NHL.com Director of Editorial Shawn P. Roarke has all the sights and sounds from Capital One Arena, where the Capitals took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-1 victory against the Golden Knights.
Welcome to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals.
11:05 p.m. ET
The Capitals are two wins from their first Stanley Cup championship after their 3-1 win in Game 3.
Forward Devante Smith-Pelly capped the scoring at 13:53 of the third period after a turnover by Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore and a beautiful pass from Washington forward Jay Beagle.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Smith-Pelly finishes Beagle's feed
The Capitals lead the best-of-7 series 2-1. Game 4 is here Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVAS, SN).
The Golden Knights lost back-to-back games for the first time this postseason and trail a series after Game 1 for the first time. Vegas lost 3-2 in Game 2.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, in his first Stanley Cup Final game at home in his career, opened the scoring in the second period. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who sustained an upper-body injury in the first period of Game 2 and didn't return, had the second goal and an assist on the Ovechkin goal.
Forward Tomas Nosek scored for the Golden Knights in the third period, his third goal of the Final and fourth of the playoffs. The fourth line -- Nosek, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Ryan Reaves - have four goals in this series.
Braden Holtby made 21 saves for the Capitals. Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, brilliant for much of the game, made 23 saves.
Tweet from @NHL: Game 3: @Capitals #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8yTRsbTWid
10:45 p.m. ET
A fluke goal by Vegas forward Tomas Nosek has made things interesting with 10 minutes left in the game. The Capitals lead 2-1.
A bad turnover by goalie Braden Holtby led to the goal by Vegas at 3:29.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Nosek cashes in on Holtby's turnover
Trying to pass the puck out of trouble from behind the net, Holtby threw the puck off the stick of Vegas forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, coming in aggressively on the forecheck. The puck trickled into the slot and Nosek beat Nicklas Backstrom to the puck and pushed it into the empty net.
It was the fourth goal of the postseason by Nosek, his third in the Final. He had two goals, including an empty-net score, in a 6-4 win in Game 1.
Evgeni Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin scored in the second period for Washington.
Defenseman Deryk Engelland took a defensive-zone tripping penalty at 7:35, but the Golden Knights killed it to keep it a one-goal game heading into the final 10 minutes. Washington is 0-for-4 on the power play.
10:10 p.m.
After two periods, the Capitals lead the Golden Knights 2-0 on the strength of second-period goals by forwards Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov made it 2-0 with a brilliant shot from the face-off circle on a 2-on-1 that beat goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury between his blocker and his leg pad and hit the inside of the far post at 12:50.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Kuznetsov snipes wrister past Fleury
Kuznetsov, who missed the final two periods of Game 2 with an upper-body injury, has 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists), the most by any player this postseason.
Ovechkin scored a rebound goal at 1:10.
Fleury had made several big saves earlier in the period, including one at the start of Washington's second power play of the game with Erik Haula in the penalty box for a hooking at 9:55.
On the play, a point shot by defenseman John Carlson was deflected in front, but fluttered off the post, hit off Fleury's mask and, as he tumbled to the ice, Fleury used his elbow to push the puck out of the crease.
He made another huge save during the kill, gloving a rising one-timer from Ovechkin, who scored the first goal earlier in the period.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Fleury snags Ovechkin's wrister
Fleury has 19 saves. Braden Holtby has 13.
Tweet from @NHL: Wait. For. It... #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/4tXuVoVBlj
9:45 p.m. ET
Midway through the game, the Capitals have a 1-0 lead, thanks to Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin scored at 1:10 of the second period.
It was goal No. 14 of the postseason for Ovechkin, tying the Washington record set by forward John Druce in the 1990 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It also tied Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets for most goals this postseason.
Ovechkin capped a crazy sequence by diving for a rebound of a shot by defenseman John Carlson in an extended scramble sequence and shoveling the puck backhand past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The sequence started a few seconds earlier when Fleury came out aggressively to play the puck and collided with Carlson. On the ice, Fleury swept the puck into the corner with his glove, but Washington forward Evgeny Kuznetsov banked it off the net and into the slot for the second shot by Carlson and the ensuing rebound.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Ovechkin opens scoring to tie record
The Golden Knights had a chance to tie it at 5:53 on a brilliant individual effort by Jonathan Marchessault, who played the puck through the legs of defenseman Dmitry Orlov and then wristed a shot that goalie Braden Holtby got with his glove.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Holtby denies Marchessault after deke
9:05 p.m.
For the second straight period of the Final, neither team scored a goal and we're are 0-0 after 20 minutes.
The Capitals and Golden Knights have each had chances to score and each had one power-play opportunity.
Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made seven saves and Washington's Braden Holtby made six.
The Capitals had their first power play of the game at 11:21 when forward Reilly Smith committed a holding infraction against Washington defenseman Michal Kempny in the attacking zone.
The Golden Knights allowed one shot on the penalty kill.
Soon after the penalty expired, the Golden Knights nearly took lead. Forward Jonathan Marchessault, yet to score in this series, hit the post with a low shot from the slot. Marchessault has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) this postseason, tied with Smith for the lead on the Golden Knights.
8:45 p.m. ET
With 11:21 gone in Game 3, neither team has scored.
Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has his own contender for save of the Stanley Cup Final.
Somehow, Fleury got across his crease to stop a rising wrist shot with his glove as Alex Ovechkin snapped off a shot after a cross-ice pass at 1:08.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Fleury robs Ovechkin early on
Fleury's save rivals the paddle save from Washington goalie Braden Holtby with 1:59 left in Game 2 that robbed Alex Tuch of the tying goal in a 3-2 win for the Capitals.
Washington thought it had a goal at 5:04 of the first period when forward Chandler Stephenson beat Fleury from long range, but the goal was immediately waved off by the officials. Washington forward Devante Smith-Pelly crashed into the head of Fleury with his hip, knocking the goalie down before the shot crossed the goal line, drawing minor for goalie interference.
Vegas did not score on the man advantage but did use the power play to wake up its offense, registering five consecutive shots and a hit post by forward James Neal.
8:30 p.m. ET
What a start to Game 3!
The arena was rocking throughout the pregame ceremony, bathed in the red glow of batons given away by the Capitals to each fan.
But the highlight was the introduction of the players by "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak.
"Are you excited as I am?" said Sajak, who has had Capitals season tickets for the past 13 seasons. "This playoff series so far has been just breathtaking."
Sajak's introductions of the Golden Knights could not be heard, drowned out by the booing of the crowd. The cheers for the Capitals, when they were introduced were even louder.
Now, onto the game.
Video: VGK@WSH, Gm3: Green and McDonald perform anthem
8:05 p.m. ET
Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is in the lineup for Game 3. He left Game 2 in the first period with an upper-body injury but was in his traditional place between Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson.
There was some additional lineup drama for the Capitals as defenseman Michal Kempny sustained an injury during warmups after crashing into the end boards. He did not return before warmups finished but was in the lineup. Kempny has four points (one goal, three assists) in 21 games.
Vegas, which has won Game 3 in each of its previous three series, dressed the same lineup it has for each of the first two games of the Final.
Tweet from @Capitals: Game 3 lineup #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS Game preview: https://t.co/zMw5U7Oh7g pic.twitter.com/fYn6NjFtIO
Tweet from @GoldenKnights: #StanleyCup lineup for game 381 �� 19�� ������18�� 21 89�� �� ��3 88�� ��������������47 6��#VegasBorn
7:00 p.m. ET
Poor weather has not put a damper on the pregame activities here in Washington D.C. Rain, sometimes heavy, has been falling throughout the afternoon.
Washington fans still flooded F Street in front of the arena to cheer on their team. There were a few Vegas fans sprinkled throughout, but red was the dominant color on Saturday in and around the building.
Even more fans gathered near the Smithsonian for a concert by Sting and Shaggy on the steps of the National Portrait Gallery in the Stanley Cup Concert presented by Hulu.
Tweet from @NHL: The streets filled up early as @OfficialSting and @DiRealShaggy entertained a huge crowd downtown before Game 3. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/C6l99aEkW7
But, it was the game that was on the mind of everyone, a vital Game 3 that will set the tone for the rest of the best-of-7 series, which is tied at one game each.
The big question heading toward puck drop is the status of Washington forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who left Game 2 with an upper-body injury after a hit by Brayden McNabb. Kuznetsov, who practiced Friday, is a game-time decision. He leads the playoffs with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists).
Vegas is expected to dress the same lineup it has for each of the first two games.
Listen to the Washington Capitals no matter where you are! John Walton & co. bring Caps hockey games and analysis all hours of the day for FREE on the Tunein app at CapsRadio247.com.
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.
