For the Capitals, the challenge is to focus strictly on Game 4, as opposed to what will happen if they win two more hockey games this season.
After practicing on Sunday, various members of the Capitals spoke to gathered media, and defenseman Brooks Orpik shared a unique perspective on where Washington is in the Stanley Cup Final:
"You're two wins away from accomplishing what you want to accomplish. You try not to look too far ahead. We've been down in a series and come back in two of those, so we know being up in a series doesn't guarantee you anything."
That's the kind of mindset that only comes from going through several deep playoff runs, which certainly applies to Orpik. While he's not exactly an advanced stats darling, the defenseman won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and has 147 postseason games under his belt.
Forechecking Tenacity Will Be Key for Golden Knights
Vegas knew what to expect from the Capitals before the Stanley Cup Final began, but they've struggled to adjust as Washington has shifted its approach.
The Golden Knights prefer to generate speed as they exit their own zone, so Washington has been sticking their right wing on Vegas' blue line to prevent that from happening so easily.
The shift has the Golden Knights looking disjointed and rushed, but that doesn't mean there aren't different ways around the defensive posture.
Forward David Perron spoke about various approaches to break this down at length on Sunday afternoon, and Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com captured his insightful comments:
"Our guys that have a lot of speed can go back deeper, gather some speed, and then the defensemen can try and freeze the first forechecker, kick it wide, and then these guys come in with speed.
"If they're confronted, which they will be most times at the blue line, you can put it in and go on the forecheck. You can have guys that hang close to the right winger up top, and as the puck is coming, you win that one-on-one battle with support. You can go in the zone or chip it in, and then the center will go in with speed, create our forecheck."
Of course, talking to various members of the media and actually executing at game speed are two totally different things. Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant spoke about not playing a "wide game" against the Capitals following Game 3, and that notion was echoed by Perron over the weekend.
Hanging on to pucks, gathering speed and actually getting shots through to Braden Holtby are clear keys for Vegas if it wants to climb back into the Stanley Cup Final.
Alex Ovechkin Proving He Wants the Cup With His Play
This might be the Stanley Cup run that finally proves to pundits and fans alike that Ovechkin is an absolute gamer. While the Capitals haven't had sustained success in the playoffs since 2005, that's virtually never been the fault of The Great Eight.
Now, at the age of 32, the veteran sniper is doing everything he can to will his team across the finish line. It's apparent that winning hockey's ultimate prize is important to Ovechkin, at least to his teammates.
Defenseman John Carlson told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com about how engaged his captain has been following the massive Game 3 win: "He's on another level. Everyone kind of reacts to stuff differently. … It's great to see. He's as engaged as anyone could ever be, I think. It shows in his game and it shows in the effect that it has on the rest of us."
Ovechkin enters Game 4 leading the playoffs with 14 goals scored and is just two wins away from winning the first championship of his otherwise stellar career.
Stanley Cup 2018: Updated Odds, Schedule for Golden Knights vs. Capitals Final
Jun 3, 2018
Washington Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson (18) contends with Vegas Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin (21) during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
If you are a Washington Capitals fan who lives in D.C., then there's a slim chance that you're still celebrating the team's massive 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night. The city came alive following the win, and it's not too difficult to figure out why.
It's the first time in the history of the organization that the Capitals have actually led a Stanley Cup Final. They've been to the dance once before, but that was in 1998, and they didn't fare well.
That changed on Saturday night, however, and suddenly Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby and the rest of the Capitals are just two wins away from winning hockey's ultimate prize.
Last season was supposed to have been Washington's best chance of securing a Stanley Cup during the Ovechkin era, but the team came up short once again, which led the captain to tell gathered media back in September that "we're not gonna be suck this year."
That has certainly been the case in 2017-18, and while the Capitals may not have quite as much depth as they have had in seasons gone by, something about the squad just feels a bit different. That is why they are just two games away from winning the toughest tournament in sports.
Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Schedule
When: Monday, June 4, at 8 p.m. ET
Television: NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS
Stream: Hulu, NBC Sports Live, NBC Sports App
Updated Odds for Game 4
Vegas: +135
Washington: -177
Odds appear courtesy of OddsShark and are accurate as of midnight ET on June 3.
What to Watch for in Game 4
Capitals Are Finally Protecting the House
After Game 1 in Las Vegas, it was clear that Washington needed to do a better job of protecting "the house," or, as we like to call it, the high-danger scoring area in front of Holtby. The Golden Knights scored six times and managed 14 high-danger chances for in all situations in that game, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The Capitals adjusted, cutting that number down to seven in each of the next two games en route to 3-2 and 3-1 victories.
Considering the fact that they were credited with 26 blocked shots in Game 3, it's evident that the Capitals were doing everything they could to protect Holtby and his crease. Vegas still generated plenty of scoring chance, but the shots that did get through weren't from particularly dangerous areas of the ice.
If the Capitals defense can continue to push the Golden Knights to the fringes of the offensive zone, then it has a great chance of skating away with a 3-1 lead on Monday night.
Golden Knights Will Start Hot Off the Blocks
It's become a staple of Vegas' surprising, shock-and-awe sort of offense. While the Knights don't have the most talented or loaded lineup, they come at the opposition in waves. And the Gerard Gallant-coached group almost never starts a game slowly.
The Golden Knights want to play with a lead, and they want to secure that first goal as early as possible. Every NHL team wants that 1-0 lead, of course, but Vegas burns a ton of energy in the early stages of the first period while trying to secure the advantage.
Game 3 was the first time in the series where it didn't seem like Washington was fighting from underneath right from the outset. While the Caps may have stolen Game 2 on the road, they showed up to play in their first home Stanley Cup Final game in 20 years.
Maybe it was the crowd. Perhaps the idea of needing just a few more wins to secure Stanley Cup rings propelled the squad forward. Whatever it was, Vegas wasn't able to apply as much pressure early. And that made all the difference in the outcome.
Golden Knights vs. Capitals: Game 4 Live Stream, TV Schedule, Odds, Predictions
Jun 3, 2018
Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, center, celebrates his goal against the Vegas Golden Knights with Matt Niskanen, left, and Chandler Stephenson, during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
If Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final turns out anything like Game 3, then we are all in for a real treat. There were no goals in the first period, but the atmosphere inside Capital One Arena was nothing short of electric as the hometown Washington Capitals relentlessly pressed.
The tension in the air was palpable as the second frame began. An early scramble in front of the Vegas Golden Knights' net led to an Alex Ovechkin goal—who else would it be?—and the packed house came unglued in response.
The Great Eight tied a franchise record for most goals scored in a single playoff run with his 14th, and you can't help but feel he will be surpassing John Druce's longstanding mark before the end of this postseason. Just look at that effort:
Vegas tried not to fade down the stretch despite trailing 2-0 entering the third period. Tomas Nosek notched his third goal of the series to cut the deficit to one, but a timely tally from Devante Smith-Pelly sealed the deal for the Capitals.
The final score read 3-1, but the result was never in doubt on Saturday evening. Vegas only managed to find the back of the net because of a Braden Holtby blunder as he tried to stick-handle behind the goal.
Washington holds a 2-1 lead in the series and has the Golden Knights in quite the predicament as we approach Game 4. Losing that contest would all but squash Vegas' Stanley Cup hopes, as teams that carry a 3-1 lead entering Game 5 on the road have only lost the series 8.2 percent of the time in history.
Counting Vegas out would be a mistake, but the Capitals looked much better in Game 3 then they did toward the end of Game 2. Marc-Andre Fleury wasn't able to maintain an all-situations save percentage above .900 for the third straight outing, and that's bad news for the Cinderella Golden Knights.
Odds appear courtesy of OddsShark and are accurate as of 12 a.m. on June 3
Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Predictions
Alex Ovechkin Continues to Astonish
Unless your favorite team is in the Metropolitan Division, odds are pretty good that you can at least respect Ovechkin for what he does whenever he's out on the ice. And what he does is score goals—by the boatload.
Maybe that makes him one-dimensional in the eyes of some, but there's no denying he's been everything the Capitals have needed him to be during this playoff run. After scoring the opening tally in Game 3, Ovechkin leads the postseason in goals scored with 14.
No forward left standing in the playoffs is averaging more time on ice than him (20:47), he has generated a ton of offensive opportunities and is still an unstoppable Incredible Hulk-esque finisher on the power play.
Simply put: Ovechkin has been playing for the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup since 2005. Don't expect him to slow down now.
Marc-Andre Fleury Manages to Keep Things Close
Entering the Stanley Cup Final, Fleury appeared poised to propel the Golden Knights to a series victory all on his own. He was dominant through the first three rounds and had emerged as a potential problem for the Capitals.
Washington has made Fleury look very human in the first three games of this series, however.
He's allowed 10 goals on the 80 shots he's faced against the Caps, which matches the number of markers he gave up across all five games of the Western Conference Final combined. The Flower doesn't wilt easily, and the Capitals aren't going to get into his head. Still, Fleury has been Vegas' best player in the postseason, and he needs to come up with a classic in Game 4.
Even if he doesn't put on a clinic, look for him to rebound and make things a bit more difficult for Washington's top players. It's not like the first goal he gave up was a fluke, although he would probably like the Evgeny Kuznetsov and Smith-Pelly tallies back.
Capitals Come Out on Top and Earn a Chance to Win in Vegas
Perhaps we will get to see a Stanley Cup celebration in Las Vegas, even if it isn't the Golden Knights who are hoisting the trophy. How absurd would it be for Ovechkin and Co. to finally seal the deal in Sin City? After everything he's been through with the organization, one could only imagine the parties that would be going down on the strip.
Washington fed off of the home-ice advantage in Game 3 and managed to pull to .500 in the confines of their own rink in these playoffs. Caps fans will give their team even more energy to feed off of come Monday night, and the series will continue to shift in Washington's favor.
Vegas will put up a fight, much like it has all season long, but this is when the Capitals' depth and Holtby's brilliance will become difference-makers.
