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March 28, 2024

Blog: Golden Knights beat Capitals for 3rd consecutive win

Golden Knights vs. Capitals

AP

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden, Right, celebrates with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after scoring against the Washington Capitals during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Updated Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 | 5:32 p.m.

Vegas Golden Podcast

5 crucial Golden Knights games

Five straight games at home will likely define the Golden Knights' season. Vegas can solidify itself as a playoff contender and make a run for the Pacific Division title, or the Golden Knights can struggle and risk not making the postseason. We discuss.

It surely caused more than a few nervous breaths from the Golden Knights faithful at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, but Vegas held on for the win.

Going into the third period with a three-goal lead, the Golden Knights surrendered two in the final frame as the Washington Capitals ramped up the pressure, but the Golden Knights never allowed the third goal in a 3-2 victory.

It was the Golden Knights' third win in a row, all at home, and brought them back above water with their 31st win in 61 games this season.

The third period started with both teams trading penalties back and forth. The Golden Knights went to the power play 34 seconds into the period, then the Capitals at 3:13 then the Golden Knights again at 5:22. Nothing came of it, but a goal came shortly after.

It was T.J. Oshie, collecting a behind-the-net feed from Dmitry Orlov, and sniping it far-side on Marc-Andre Fleury for a perfectly placed goal at 8:46 to trim the Vegas lead to 3-1.

The next power play however, did cost the Golden Knights. It was Oshie again, this time one-timing a Jakub Vrana feed from the slot by Fleury and into the net. What was a 3-0 Golden Knights lead turned into a one-goal advantage, and there was 9:20 still to go in the third.

Going into the third, the Golden Knights seemed to have the game on lock. Nick Holden and Reilly Smith scored in the first period, and Max Pacioretty added another in the second. Vegas had suffocated the Capitals before they came alive in the third.

The Golden Knights led in final shots on goal 29-26.

Golden Knights extend lead on Capitals going to final period

The second period was slower-paced than the first, and with the Golden Knights already up a pair of goals, that's just how they like it.

Vegas had the period's lone goal late in the frame, and took a 3-0 lead over the Washington Capitals into the second intermission at T-Mobile Arena on Monday.

The first action — or more accurately potential for action — in what had been a stale period to that point came on the Capitals' power play, the game's first. Jon Merrill got the gate for tripping, bringing Alex Ovechkin and a dangerous unit to the plate. The Golden Knights killed it without much trouble, but it was how they killed it that was impressive. Washington struggled with zone entries was unable to move the puck around how it likes to do, setting up Ovechkin from the left circle.

Since Peter DeBoer took over as coach he has emphasized an aggressive penalty kill that challenges attackers at the blue line. It was executed to perfection and Vegas allowed no shot attempts before Merrill exited the box.

It wasn't on the power play, but the Golden Knights were the ones who scored in the second. William Karlsson made the play behind the net, and with Washington goalie Braden Holtby looking to his right, Karlsson went to his left, finding a wide-open Pacioretty down low. Pacioretty finished for the 27th time this season, making it 3-0 Vegas at 14:06.

Shots were just 8-6 in favor of Vegas in the second, giving the Golden Knights a 23-18 lead for the game.

Golden Knights lead Capitals after 1 period

There was skill and speed in the first period, sure — it got the Golden Knights their goals — but the first period between Vegas and the Washington Capitals was about physicality. Both sides tried out-muscle each other, and after a period at T-Mobile Arena on Monday the Golden Knights led 2-0.

The Golden Knights drew first blood thanks to some strong play from William Carrier and the fourth line. Carrier started it off getting behind the Washington defense and going in unopposed on a breakaway. His shot trickled through the crease and John Carlson cleared it but not out. Tomas Nosek collected it and fed Carrier, who saw Nick Holden jump in from the blue line and in front of the crease.

Holden redirected Carrier's pass at 3:43 to put the Golden Knights up 1-0. It was his fifth of the season with assists to Carrier and Nosek.

The Golden Knights had a second breakaway not long after, when Zach Whitecloud pulled out a beauty of a pass from his own zone to spring Cody Eakin, who was denied on his attempt.

Near the end of the period, Vegas struck again. It was a redirect again, this time off the stick of Reilly Smith. He was set up by Jonathan Marchessault at 17:17 and gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead.

The game had no shortage of big hits. Carrier staple-gunned Jonas Siegenthaler into the boards behind the Washington net, and Alex Ovechkin launched Nate Schmidt into the Vegas bench. Washington had a 21-18 edge in hits, led by Carrier and Nic Dowd with six apiece.

Vegas led in shots on goal 15-13.

Golden Knights take on Capitals with Alex Ovechkin two goals from history

Golden Knights players know what Alex Ovechkin is capable of. And when he comes back to town this afternoon, he has a chance of making history again in Las Vegas.

Two years ago, the star winger led the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup, and skated it around the T-Mobile Arena ice in celebration after ousting the Golden Knights in five games.

The Capitals return this afternoon with Ovechkin just two goals from becoming the eighth player in NHL history with 700 in his career. From his spot on the ice to his slapshot to his celebrations, the Golden Knights have a good idea what to expect when facing Ovechkin, particularly the players who used to line up with him.

“I was fortunate enough to get the chance to play with a guy like that because you see what he’s doing,” forward Chandler Stephenson said. “There’s never a time where he’s not on a roll or doing something.”

Stephenson spent parts of five seasons with a front-row seat to arguably the greatest goal-scorer in the history of the sport. He spent his entire career with the Capitals before a December trade brought him to Vegas, and said playing with Ovechkin was a unique experience.

“He’s kind of one of a kind,” Stephenson said. “Everything from his skill to his size to his speed and he’s just like a little kid at times too. Loves having fun, loves scoring goals.”

He’s the only Golden Knight that won the Cup with Ovechkin, but Nate Schmidt and Cody Eakin also played with him during their respective times with the Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury has been part of four playoff series against him. And of course the Golden Knights faced him in the Cup Final in 2018 when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

“To be able to say that you played with a guy like that, possibly the greatest scorer of all time if he continues on this pace, and it’s hard because when he’s rolling, he’s rolling,” Schmidt said. “When he gets going it’s tough to stop him.”

They’re also familiar with his spot on the power play. Ovechkin has made a career out of positioning himself on the left circle and blasting one-timers into the net. He’s so good at it that teams know he’s going to do it, but can’t stop him.

“It’s not just the defensemen, our forward on that side of the ice has a responsibility in order to try to make him uncomfortable in that shooting area too,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “Whoever is on the ice has to get the job done against him and has to have an awareness of what he does over there. And he does it better than maybe anybody in the history of the game.”

Ovechkin’s 700th goal may just be a stop on his way to immortality, whether it happens tonight or not. At 34-years-old, Ovechkin is in prime position to challenge Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894. He would need to play a few more seasons, but he’s on pace for 58 this season, which would be the most since his age-22 season.

He’s not slowing down. And his former teammates wouldn’t be surprised if he gets there.

“Yeah it’s obviously a legitimate chance with what he’s done over the years,” Stephenson said. “100% it’s reachable.”

TV: AT&T Sports Net (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-135, Capitals plus-115; over/under: 6.5 (minus-110, minus-110)

Golden Knights (30-22-8, 64 points) (16-10-4 home), third place, Pacific Division

Coach: Peter DeBoer (first season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (57)

Goals leader: Max Pacioretty (26)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (37)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.80 GAA, .905 save percentage)

Capitals (37-16-5, 79 points) (21-7-1 road), first place, Metropolitan Division

Coach: Todd Reirden (second season)

Points leader: John Carlson (69)

Goals leader: Alex Ovechkin (40)

Assists leader: John Carlson (54)

Expected goalie: Braden Holtby (3.11 GAA, .897 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault—Paul Stastny—Reilly Smith

Max Pacioretty—William Karlsson—Mark Stone

Chandler Stephenson—Cody Eakin—Cody Glass

William Carrier—Tomas Nosek—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb—Nate Schmidt

Jon Merrill—Shea Theodore

Nick Holden—Zach Whitecloud

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban

Justin Emerson can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Justin on Twitter at twitter.com/@j15emerson.

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