Talk about kicking things off with a bang.
In their inaugural season, the Las Vegas Golden Knights find themselves just a handful of games away from Stanley Cup glory.
In a remarkable 51-win season, the Knights look to replicate what only the Toronto Maple Leafs – back then known as the Arenas – have achieved in the NHL’s rich 100-year history: win a Cup in their very first season.
Their opponents, the Washington Capitals, are no easy-beat, playing in their first Stanley Cup Final since 1998. The Capitals have been on the brink of success many times over the last decade, as future Hall of Famer, Alex Ovechkin, searches for his and his teams first Cup win.
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One game. That’s what stands between the Capitals and their first ever Stanley Cup title.
To say Game 4 was a surprise would be an understatement. Washington scored four unanswered goals in the first and second period, three of which came on the power play.
Vegas looked completely out of it for the entire game, despite managing more shots on goal (30). A return back to home ice sees the Knights come in as the $1.73 favourite, but the momentum firmly feels in Washington’s hands.
The Capitals have successfully outscored the Knights 16-11 in the series, but the real story has been Knights goalie Marc Andre-Fleury. Washington made just 23 shots in Game 4, while Fleury managed to save only 17 of them.
If the Knights are to claw their way back into this series, it will take a big return to form from the Knights net-minder. Fleury was lights out against the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Finals, allowing just 10 goals in the series. So far against the Caps, that number already sits at 16.
With that in mind, this is a different Vegas team when they’re at home. The Knights were 34-5-2 in the regular season when they scored first, so if they can snatch momentum early, they might still stand a chance.
Back Vegas To Win @ $1.73
The Capitals captured Game 3 in pretty convincing fashion on Sunday, wrapping up their first Cup game in Washington since 1998 with a 3-1 win.
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin were once again the stars of the night, nailing two unanswered goals for the Caps in the second period. The standout was by far goalie Braden Holtby, though, who saved 21 of the 22 shots he faced.
Game 4 now shapes up as the ‘line in the sand’ game. What exactly are Vegas made of? Steely resolve? Or will their playoff inexperience see this series slip away from home?
For the Golden Knights to win this next one, they simply need to use the puck better. In the first three games, Vegas shot the puck on goal over 35 times, compared to the 22 shots they made in Game 4. Sunday was also the first time this series Vegas failed to score a goal on the power-play.
Keep in mind, this Vegas team is choc-full of talent, and it’s worth noting that in the 82-game regular season, Vegas lost back-to-back games only eight times. Expect them to rebound with the series on the line.
Back Vegas To Win By 1 @ $6.50 (60 Minutes Winning Margin)
We’re even.
The Capitals bounced back on Thursday with a 3-2 win over the Knights in Vegas. It was another thriller right until the very end, but Alex Ovechkin’s go-ahead goal in the second period ultimately proved the difference maker in terms of momentum.
Following on from Ovechkin’s brilliance, Brooks Orpik nailed another one moments later to put the Caps up 3-1, and although Shea Theodore kept the Knights in the game, Vegas just couldn’t equalize.
All of this drama now sets up a perfect Game 3 in Washington, a game that will feature plenty of intensity and atmosphere. The Caps lost just 11 games at home during the regular season, and with goals coming left, right and centre, it’s hard to back against them.
Back Washington Capitals To Win @ $1.67
As expected, Game 1 was intense. The Knights opened the series with a win, but don’t let the 6-4 scoreline fool you, the Capitals were in this game right up until the dying stages of the third period.
While the Knights won 29 games at home during the regular season, they aren’t exactly unbeatable at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas lost 13 games as the head-to-head favourite, which bodes well for the Capitals as the away underdog.
In order for the Capitals to win Game 2, Evgeny Kuznetsov needs to start firing. He’s among the playoff leaders this year with 11 goals and 13 assists, but was held to just three shots in Game 1.
As for the Knights, they’d probably like to see a better performance from net-minder, Marc-Andre Fleury. The Knights’ goalie shutout four teams during the previous playoff rounds, but allowed the Capitals to go tit-for-tat with Vegas during the opening game.
Back The Capitals To Win @ $2.25