The Vegas Golden Knights have defeated the Washington Capitals by a score of 6-4 to take a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights have continued their historical season with the victory in their first game of the final. Tomas Nosek scored the game-winner for the Knights.
Golden Knights Victorious In First Stanley Cup Final Game
The Golden Knights got off to another lead less than ten minutes into the first period when Colin Miller scored on the power-play. The Capitals would respond with two quick goals by Brett Connolly and Nicklas Backstrom. The goal were scored within a minute of each other. Vegas would up tying the game on a William Karlsson wrist shot at the end of the first period.
Reilly Smith gave the Knights the lead again three minutes into the second. But the Capitals once again tied the game at 3-3 on a John Carlson goal in the 2nd period.
Tom Wilson scored early in the third to give the Capitals a 4-3 lead but less than two minutes later Ryan Reaves,who had the game-winner for the Knights in game five of the Western Conference Final, scored to tie up the game for the Golden Knights. Nosek scored the game-winner for the Golden Knights at the 9:44 mark of the third period. He recorded the empty netter as well
Offense Comes Alive for Both Teams
In a game with two high caliber goalies, both team’s offenses came alive. In the first period, each team was able to put up two goals. Three out of the four goals came in the last six minutes of the first period. The two teams combined for ten goals in the game. Backstrom and T.J. Oshie each had two points for the Capitals. Nosek led the Golden Knights with two goals.
Goaltending
Braden Holtby had a lot of trouble in the first period when it came to rebound control. It is something he has had trouble with before in these playoffs. This led to Vegas scoring two goals on 11 shots in the first period. Holtby was coming off back to back shutouts for the Capitals to carry them to the Stanley Cup Final.
Marc-Andre Fleury had a rare poor peformance as gave up four goals on 28 shots. This is only the third time Fleury has given up more than three goals in a playoff game this year. He had taken the loss in the previous two games when he gave up more than three goals.
Special Teams
Both teams played a fairly clean game, but the Golden Knights took advantage of their only powerplay with Miller’s goal. The Capitals failed to score on their one man advantage.
Tom Wilson delivered a huge hit on Jon Marchessault,which sent him into concussion protocol. Wilson has already been suspended once this post-season for a dirty hit on Zach Aston-Reese of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marchessault did return but he did miss a couple of shifts while in the darkroom.
The Stanley Cup Final will continue in Vegas on Wednesday night at 8 pm.
Main Photo
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