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The Capitals got goals from Alex Ovehckin and a returning Evgeny Kuznetsov to beat the Golden Knights 3-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday in Washington, D.C., taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
Washington was the aggressor in Game 3 though things remained scoreless until Ovechkin beat Marc-Andre Fleury 70 seconds into the second period for a 1-0 lead. Kuznetsov, who missed most of Game 2 with an injury, added a goal later in the period, adding to his NHL-best 27 points this postseason.
Braden Holtby didn’t have an iconic save this time — like he did in Game 2 — but was effective when challenged on Saturday night, saving 21 of 22 shots in the win.
Game 4 is Monday night in Washington.
Live updates, observations, and highlights will follow below from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.:
Third period
Updates note how much time remains in the period.
6:07: WAS 3, VGK 1
And that should do it. A Shea Theodore turnover behind Marc-Andre Fleury led to an open look for Devante Smith-Pelly, right in front of the net. He took the puck and buried it. Theodore has had a brutal night for the Golden Knights.
6:39: WAS 2, VGK 1
The Vegas fourth line continues to do a better job generating offense than any of the units above it. But aside from the goal Braden Holtby handed them earlier, the Golden Knights haven’t been able to put anything past him.
10:25: WAS 2, VGK 1
The Golden Knights killed the tripping penalty to Deryk Engelland.
12:25: WAS 2, VGK 1
The Capitals continue to expose Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore, who’s now lost two footraces to set up opportunities for Washington. He forced Marc-Andre Fleury to save a goal with a tripping minor in the second period, and now he’s given the Capitals a sequence that ended with a Deryk Engelland tripping minor. Washington’s 0-for-4 on the power play tonight and 1-for-7 in the series, getting another opportunity in a moment.
It was a bad call, though. Engelland wasn’t the guilty party here:
Chandler Stephenson trips his teammate, earns a power play. This year really is different haha pic.twitter.com/ioYngAnZfj — Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) June 3, 2018
16:31: WAS 2, VGK 1
Goal, Vegas, on a colossal mistake by Braden Holtby. The Washington goalie played the puck behind his own net, where Pierre-Edouard Bellemare deflected it toward the front of the net. Tomas Nosek, who scored twice in Game 1, pounced on it and hit an empty cage.
Oh no Holtby baby what is you doing pic.twitter.com/3uKafvpdGu — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 3, 2018
17:50: WAS 2, VGK 0
The Capitals had a power play for a little less than a minute, the result of that ugly tripping penalty Marc-Andre Fleury had to take while Vegas was on its own advantage at the end of the second period. The Golden Knights killed off that minor.
20:00: WAS 2, VGK 0
They’re back.
Second intermission: Capitals 2, Golden Knights 0
What a dominant 20 minutes for the Capitals, who scored two goals and put together an 11-6 edge in shots. Washington got goals from its two Russian superstars, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Vegas sustained almost no offensive-zone puck possession and had a power play end with its goalie tripping a defenseman from the other team because that defenseman had gotten behind every one of his teammates. The Golden Knights looked overwhelmed, and they’re in a deep hole as it relates to trying to win Game 3.
Ovechkin’s been a force. He’s had five cracks from in close against Marc-Andre Fleury, and one of them finally turned into a goal early in the second. He also has a couple of important shot blocks from the slot in his own zone. He has put on a two-way master class:
A lot of credit’s due to Fleury for this game not being a rout. He’s let up two goals on 17 shots, which is whatever, but he’s had to make some challenging stops.
Second period
0:21: WAS 2, VGK 0
The Golden Knights’ second power play is over in embarrassing fashion. Marc-Andre Fleury decided late to sprint out of his net and beat a racing Matt Niskanen to a loose puck, and the goalie wound up with no choice but to trip his former Penguins teammate to keep him from sliding the puck into an empty net. I have no clue how Niskanen, a defenseman, got that far up ice and behind any white jerseys on a penalty kill. Just really ugly for Vegas defenseman Shea Thedore, who let Niskanen past him one-on-one:
Not the best look for Shea Theodore pic.twitter.com/XwWhwsHR4W — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 3, 2018
1:26: WAS 2, VGK 0
The Knights just got their best chance of the game, but Alex Tuch shot wide on a breakaway. Devante Smith-Pelly is heading to the penalty box now for tripping, his second trip to the sin bin in this game. So, Vegas will get more chances to get back into this thing.
2:48: WAS 2, VGK 0
Marc-Andre Fleury just made a superb glove save on Tom Wilson to keep the score 2-0. He’s had to make a couple of those. Washington really ought to be up three or four.
4:27: WAS 2, VGK 0
Look at Alex Ovechkin’s reaction to the goal that made it 2-0:
6:07: WAS 2, VGK 0
The Capitals have taken absolute control. They have a 9-4 shots advantage in this period to go with a 2-0 scoring edge, and they’re dictating the pace of play.
7:10: WAS 2, VGK 0
Goal, Washington. Evgeny Kuznetsov gets his league-leading 27th point of the playoffs when he keeps the puck himself in a two-on-one with Jay Beagle and rips it past the far side of Marc-Andre Fleury. Kuznetsov sure looks healthy from up here. It’s his 12th playoff goal.
8:05: WAS 1, VGK 0
The Golden Knights are now 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
9:00: WAS 1, VGK 0
The Capitals have come close several times to an insurance goal. T.J. Oshie tipped a slap shot off the post, and Marc-Andre Fleury suavely gloved an Alex Ovechkin uncontested wrister from the left circle. That’s just on this power play.
10:02: WAS 1, VGK 0
The Capitals get their second power play. Erik Haula goes off for hooking. The Capitals are 0-for-1 tonight and 1-for-4 in the series with the man advantage.
Here’s the hit James Neal put on Brooks Orpik a few minutes ago, which has for now knocked the Capitals defenseman out of the game:
James Neal on Brooks Orpik…yikes pic.twitter.com/umXu4YO53M — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 3, 2018
It doesn’t look like Neal leads into Orpik’s head, and it seems like Neal only went airborne after contact. Still, it’s a brutal hit.
12:03: WAS 1, VGK 0
T.J. Oshie had a wide-open net and a chance to make the score 2-0 off a pass from Jakub Vrana, but Vegas defender Luca Sbisa disrupted him just enough.
13:44: WAS 1, VGK 0
Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik is injured. He skated off under his own power after a visit from a medical staffer. He took the worst of a collision with James Neal.
13:58: WAS 1, VGK 0
The Capitals have come out possessed in the second period. They have a 7-3 edge in shots and have spent a lot of time buzzing.
14:49: WAS 1, VGK 0
A turnover deep in the Washington zone led to Vegas’ Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare setting up Ryan Reaves with a wide-open look in the slot, but Reaves fanned on it.
18:50: WAS 1, VGK 0
There’s the ice-breaker, and it’s the guy you thought it would be: Alex Ovechkin. After a mad scramble that left Marc-Andre Fleury out of position, the Washington captain pounced on a loose puck to Fleury’s right and flicked it into the upper portion of the net before Fleury could get there. It’s Ovechkin’s second goal in as many games (and the series).
A mad scramble in front ends with an Alex Ovechkin #StanleyCup Final goal on home ice. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/gVYKd7zd24 — Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 3, 2018
19:19: VGK 0, WAS 0
The second period is underway.
First intermission: Golden Knights 0, Capitals 0
Shots were 7-6 in the Golden Knights’ favor, in a period that didn’t have a ton of great chances. The best one was a two-on-one for Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov 68 seconds in, and it didn’t amount to anything but a brilliant Marc-Andre Fleury save.
That line for Washington was deadly all period, though. Ovechkin took four shots from the slot right in front of Fleury or the area right next to him. Vegas is lucky none went in:
Vegas’ best line was its first line, by far. The Reilly Smith-William-Karlsson-Jonathan Marchessault unit dominated the game when it was on the ice. Conversely, the Capitals put a pretty good hurting on Vegas’ second line of David Perron, Erik Haula, and James Neal.
First period
1:04: VGK 0, WAS 0
The best player on the ice this period has been Alex Ovechkin. His line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson was constantly playing with the puck, doing particular damage against the Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb-Nate Schmidt defensive pairing. And when the Capitals didn’t have the puck, Ovechkin put a grisly block on a Schmidt slap shot. That happened just a minute ago when Schmidt loaded up from the point.
3:13: VGK 0, WAS 0
The Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault put a shot off either the post or the outside of the net. Alex Ovechkin almost created a goal on a rush into Vegas’ end, where he walked around a few guys and sent a puck into traffic in front of the net. Still scoreless, though. Shots are 6-5 in the Knights’ favor.
6:39: VGK 0, WAS 0
Vegas killed Washington’s first power play of the night. Both teams are 0-for-1.
8:39: VGK 0, WAS 0
The Capitals will get their first power play of the night. Reilly Smith is in the penalty box for an ultra-involved takedown of Michal Kempny to the left of Braden Holtby. That’s being called “holding” by the officials, but it could’ve been hooking, interference, whatever.
Washington’s power play is 1-for-3 in the series.
On another note, Kenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live is in the building.
12:23: VGK 0, WAS 0
The Capitals killed the game’s first penalty, a two-minute goaltender interference minor on Devante Smith-Pelly. The Golden Knights didn’t generate much of anything until they got a few great looks after the power play was over. Washington survived all of it, though.
Smith-Pelly and Marc-Andre Fleury had words on the way into a TV timeout. Fans spent a few seconds during the break deriding the Vegas goalie: Fleeeurreeeeey.
14:56: VGK 0, WAS 0
The Capitals (and about 19,000 people here) thought they had a goal. They don’t. Devante Smith-Pelly just took a two-minute penalty for goaltender interference, and the Golden Knights are getting the game’s first power play. Chandler Stephenson beat Marc-Andre Fleury from a ways out, but only because Smith-Pelly knocked Fleury over in his crease.
18:32: VGK 0, WAS 0
The Capitals got the game’s first really good scoring chance, a two-on-one where the two were Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin. Kuznetsov threaded a nice pass to his left winger, but Marc-Andre Fleury stoned Ovechkin at the right post. A brilliant save.
Fleury robs Ovechkin early in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/6iIathlK9s — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 3, 2018
20:00: VGK 0, WAS 0
The puck is dropping at center ice right now. They’re underway.
8:19 p.m. ET: Pat Sajak, of immense Wheel of Fortune fame, is announcing the starting lineups. Boos are so loud for Vegas that you can’t hear his voice in the arena. The loudest boo is reserved for Marc-Andre Fleury, a longtime local nemesis from his Penguins days.
8:15 p.m. ET: This is the loudest hockey arena I’ve ever been in right now. The Capitals have taken the ice, and we’re a few minutes from puck drop on Game 3.
Warmups
7:58 p.m. ET: Warmups are over. Washington defenseman Michal Kempny, who plays on the top pairing next to John Carlson, left a few minutes into the warmup after falling to the ice. But he’s still in Washington’s lineup unless there’s a surprising late scratch.
7:55 p.m. ET: We have lineups. The Capitals go with their usuals:
And Vegas does, too:
Projected lineup for Golden Knights in Game 3 #VegasBorn
Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith
Perron-Haula-Neal
Carpenter-Eakin-Tuch
Nosek-Bellemare-Reaves
Schmidt-McNabb
Engelland-Theodore
Miller-Sbisa
Fleury — David Schoen (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) June 2, 2018
7:40 p.m. ET: This place is almost full for the start of what’ll be about a 16-minute warmup. The biggest news so far is that Evgeny Kuznetsov, the playoffs’ leading scorer with 25 points, is on the ice and taking the warmup for the Capitals. He’d been injured in Game 2.
Preview
Since the NHL went to a best-of-seven format in 1939, 27 Cup Finals have gone to Game 3 with the teams even, as they are now. The team that’s won Game 3 has gone on to win the series 21 times, or in 78 percent of those series. The last three teams to go down 1-2 in this circumstance have come back to win the series, but still, winning’s a lot better.
Stanley Cup stream and TV schedule Capitals vs. Golden Knights
Game 3 starts shortly after 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. You can stream it with a cable login on the network’s website. This game isn’t on the main NBC channel, though the series will return to regular NBC for Game 4 and stay there until the end.
Golden Knights vs. Capitals Game 3 preview
The basics coming in: The two teams played a wild Game 1 last Monday in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights won a game with a Cup Final-record four lead changes, as both teams struggled to keep the other from getting quality scoring chances. Things tightened up considerably in Game 2, and the Capitals won thanks largely to their goalie, Braden Holtby. They lost star center Evgeny Kuznetsov to injury in the first period, but third-line center Lars Eller elevated his game in the absence of the playoffs’ leading point-getter.
Kuznetsov appears likely to play in Game 3, though the Capitals are calling him a “game-time decision” with an “upper-body injury.” If he plays, that’s great news for the home team, of course, but it’s extra-great news for Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals’ franchise player takes most of his shifts on Kuznetsov’s left wing, and he’s a lot better when his Russian countryman is in the lineup. The two have terrific chemistry and have been adept at springing each other for scoring chances on their line with the more physical Tom Wilson.
The Golden Knights have gotten an uncharacteristically average first two games from their goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury. Through three rounds, Fleury was putting together one of the great postseasons in the history of the sport. He hasn’t been much good so far against the Capitals, letting up a 3.56 goals-against average on an .870 save percentage. Fleury tortured the Capitals for years when he was the backstop for the Penguins. If his new team is to have any success in D.C., it’s a good bet that Fleury has to be its best player.
Stanley Cup odds and pick for Game 3
The Capitals are favorites at home, but oddsmakers have given the Knights a better chance as the last few days have gone on. The Capitals opened as a high as a -167 favorite for this game, meaning you’d have to risk $167 to net $100 on a bet that they’d win. They’re now between a -125 or -135 favorite at most sportsbooks, according to Odds Shark.
The over/under is 5.5 total goals scored.
My pick: The Capitals win in their own building, 4-2. Capital One Arena should be jumping for D.C.’s first championship-round home game since 1998, the last time the local hockey team played for the Stanley Cup. A healthy-ish Kuznetsov, a version of Fleury that hasn’t been quite himself, and a raucous home atmosphere should help the Capitals.
Devante Smith-Pelly ices the game for Washington in the third period. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
Stanley Cup finals: Game 3
Washington Capitals 3, Vegas Golden Knights 1
Series: Capitals lead, 2-1
Next game: Monday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET | TV: NBC
• The story: The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup finals game in Washington. And the crowd roared. (Read more)
• Top takeaways: Alex Ovechkin sets the tone. (Read more)
• Statistical stars: Ovi may have opened the show, but the defense stole it with a sterling performance. (Read more)
• Highlights: Tomas Nosek gave Vegas life in the third period to trim the Capitals’ lead to just one goal, but Devante Smith-Pelly scored with six minutes remaining to put Washington back ahead 3-1. (Read more)
• More on the Cup: For Washington Capitals fans, the moment they have been waiting for: A Stanley Cup finals home game. (Read more)
The Washington crowd was a chorus or roars for Game 3, and Alex Ovechkin led them
By Isabelle Khurshudyan
Evgeny Kuznetsov flapped his wings, Alex Ovechkin stood on the bench and roared with both arms up as Lars Eller happily rubbed his stomach and Capital One Arena answered his cheer with a louder one. The Stanley Cup finals had arrived in Washington, and the Capitals rose to the moment.
Washington won Game 3 of the best-of-seven series, 3-1, for a 2-1 lead over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Capitals’ stars carried them, from Ovechkin scoring the first goal of the game to Kuznetsov building on the lead to goaltender Braden Holtby pitching a shutout through 40 minutes and turning away 21 of 22 shots. Washington played its game perfectly, suffocating Vegas as the Golden Knights managed just 13 shots through two periods.
The organization’s first home Stanley Cup finals win was sealed when Jay Beagle set up Devante Smith-Pelly, who beat Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from point-blank range. A wave of red leaped to its feet in celebration, “Let’s Go Caps” chants following shortly after. Washington’s two-goal lead was restored and the Golden Knights’ push fell short.
It’s been 20 years since Washington hosted a Stanley Cup finals game, and the lower bowl of Capital One Arena was largely full as warm-ups began. More than 14,000 fans had shown up to watch Games 1 and 2 here, even as the Capitals were playing in Las Vegas. Sting and Shaggy performed a concert on the National Portrait Gallery steps before the game, and “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak announced the starting lineups for both teams. After a drawn-out pregame buildup, Styrofoam red glowing sticks waved wildly in anticipation of puck drop.
“I’ve never seen the fans like this,” forward T.J. Oshie said before the game. “They’re always good, but I’ve never seen them like this.”
Home ice had been bittersweet for Washington this postseason. The Capitals entered Saturday night with a 4-5 record in Chinatown during these playoffs, but their last game here had been positive: a Game 6 shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. It offered Washington a formula for success against the Golden Knights, who had lost just two games on the road this postseason.
“Sometimes you try to put on a show when you get in front of your own crowd, and it seems like early we were trying to do that a little too much,” Oshie said. “Lately we’ve smartened up a little bit and played a little more simpler, a little more like we do on the road.”
The Capitals got good news before the game even started with Kuznetsov back in the lineup after a scare in Game 2. He sustained an undisclosed “upper-body” injury on Wednesday night when Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb crunched Kuznetsov against the glass in the first period, forcing Washington’s top center and leading scorer to miss the rest of the game. He looked good on his first shift of the game, when on a two-on-one, Kuznetsov’s saucer pass skipped over McNabb and right to Ovechkin’s stick. Fleury made the highlight-reel save on the first shot of the game. Ovechkin had eight shot attempts in the first period.
The Capitals had another close call when forward Chandler Stephenson seemingly scored on Fleury, sniping a puck past him. But the tally was immediately waved off by the official, as Smith-Pelly had made contact with Fleury in the crease, his backside catching the goaltender to the head. In a significant swing, Smith-Pelly went to the box for interference and the Golden Knights got a power play.
But the Capitals withstood that push, neither team breaking through in the first period. Then Ovechkin and Kuznetsov both were rewarded coming out of intermission. Barely a minute into the second period, Washington took several whacks at a puck bouncing in front of Holtby. Ovechkin punched in a rebound on the fifth try, lifting Washington to a one-goal lead.
Then 12:50 into the period, after an extended shift by the Golden Knights, Beagle finally cleared the puck to create a two-on-one rush with Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov held onto the puck and then perfectly placed his shot through Fleury’s legs. There had been some concern that he had injured his wrist on the collision with McNabb last game, but that shot assured he was feeling just fine.
Kuznetsov kicked up a leg and outstretched his arms as he mimicked a bird, a celebration that’s a favorite with his young daughter. On the bench, Ovechkin stood, raised up both arms and screamed as teammates hugged him. The Stanley Cup was displayed in section 204 of Capital One Arena before the game, and now the Capitals are two wins away from claiming the trophy as theirs.
Statistical stars
By Neil Greenberg
1. Alex Ovechkin: 1 goal, 10 shot attempts and 7 scoring chances, 3 of those from the slot or the crease
2. Jay Beagle: 2 assists, 3 takeaways, 2 hits and 1 blocked shot plus 7 faceoff wins
3. Matt Niskanen: On the ice for just 2 scoring chances against during the penalty kill
Vegas had no answer for Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s superstar and captain ended the night with one goal and 10 shot attempts. He also had a takeaway and two blocked shots. His line, featuring Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson, tallied 12 shot attempts and nine scoring chances at even strength against the Golden Knights’ top pair of Nate Schmidt and Brayden McNabb.
Washington’s defense also stepped up big. The unit made sure netminder Braden Holtby had to fend off just seven high-danger chances at even strength and only two more when Vegas had a power play.
Top Takeaways
By Scott Allen
The Captain delivers: Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring and capped a frenetic sequence with a diving, backhanded shot off a rebound early in the second period. The goal was Ovechkin’s 14th of the playoffs, matching John Druce’s 28-year-old franchise postseason record, and it gave the Capitals their first lead at home in a Stanley Cup finals game. The Capitals improved to 11-4 during the playoffs when scoring first. Ovechkin’s 60 career playoff goals are fourth-most among active players.
Defending home ice: The last time the Capitals hosted a Stanley Cup finals game was June 16, 1998, when the Red Wings completed a sweep with a 4-1 win at a sparkling new building called MCI Center. Saturday’s contest was considerably more enjoyable for the home crowd. Playing at Capital One Arena for the first time in two weeks, the Capitals improved to 5-5 in Chinatown this postseason, while Vegas fell to 6-3 on the road. The Capitals won consecutive home games for only the second time this postseason (the first being Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals) and came out on top in what has historically been a pivotal contest. When the Stanley Cup finals is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series 78 percent of the time since the NHL went to a best-of-seven format in 1939.
Welcome back, Kuzy: Evgeny Kuznetsov was a game-time decision after missing most of Game 2 with an undisclosed upper-body injury, but the Capitals’ leading scorer during the playoffs was in the lineup on Saturday and made his presence felt. After having his franchise postseason record 11-game point scoring streak snapped on Wednesday, Kuznetsov started a new streak with an assist on Ovechkin’s goal. Eleven minutes later, he took a pass from Jay Beagle and whistled a shot under Marc-Andre Fleury’s blocker and into the back of the net for his 12th goal of the playoffs.
Defense wins championships: Beagle deserves a mention for his two primary assists, including one on Devante Smith-Pelly’s insurance goal in the third period, but Washington’s overall defensive effort keyed Washington’s 3-1 win. The Capitals set the tone in the first period when they recorded 15 of their 26 blocked shots. Vegas looked nothing like the team that erupted for five goals and an empty-netter in Game 1. The Golden Knights managed only 22 shots on goal and their only tally came on a gift of a turnover by Braden Holtby, who was otherwise solid for a second consecutive game.
The Highlights
Final: Capitals 3, Golden Knights 1
The Capitals never relinquished their early lead after Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov got them out to a 2-0 lead, and Devante Smith-Pelly’s third-period strike accounted for the final 3-1 margin.
Washington leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 Monday night in Washington.
Doc Emrick’s ode: “They are cheering and screaming. Their team is up by two with 39 and a half to go. There are posters with Stanley Cups on them, saying ‘It’s okay to believe.’ Perhaps in past years it was against their better judgment. But judgment gets clouded by emotion, and also by success.” – DS
Extra attacker on for Vegas: Marc-Andre Fleury headed to the bench with 2:40 to play and the Golden Knights trailing by two. Tom Wilson’s long shot attempt missed the net with 1:39 remaining, resulting in an icing. – SA
Smith-Pelly so playoffy: Devante Smith-Pelly scored five goals in 12 games for the Ducks four years ago in his playoffs debut, after having only two goals in that regular season. He’s kind of doing it again. He now has five goals in these playoffs, after scoring just seven in the regular season. And several of his playoff goals this spring have been of the never-will-be-forgotten variety. – DS
Some insurance: After the Capitals survived a barrage of chances by Vegas’s fourth line, they took a 3-1 lead with 6:07 to play thanks to some hustle and a well-placed shot. Jay Beagle stole the puck from Shea Theodore on a dump in and found Devante Smith-Pelly streaking to the net. Smith-Pelly went top shelf to beat Marc-Andre Fleury and give Washington a two-goal cushion. – SA
Nothing doing on the power play: The Capitals spent a good chunk of their latest man advantage in their zone and failed to register a shot on goal. Washington is 0-for-4 on the power play tonight and 1 for 7 in the series. The Capitals’ lead remains 2-1 more than halfway through the third. – SA
Caps catch a break: The Capitals went back on the power play 7:35 into the third period after Deryk Engelland was given a two-minute minor for tripping Nicklas Backstrom. Engelland wasn’t happy with the call, and for good reason, as the replay showed that Backstrom was felled by teammate Chandler Stephenson’s stick. – SA
A mistake and a goal: With 16:31 remaining in the third period, Vegas cut the Capitals’ lead in half on a goal by Tomas Nosek that wasn’t much more difficult than the empty-netter he scored to cap the scoring in Game 1. Nosek’s fourth goal of the playoffs and third of the series was set up by Braden Holtby’s failed attempt to send the puck around boards from behind his net. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare deflected Holtby’s ill-advised pass in front of the net and Nosek did the rest. – SA
Vegas gets a kill: The Capitals lived in the Golden Knights’ zone during their abbreviated power play early in the third period, but they couldn’t crack Vegas’s penalty killing unit and Marc-Andre Fleury. Seconds after the teams returned to even strength, Fleury caught a break when T.J. Oshie rang a shot off the post. – SA
Caps defense is smothering Knights: Braden Holtby looks great, but the Caps defense deserves a lot more credit. Washington’s defensive pairing of John Carlson and Michal Kempny have been on the ice for just one scoring chance against at even strength and Brooks Orpik and Christian Djoos have been on for two.
Matt Niskanen and Dmitry Orlov have allowed 12 chances, but just three from the slot or the crease, which is solid considering they skate against the Golden Knight’s top pair of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith a majority of the time. – NG
Golden Knights need something: Vegas hasn’t lost consecutive games since the playoffs began, nearly two months ago. But the Knights look markedly different than they had in the first three rounds of the playoffs, and even than they did in Game 1 against Washington. Their free-flowing speed and offensive creativity blossomed in that game, but something has gummed up the works since then. Vegas Coach Gerard Gallant attributed the problems to Washington’s shot-blocking, but it’s clearly something. “I don’t think they have the same jump,” said NBC’s Mike Milbury. If Washington is both more physical AND faster than Vegas, and better in net, then what exactly is Vegas’s advantage? Those flaming crossbow thingees? – DS
End Period 2: Capitals 2, Golden Knights 0
The Capitals are 10-4 when scoring first, as they did tonight. They’re 10-2 when leading after two periods, as they do tonight. Washington is outshooting the Golden Knights 21-13 and will have about a minute of power play time early in the third period. – SA
Fleury living dangerously: With 1:26 to play in the period, Devante Smith-Pelly was sent to the penalty box for tripping Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights’ ensuing power play wouldn’t last long. A minute into the man advantage, Marc-Andre Fleury came way out of his net in an attempt to play a loose puck. When Matt Niskanen beat him to the spot, Fleury had no choice but to trip the Capitals’ defenseman, resulting in 4-on-4 action for the remainder of the frame. – SA
Caps’ O is clicking: Marc-Andre Fleury is doing his part to keep Vegas in the game. The Golden Knights netminder denied Evgeny Kuznetsov his second goal of the game on an odd-man rush late in the second period and gloved a Tom Wilson shot destined for the back of the net less than a minute later. The Capitals have 10 of the 14 scoring chances in the period. – SA
Ovechkin is happy: As these playoffs have gone on, NBC’s cameras have increasingly sought out Washington’s captain, after events good or bad. That ain’t changing. Within a few moments Saturday night, we were shown Alex Ovechkin grimacing after a near miss, and then raising his arms to the heavens in celebration after Kuznetsov’s goal. Can you imagine what Ovechkin will do if … Well, whatever. – DS
Welcome back, Kuzy: Vegas killed off Erik Haula’s penalty, but Evgeny Kuznetsov gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead a minute later with his 12th goal of the playoffs on a wrist shot under Marc-Andre Fleury’s blocker
Chances for Oshie: The Capitals have come within an inch or so of taking a two-goal lead on two occasions in the second period. About eight minutes into the frame, Jakub Vrana’s cross-crease pass to T.J. Oshie caught the heel of Oshie’s stick and trickled away. Later, during a Capitals power play after Erik Haula was sent to the box for hooking, Oshie redirected a John Carlson shot off the right post. – SA
Big-time collision: Brooks Orpik has one inch and nine pounds on 6-foot-2, 208-pound Vegas winger James Neal, but he got the worst of this hit in the second period. Orpik was slow to get up, but skated off under his own power. – SA
James Neal on Brooks Orpik…yikes pic.twitter.com/umXu4YO53M — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 3, 2018
End-to-end action: The action has picked up since Alex Ovechkin’s goal, with both teams generating scoring chances. Vegas failed to take advantage of a Brooks Orpik turnover in the Capitals zone, as Ryan Reaves couldn’t get a stick on Pierre Edouard-Bellemare’s pass from behind the net. A minute later, Braden Holtby was forced to make a glove save on Jonathan Marchessault’s wrister after the Vegas center put the puck between Dmitry Orlov’s legs and found himself all alone in the slot. – SA
They’re partying in the streets: There has literally never been a D.C. sports crowd like this gathered in Chinatown. With the streets blocked off and a huge party already started, cameras have shown the sort of jubilant downtown throngs that we’re used to seeing in other cities. Minor-league town, my eye. – DS
Of course it was Ovechkin: That goal gave Washington its first-ever home lead in a Stanley Cup finals game. How perfect that Ovechkin was the man to finally prompt that sort of championship-round celebration. And how perfect that Ovechkin seemed to be joyfully cursing his head off after the tally. – DS
Caps take the lead, 1-0: A diving Alex Ovechkin capped a frenetic sequence in the Vegas zone by backhanding a shot over Marc-Andre Fleury’s pad and into the net 1:10 into the second period to give Washington a 1-0 lead. The sequence began with Fleury making a sprawling save on John Carlson and somehow getting back in position to deny Washington’s first rebound attempt. Ovechkin’s goal was his 14th of the postseason, tying him with John Druce for the franchise record for goals in a single postseason. – SA
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's @ovi8 with the first goal of the game!
Watch the #StanleyCup Final here → https://t.co/gNYh1Fpnml pic.twitter.com/5cB5gQz1Mb — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 3, 2018
Blanked at home: Here’s something weird, and totally meaningless: In three Stanley Cup finals games at MCI/Verizon/Capital One Center, the Caps have zero first-period goals. – DS
More praise for the captain: It’s hard to remember the last time NBC’s analysts had a bad word to say about Alex Ovechkin. “He was great,” Keith Jones said during the first intermission. “Every element of the game. Blocking shots. Hitting. Getting in front of the net, battling for loose pucks. He did all of that. The speed was evident in the first period for Ovechkin. Great hockey sense as well, getting pucks to the net. I thought he was terrific.”
“Clearly on top of his game,” Mike Milbury agreed. “Good energy, good patience, made the good decisions. This is the new and improved Ovi that everybody’s come to appreciate. He’s bringing the A-game in the most important game of the season.” – SA
Kenan Thompson oh no: The Saturday Night Live person was first given a Caps hat to replace his Yankees hat outside the arena, and then appeared on NBC’s intermission show to explain his Caps fandom. He said he was invited to the game so he came. Asked to identify his favorite Caps players, he named Alex Ovechkin (“Mr. Infinity”), “Brent” Holtby and “Ochie.” “Some other people,” he then said. “What other names can I give you?” In the battle for glitzy fans, Washington has now been TKO’d. – DS
Washington D stands up early: Credit Washington’s defense for making the job easier on netminder Braden Holtby. Jonathan Marchessault leads all Vegas skaters with two even-strength scoring chances and the Capitals defense has only allowed seven chances total, with just two coming from the slot or the crease. – NG
Ovi is on fire: In Game 1, Golden Knights defensive pair Nate Schmidt and Brayden McNabb were able to keep Washington’s top line, featuring Alex Ovechkin, from having a huge impact on the game. Since then, Ovechkin and his linemates have had the edge, and in the first period of Game 3 the Capitals captain has seven even-strength shot attempts and all five scoring chances his line has produced against the Schmidt-McNabb pairing.
Vegas also isn’t shadowing Ovechkin on the power play as much as it did in the first two games. Granted, Washington didn’t get much time in the offensive zone when it had the man advantage, but Ovechkin did manage to get the puck on his stick, which is always a dangerous proposition. – NG
Where are the goals?: We all figured that frenetic scoring pace from Game 1 wasn’t really Stanley Cup finals material. Turns out we were right. These teams combined for 15 goals in the first five periods of this series. The last two periods have been scoreless. It really makes life easier for the people frenetically typing up these updates, to be honest. And the people editing them. – DS
[Editor’s note: This is a true statement.]
End Period 1: Golden Knights 0, Capitals 0
For the third consecutive game, the Capitals and Golden Knights are tied after the first period. Defense was the story in the most uneventful opening 20 minutes of the series thus far, as Washington outshot Vegas 7-6 and blocked 15 shots.
The Capitals’ best chance came in the first two minutes, when Marc-Andre Fleury slid across the crease to make a pad save on an Alex Ovechkin one-timer, while Braden Holtby benefited from a couple of Golden Knights shots that ricocheted off the post. – SA
Still scoreless: Vegas survived the Capitals’ first power play of the game with relative ease. Marc-Andre Fleury had no trouble handling John Carlson’s shot from the point and Alex Ovechkin whistled his only attempt during the 5-on-4 high and wide of the net. Washington is now 1 for 4 with the man advantage in the series. – SA
A bad sequence for Vegas: The Golden Knights’ first odd-man rush of the game went for naught when Reilly Smith couldn’t handle a pass from Jonathan Marchessault. Later in the same shift, Smith was assessed a minor for holding Michal Kempny, giving the Capitals their first power play of the game with 8:36 to play in the period. – SA
Unleash the Fleury: It might be scoreless, but the Caps have made Marc-Andre Fleury rapidly pivot his neck around to make sure that puck whizzing past him isn’t finding the net at least three times in the first half of the first period. Rapid neck pivots aren’t an official NHL stat, but they sure seem indicative of offensive pressure. – DS
A kill for the Capitals: The Golden Knights registered two shots on the first power play of the night, but the Capitals killed off Devante Smith-Pelly’s penalty to keep things scoreless. Vegas is now 2 for 7 with the man advantage in the series. With 12:23 to play in the period, shots are 5-3 Vegas. – SA
No goal: With 14:56 to play in the first period, Chandler Stephenson appeared to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle, but officials immediately waved the goal off and sent Devante Smith-Pelly to the box for goaltender interference after he made contact with Marc-Andre Fleury in the crease. – SA
‘A Save’: The Capitals got out of the gate slowly in Games 1 and 2, allowing the Golden Knights to dominate the shots on goal, but that wasn’t a problem Saturday. Less than two minutes after the opening faceoff, Evgeny Kuznetsov fed a pass on a 2-on-1 over to Alex Ovechkin, but Marc-Andre Fleury made an outstanding glove save on the Capitals’ captain to deny Washington the early lead. – SA
Fleury absolutely robs Ovechkin. pic.twitter.com/AwpP7tW0Xj — NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) June 3, 2018
I’d like to buy an ‘O’: There were no sword fights, flaming arrows or drum lines, but the pregame show at Capital One Arena featured some subdued Stanley Cup finals flair. Wheel of Fortune host and longtime Capitals season-ticket holder Pat Sajak announced the starting lineups, just as ring announcer Michael Buffer — he of “Let’s get ready to rumble” fame — did in Game 1 in Vegas. The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets played before the national anthem.
“We have seen great teams, great players, great moments, and we have seen triumph, and we have also seen disappointment,” Sajak said as 18,000 fans waved red glow sticks. “But this season, this team, this playoff run has surpassed it all. So let’s win three more and hoist the Cup, whaddya think?” – SA
Discipline will be key: The Capitals are only 4-5 on home ice during the playoffs, but NBC analyst Mike Milbury said that trend will have no bearing on Game 3. “The final is a different animal,” Milbury said during the pregame show. “They’ve got a couple of these games under their belt already. I think they’re excited to be back home, confident. I think they have to be worried about the lack of discipline in their game. They have to be worried about whether Braden Holtby can be as superb as he was in Game 2 here in Game 3.” Vegas had five power plays in Game 2, including a two-man advantage for more than a minute in the third period. – SA
Kempny back: Evgeny Kuznetsov, a game-time decision with an undisclosed upper-body injury, was on the ice for pregame warm-ups. So was the perfectly healthy Michal Kempny, until the Capitals’ defenseman stepped on a puck and took a nasty spill into the boards. Kempny returned to the ice with stitches on his nose between his eyes. Both he and Kuznetsov are good to go. – SA
Kempny now on the ice. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 2, 2018
Kempny is in the lineup after his warmups spill. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 2, 2018
Kempny in question: Defenseman Michal Kempy left pregame warm-ups after taking a tumble into the end boards.
Kempny went into the end boards, per @Michael_Traikos. Went back to the locker room before rushes. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 2, 2018
I assume Kempny is going to play and just went for repairs. But anyway, Kuznetsov is in, as expected. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 2, 2018
Hockey players, they’re just like us: Perhaps to avoid the traffic related to the road closures around Capital One Arena, T.J. Oshie and Matt Niskanen rode the Metro to Game 3. Don’t worry, they made it to the arena on time, and were on the ice for pregame warm-ups. — SA
D.C. royalty in the house: Former Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs, the last coach to lead a D.C. team in one of the four major sports to a championship way back in 1992, will lead the “Let’s Go Caps!” chant before puck drop. During a pregame interview with NBC Sports Network, Gibbs joked that Alex Ovechkin would’ve made a great tight end for the Redskins and praised D.C. sports fans as the greatest in the world. “When they’re jacked up, they’re jacked up,” Gibbs said. Oh, they’re jacked up. — SA
A guy who knows a thing or three about championships in D.C. #HTTR pic.twitter.com/CfFbL2vYeE — JoeGlo 📷🏈🏀⚾️🥊🏇🏼 (@JoeGlo1) June 2, 2018
I've never seen this place so full for warmups. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 2, 2018
The show before the show: Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter was among the Capitals fans who packed the streets outside Capital One Arena to see Sting and Shaggy headline a free concert on the steps of the National Portrait Gallery two hours before the game. — SA
Vrana about to break out?: Through the two games of the series, it’s been even at even strength. Washington has a slight edge over Vegas in scoring chances (42 to 41) and shot attempts in the high-danger areas, such as the slot or the crease (22 to 21), but both teams have scored five goals skating 5-on-5.
One player that could break the logjam is Jakub Vrana. The 22-year-old rookie leads the team in even-strength scoring chances (seven) and high-danger chances (5) with two rebounds created off goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury but has yet to light the lamp skating 5-on-5. That could end soon. His shooting rate in the playoffs (5.9 percent) is much lower than his regular-season rate (9.7 percent) and the conversion rate of his line, which often consists of T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom (6.1 percent).
There’s too much skill getting too many quality looks for them to be kept in check much longer. — NG
Fourth-line issues: The Golden Knights fourth line of Ryan Reaves, Tomas Nosek and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare have been a problem for the Capitals. That trio has outshot its opponents 21 to 8 in the Stanley Cup finals with two goals scored and none allowed. Plus, they have an 11-to-1 advantage in high-danger chances at even strength.
Home ice allows Barry Trotz to get last change, meaning Gerard Gallant must put his players on the ice first before faceoffs, giving Trotz the chance to dictate the matchups he wants. Obviously he should be very selective with which of his top six skaters go up against the Golden Knights shutdown line. — NG
Shadow ops: Vegas has been shadowing Alex Ovechkin on the power play, making sure at least one of the Golden Knights cuts off a pass in his direction on the penalty kill. And with good reason: Ovechkin has one of the best one-timers in the NHL, converting 5 of 28 shots (18 percent) during this playoff run. If he continues to have trouble getting settled over by his “office,” the left faceoff dot, the rest of the top power-play unit needs to turn it into a 4-on-3, focusing on creating rebounds from John Carlson at the point or Oshie and Kuznetsov around the goal mouth. — NG
Postgame reading
Immerse yourself in the Capitals’ postseason with The Post’s coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs:
In the District, this Stanley Cup finals game is as big as it gets
For Washington Capitals fans, the moment they have all been waiting for
Washington’s answer to Vegas: Sting, Shaggy, Fall Out Boy and Pat Sajak
What made Braden Holtby’s save so good? Let Olie Kolzig explain.
Golden Knights ready to throw some hits, ‘dumb down the game’ in D.C.
Capitals rookie Jakub Vrana is due for a big game in the Stanley Cup finals
Former Capitals prospect Cody Eakin not exactly the sentimental type
One Caps fan’s new tradition: Celebrating playoff wins by dousing herself with beer
This good hockey dog traveled thousands of miles to stand outside the Caps’ arena
Caps fans have adopted the National Portrait Gallery steps, and the museum loves it
With iconic save, Braden Holtby joins John Riggins and Jayson Werth in D.C. sports lore
Here is every conceivable angle of Braden Holtby’s jaw-dropping save
Brooks Orpik scores unlikeliest goal, and the Capitals go crazy: ‘My ears are still ringing.’
Braden Holtby’s must-see Stanley Cup finals save had a goalie calling it the ‘greatest’ he’d ever witnessed
At Capital One Arena, a rowdy, joyful Game 2 celebration for Capitals fans
Turns out Marc-Andre Fleury is human, and the Stanley Cup finals are even
‘A little bit bittersweet’: Former Capital Nate Schmidt thriving in Vegas
The house doesn’t always win: Las Vegas may lose millions on the Golden Knights
The Capitals and Golden Knights share a road-trip tradition: Mario Kart
The Capitals can’t afford to play wide-open games against Vegas
After a Las Vegas show, a hockey game broke out at the Stanley Cup finals
A casual fan’s bandwagon guide to the Stanley Cup finals
The best photos from the Capitals’ run to their first Stanley Cup finals in 20 years
The Washington Capitals’ path to the 2018 Stanley Cup finals
The Stanley Cup in sight, Alex Ovechkin is all in as Capitals head to Vegas
George McPhee and Brian MacLellan go back decades. Now their teams are playing for the Stanley Cup.
In Stanley Cup finals, Capitals face down yet another familiar foe: Marc-Andre Fleury
Las Vegas, shaken by tragedy, finds an unlikely rallying point: Its first-year NHL team
Remembering the Caps’ run to the 1998 Stanley Cup finals: ‘Nobody wanted to play against us’
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s transition to borderline NHL superstar
Capitals Coach Barry Trotz is a pending unrestricted free agent. His value is soaring.
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom’s long journey together reaches Stanley Cup finals at last
The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Washington Capitals on Saturday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The opening face-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Home team Washington is -125 on the money line, meaning you would need to risk $125 to win $100, while Vegas is +110 (risk $100 to win $110). The over-under, or total number of goals oddsmakers think will be scored, is 5.5.
Before you make your pick, you need to see what SportsLine data scientist Stephen Oh has to say. The co-founder of AccuScore, Oh has been money on his picks involving the Caps, nailing 14 of his 17 selections for an astounding 82-percent success rate.
He knows the ins and outs of both teams, and has studied all the matchups and trends that will determine the outcome, including one you're not even considering.
Now, using his specialized sports simulations, projections and advanced statistical analysis, Oh has examined Game 3 from every angle. We can tell you Oh is leaning toward the over ,and has a strong money-line pick, and you won't discover his reasons buried in any box score. He's sharing it over at SportsLine.
Oh is aware Vegas has been excellent on the road this postseason, posting a 6-2 record away from T-Mobile Arena, including two victories in each of its first three series. In their lone regular-season meeting in Washington on Feb. 4, the Golden Knights won 4-3.
Both teams have played effectively this postseason with Washington at 13-8, and Vegas dropping just four of its 17 games.
"The Caps are averaging 3.33 goals per game at home this season," Oh told SportsLine. "But the Knights have lost just twice on the road."
Alex Ovechkin has recorded a team-high 13 goals for Washington, and Jonathan Marchessault leads Vegas with eight.
This series could be won on special teams as Washington has been excellent on the power play. The Capitals have notched 18 goals in 62 man-advantage opportunities for an impressive 29-percent success rate.
And the Knights have scored 11 goals in 57 chances for a 19-percent success clip. Vegas' shorthanded defense has been superb, allowing 11 goals in 60 opportunities. Alex Ovechkin leads the Caps with five power-play goals, while Alex Tuch and Colin Miller top the Knights with three each.
So which team does Oh think will take crucial Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals? Visit SportsLine now to get Stephen Oh's exclusive selection, all from the data scientist who's 14-3 on his money-line picks involving the Capitals!
