Last year, the expansion draft ruled all of the offseason talk and honestly, there weren’t as many moves as most had expected or hoped for.
This year, with names like Tavares and Carlson poised to hit the UFA market and players like Ryan O’Reilly, Phil Kessel, and Erik Karlsson on the trading block, things could get wild.
The Edmonton Oilers signed restricted free agent Matt Benning to a two-year contract worth $3.8 million. The contract is worth $1.9 million annually with no bonuses. Benning will again be an RFA in 2020.
Benning, a 24-year old St. Albert native has spent two years in the NHL after being signed as a college free agent out of Northern University of the NCAA. Through three seasons in the NCAA, Benning stockpiled 56 points in 110 games.
The right-handed defence man was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2012 entry draft but remained unsigned until 2016 where he inked a two-year deal with the Oilers.
In 62 games with Edmonton in his rookie year, Benning showed a lot more promise than expected. He finished with 15 points (3G-12A) and played in 12 playoff games. He had another three assists in the postseason.
In his first season Benning bounced around between the second and third pairing and found success when paired with Kris Russell. He showed that while there were still aspects of his game that were a bit raw he could deliver a physical presence and even when making defensive mistakes, he showed the veteran prowess to learn from those mistakes and adjust.
Going into last season, the expectations may have been a little higher than they should have been. The idea was present that Benning would solidify his spot on the second pairing and possibly even the second powerplay unit.
Those expectations may not have been consistently reached as Benning played in 73 games in 2017-18. He had a mistake filled year early on but finished with six more points than in his rookie season (6G-15A) showing a bit more of an offensive side to his game. He did show improvements in his second season despite those being overshadowed by a disappointing year all-around for the Oilers.
With the small step forward taken by the young D-man he deserved a bit of a raise. It was a bit steeper than I expected going from $925,000 to $1.9 million annually but knowing the Oilers have locked up one of two right-handed defensemen on the roster brings some calm to my mind.
After signing Drake Caggiula to a two-year deal five days prior worth $1.5 million a season Benning’s deal would have to be efficient. The Oilers now have $6.703 million in cap space left to lock up Darnell Nurse and possibly sign RFA Ryan Strome.
The draft is mere days away and Edmonton still holds onto the 10th overall pick. Amidst the Max Domi/Alex Galchenyuk and Mike Hoffman trades this week the rumours surrounding Edmonton and veteran forward Milan Lucic continue to swirl as the Oilers see their cap number slowly decline with every needed contract they hand out.
While Benning’s contract is a bit more expensive than expected, it is the cost of doing business and worth doing in my opinion. He could be poised to take another step forward this year and maybe finally be that right-handed offensive defensemen the Oilers need.
The 2018 NHL entry draft will be hosted in Dallas, at the American Airlines Center, June 22nd.
Even though the show will be in the heart of Texas, the night belongs to Buffalo. With the 1st overall pick the Sabres will undoubtedly select Swedish defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, but what about the rest of the picks in the top 15?
With their first pick, in the first round, the Buffalo Sabres select: Rasmus Dahlin. TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button, has called Dahlin ‘the Connor McDavid of defensemen.’ The highly coveted Swedish D-man is considered a generational talent drawing comparisons to the likes of Nick Lidstrom and Scott Niedermeyer. He is the total package.
Mix in his hockey sense with his shot, vision, recovery and passing and you have the number 1 pick this year. The only knock on the 6’2” 180LBS 18 year old is just that. He will need to put on 10-15 pounds of muscle to reach his full potential in the NHL. With his work ethic and dedication to the game, I don’t see that being a problem. Rasmus Dahlin will be a force on defence in the NHL for years to come.
Following the belle of the ball is the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadians. The Canes were big time lottery winners moving up from 11th to 2nd. The Montreal Canadians moved from 4th to 3rd. Carolina is rumoured to be interested in moving down but if they do, they’re missing out on a chance to grab an excellent player.
Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov is the most talented forward in this draft. If Dahlin is the consensus #1 then Svechnikov is a lock a two. The 1st overall pick in 2017’s import draft was an immediate mover and shaker for the OHL’s Barrie Colts. Playing in only 44 games this year he managed 40 goals and 32 assists good for 1.63PPG. He is a pure scorer with his shot strength and accuracy and will likely be the leading goal scorer to come out of the draft. Carolina with new ownership should look to build around Svechnikov the same way they did Jeff Skinner but hopefully with more overall success.
The Montreal Canadiens are in a bit of a predicament. After a trade to Arizona that sent Alex Galchenyuk to the Coyotes for Max Domi, the Habs are somehow thinner than they already were at centre. As of today the depth chart at centre is Jonathan Drouin, who has yet to prove that he’s not a winger and Phillip Danault, who at his full potential is a 40 point player.
This is also a draft considered low on centres and at #3 the Habs should roll the dice on what could be the most dynamic forward in this draft, Jesperi Kotkaniemi. No player has had made bigger leaps through the pre-draft rankings this season. TSN’s Bob McKenzie had Kotkaniemi ranked 19th at the mid season point. Since then he has skyrocketed all the way into the top 5 and consistently draws comparisons to players like Anze Kopitar, Alexander Barkov and Mark Scheiffle.
At 6’2″ he adds size to and skill to an otherwise smaller lineup in Montreal and while there is risk associated with selecting Kotkaniemi, whoever takes the chance won’t regret it.
The Ottawa Senators owned the 2nd highest chance of drafting 1st overall but slid down to 4th after the lottery. They have the option to send their 1st round pick this year or next to the Avalanche as part of the Duchene deal.
They won’t flip this years pick to Colorado but will instead draft the 6’3” defensemen from Acadia Bathurst, Noah Dobson. Dobson is arguably the 2nd best defensemen in this draft behind the all-mighty Rasmus Dahlin. Drafting Dobson will give Sen’s fans hope for the future as they watch Erik Karlsson’s time in Ottawa draw to a close. Dobson really showed his offensive side this year collecting 69 points in 67 games, including 17 goals. He also racked up 13 more points in 20 games leading his team to the Memorial cup.
Filip Zadina is the most highly touted prospect to come from the Halifax Mooseheads since 2013 when Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin were drafted 1st and 3rd overall respectively (sorry Nico Hischier). The Czech born winger scored 44 goals and 38 assists for the Mooseheads last year.
In order to make it in the NHL, Zadina needs to work on his skating. While he has speed he does not have today’s NHL speed. The promising winger could be NHL ready by the start of training camp but the Coyotes who are in a stacked pacific will be looking for all the help they can get.
Zadina joins an impressive prospect pool in Arizona that includes; Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak and Jakob Chychrun.
With hardly any seperation of skill between the rest of the pack, things get harder to predict. Outside of the top 5 (maybe even top 2) nothing is guaranteed, with that in mind lets go through picks 6-15.
With the man they most likely wanted off the board, Noah Dobson, the Red Wings will look to stay with a D-man and select Quinn Hughes from the University of Michigan. He plays a very up-tempo offensive game and would be knocked for his D if not for always having the puck on his stick. Hometown addition doesn’t hurt fill some seats in the new arena.
Sliding down the draft board to #7 is Brady Tkachuk, known for the same style of play as his dad and brother, Brady could be an immediate impact player. Outside of the hopeful Elias Pettersson the Canucks lack depth on the left side and Tkachuk finds himself a divisional rival to his brother.
From youtube sensation to NHL-draft-pick Oliver Wahlstrom has impressed in his three years with the USHL. This most recent year he blew his old stats out of the water racking up 45 points in just 25 games. The Blackhawks have built dynasties from drafting before and it’s time to get back at it if they have any hope of winning again.
The Rangers are no longer in a win now mode and need to take the best player available. While they would love a winger or centre to draft 9th, the best talent available is defensemen at this spot in the draft. So without further ado the Rangers draft Swedish stud, Adam Boqvist. Boqvist will be a bit of a project, listed anywhere from 150-165 pounds he will need to put on significant weight before making the NHL.
If the Oilers decide to hold onto their pick at 10 they’ll have plenty of options. This is most likely the last top 10 pick the Oilers will own for the next 15+ years so they need to make it count. Defensive depth is a need for the Oilers, the cupboards are nearly empty in the farm, apart from Ethan Bear who likely won’t make the full-time NHL jump until 2019-20.
Evan Bouchard fills that hole for the Oilers. The highest scoring defensemen in this years draft Bouchard put up 87 points in the OHL last season the most since Anthony DeAngelo in 2014-15. The only question with Bouchard is if his offence in junior will translate to the NHL, he put up 25 goals for the London Knights last season.
The Islanders hold the 11th and 12th picks in this years draft, the former acquired in a trade with Calgary for Travis Hamonic.
The Islanders have plenty of Talent at forward, John Tavares (pending UFA), Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle, the list goes on, now its time for a defensemen.
With three pending UFA’s on defence, Calvin de Haan, Thomas Hickey and Dennis Seidenberg it’s hard to see the Islanders re-signing all three. They likely let Seidenberg walk and will have to choose between one of de Haan or Hickey.
With the 11th pick the Islanders draft Ty Smith from the Spokane Chiefs as a long term solution on D. His 14 goals in the WHL most likely won’t hold up in the NHL, but the potential is there.
You heard it here first folks, aside from defence the Islanders also require goaltending and thats why they’ll flip their 12th overall selection in this years draft to acquire goaltender Philipp Grubauer.
With their 12th overall selection the Capitals choose more depth at centre and draft Joe Veleno, formerly with St. Johns, he was traded to the Drummondville Voltiguers where he put up 48 points in 33 games.
Dallas has the defence, they hope they have goaltending, now all they needed is scoring depth. The Stars have been burned when it comes to drafting Russians before IE Valeri Nichuskin, but that shouldn’t stop them from taking Vitali Kravtsov. Coming off a steller KHL playoffs where he scored 11 points in 16 games, Kravtsov tied the record for most KHL playoff goals by a rookie with six, (Previously held alone by Nichuskin) doing so in nine less games.
Acquired in the deal that sent Brayden Schenn to St.Louis this is the last unknown piece of the trade left. GM Ron Hextall has said in the past that Philly would likely take a right-shot D in this years draft and with a plethora of good D in the draft he has his options. For my money the Flyers take the player that best suites their needs at 14, Bode Wilde. Another product from the USHL, he owns a hard shot, works well in all three zones and can make a great first stretch pass. Philly jumps ahead of more skilled players to take their man.
Fresh off a trade for the controversial Mike Hoffman, it seems as if scoring won’t be a problem for the Panthers this season. Any piece added during the draft likely won’t see NHL playing time without a tremendous camp. So, at 15 there are still plenty of options left but the most upside has to be Rasmus Kupuri. Centres are always valued more than wingers and with already established Finnish centre Sasha Barkov to learn from, Kupari could find his way into the Panthers top 6 for years to come.
That’s a wrap on my projected top 15 draftees this year, Dahlin and Svechnikov are the real guarantees and there are a plethora of players taken in this draft that will go on to have NHL success. The Islanders may finally get the goaltending they’ve been hoping for, Philly adds to their prospect pool and Dallas doesn’t regret drafting a Russian this time round.
Notable omissions:
Barret Hayton C
Ryan Merkley RD
Joel Farabee LW
Rasmus Sandin LD
Jonathon Berggren C/LW
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed one of several restricted free agents on Thursday. The club locked up Drake Caggiula, the first notable move since signing KHL goaltender Mikko Koskinen a little over a month ago and Ty Rattie two weeks prior to that.
What does this move mean for the Oilers?
Well, that depends on the terms. It’s been reported that the two-year deal is worth $1.5 million annually. This is exactly the type of deal I think ‘The Drake’ is worth. Caggiula has put up almost identical statistical seasons in his first two years in the NHL.
He played in 60 games in his rookie year where he had a total of 18 points (7G-11A). He became more of a factor in the playoffs suiting up for 13 games netting three goals before the Oilers were eliminated by the Ducks in the Western Semi-FInal.
In his Sophomore season, Caggiula played just seven more games than in 2016-17, finishing with two more points at 20 (13G-7A). Numbers that balance out to the same as the year prior.
So, who is Drake Caggiula?
Going into the 2017-18 season, it appeared Caggiula’s previous playoff performance heightened the hopes for what his production and role would be with the Oilers. There was some talk last summer that the undrafted forward would eventually make his way up to the second line.
However, he had a hard enough time just cracking the line-up playing in just 67 games. Realistically Drake Caggiula is a third or fourth line forward. His offensive numbers aren’t where they need to be for him to be more than that. But he brings a physicality that is very difficult not to love.
So as an RFA it’s nice to see the team bring him back for two more years and for decent value. Caggiula made just $925,000 a season in his first two years in the NHL and has shown at times; he belongs here. So, a bit of a raise is understandable. I would have liked to see that number be a tad bit less, but I can’t complain about anything under $2 million.
With just over $8 million in cap space now to work with, locking up these type of value contracts is crucial for GM Peter Chiarelli. He already kept the Rattie deal low ($800,000) but may have over-payed a bit for Koskinen ($2.5 million), so the Caggiula deal needed to be at a great value.
Add to that the fact that Darnell Nurse, Matt Benning, and Ryan Strome are all RFA’s this July with Nurse being the next young star to get a bigger deal possibly.
Peter Chiarelli can either keep looking for bargains heading into next month or work to make one of the trade rumours we’ve been hearing about to come true in moving a higher priced player like Milan Lucic or Oscar Klefbom.
Tis the business you do when you must spend $21 million annually on your two best centres.
Rumours are flying, the insiders are tweeting, and bloggers are writing. It’s the offseason, baby.
Last year, the Vegas Expansion Draft was the talk of the league as every team looked to avoid losing a key piece. It was expected to be one of the craziest offseasons in NHL history, but honestly, it was underwhelming.
This year, it won’t be an expansion draft making noise, it will be the number of star players who could be on the move. John Tavares and John Carlson are top-tier NHL talent and both will likely hit the UFA market come July 1. You also have names like Erik Karlsson, Ryan O’Reilly, and Max Pacioretty on the trading block.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone if we see more than a few big splashes this summer, but which teams could be the busiest? Here’s my list:
Day 45 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was the final one with the Washington Capitals having the chance to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a victory in Game 5 in Las Vegas. And they took full advantage of that chance finally taking the title of Stanley Cup Champions.
Here’s how it went down:
THE @Capitals ARE THE 2018 #STANLEYCUP CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/5hIneswpFK
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
After three straight wins and two consecutive outstanding performances by Braden Holtby, the Caps were hoping for more of the same in Game 5. The stakes were never higher for a Vegas Golden Knights team that had, up to this point, shocked the world.
The first period was relatively close in play with Washington outshooting Vegas but only by a count of 10-7 after the first frame as the opening period went scoreless. The scoring drought ended there as the second period would contain a total of five goals.
The Caps would strike first just under seven minutes into the second period. Deryk Engelland rocketed a shot past the Washington net and off the glass setting up a Caps rush. Jakub Vrana took off with the puck up the wing and sniped a shot over the shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury and into the corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
CAPS@JVranaa rips one top shelf to give the @Capitals the lead.#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/h7S50wqwNQ
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
Vegas would tie the game just over three minutes later. The Golden Knights set up some pressure in the Caps zone, and Nate Schmidt threw a puck on net deflecting it off the skate of Matt Niskanen and past Holtby for the tie.
It didn’t last long as Washington would retake the lead a minute later. Brayden McNabb was called for tripping after bringing Alexander Ovechkin down on a breakaway.
On the powerplay, Nicklas Backstrom showed great patience waiting with the puck before throwing the perfect saucer pass cross-ice to Ovechkin who sniped it past Fleury for the 2-1 lead, for his 15th of the playoffs the 22nd powerplay goal of the postseason for Washington.
The sauce to @ovi8's pregame chicken parm. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/yZKoCYLhpx
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
The Golden Knights would tie the game on a controversial goal. Tomas Tatar threw a shot on net with Christian Djoos and David Perron fighting in the crease, with Perron being shoved into the back of the net and Holtby going down to the ice. The puck went off Perron and in.
Washington immediately challenged for goaltender interference, and despite what looked to be obvious, the call on the ice stood and goal counted for the 2-2 tie. The argument could be made that Djoos shoved Perron into his net, but for all intents and purposes, it looked like it shouldn’t count.
Fall behind, tie it up. Fall behind, tie it up. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/fwxAoeB92p
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
It wasn’t done there. After Ovechkin took a tripping penalty, Vegas would capitalize with 28 seconds left in the second. Shea Theodore threw the puck on net, Alex Tuch picked up the rebound and made a backward pass to the left of Holtby to Reilly Smith who buried it in the open net for his fifth of the playoffs and the 3-2 lead.
The Capitals would tie the game at three in the third period. And who else but Devante Smith-Pelly to score the critical goal. After Brooks Orpik worked to keep the puck in the Knight’s zone on the blue-line, he threw it on net. The puck hit Smith-Pelly’s skate and he bounced it to his stick, shooting it into the back of the net as he was falling, past a sprawled-out Fleury.
For the third straight game, @smithpelly23.
We're all tied up folks. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/uKzli1GoRd
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
With 7:37 left in the game Lars Eller became the hero for the Washington Capitals. The Caps turned up the pressure with Andre Burakovsky taking possession behind the net and throwing it out to Brett Connolly who one-timed it on net. Marc-Andre Fleury thought he had the puck between his pads, but it snuck through, and Eller snuck in behind the goaltender to bury the eventual Stanley Cup-winning goal.
The find of a lifetime. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/eRaUyNYiTQ
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
The Vegas Golden Knights surprised everyone by being better and so much more than anyone could have been expected coming into the 2017-18 season. Not only winning the Pacific Division and making the playoffs but making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final and doing it in 15 games. However, it was not enough to go the distance and be Champions in their inaugural season.
The Washington Capitals were finally able to do what they never could before. Win Lord’s Stanley Cup. They went the distance finally getting over the hump and eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. Then fought back down 3-2 in the series to the Tampa Bay Lightning to advance to Stanley Cup Final where they won four straight after a hot Vegas team won Game 1.
His moment, as last.#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/uZloDCFKOf
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
The Conn Smythe trophy went to Alexander Ovechkin and deservedly so. With 15 goals, most of the playoffs, Ovi finally led his team to the pinnacle.
Congratulations to Ovechkin and to the Washington Capitals on becoming the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions on Day 45 of the Playoffs.
The 2018 #StanleyCup Champions pic.twitter.com/2sSlzueM0Y
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final was much like Game 3. One-sided. Washington scored early and often and once again received outstanding goaltending from Braden Holtby. They take a 3-1 strangle-hold and are one win away from being Stanley Cup Champions.
Here’s how it went down:
Three down. One to go.
The @Capitals are a win away from winning the #StanleyCup! pic.twitter.com/mCaUvf84jt
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2018
The Washington Capitals came into Game 4 looking to take a strangle hold on the cup final with a 3-1 series lead. The Vegas Golden Knights on the other hand, had plans of sending the series back home tied at two.
With that, came some line-up changes with head coach Gerard Gallant opting to put Tomas Tatar in the line-up over David Perron on the third line next to Cody Eakin and Ryan Carpenter.
It was a fast-paced opening with both teams flying around the ice and the Golden Knights missing on several scoring chances, hitting the post two or three times in the opening minutes of play.
After Colin Miller took a tripping penalty, the Caps would capitalize on the powerplay scoring halfway through the first period. Off the rush Evgeny Kuznetsov threw the puck on net and TJ Oshie came in to clean up the rebound, kicking the puck to his stick before putting it in the net.
The Caps added to their lead with just under four minutes left in the opening frame. With a group of tired Golden Knights left on the ice, a few defenders got caught chasing Alexander Ovechkin, leaving Kuznetsov open to take the puck behind the net and send it back out in front to Tom Wilson who buried it under the glove of Marc-Andre Fleury for the 2-0 lead.
Huge in Game 3.
Huge in Game 4.What's good @smithpelly23.#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/mI3G1OXH38
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2018
Washington wasn’t done there. They kept piling on before the end of the first period. Devante Smith-Pelly would score in his second consecutive game. Off of another Vegas turnover, Ovechkin sends a long cross-ice pass to Smith-Pelly down low who, like Oshie, kicked the puck to his stick and roofed it over the blocker of Fleury for a three-goal lead.
The route continued well into the second period when Washington made it 4-0 with just under five minutes left. After James Neal took a slashing penalty, Kuznetsov added his fourth point of the night when he threw the puck cross-ice to John Carlson who one-timed it home for his fifth of the playoffs and tying the record for most playoff points for a Capitals defender at 54.
Carlson with the power play blast.
It's all Caps. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/dMxfo6u6Kj
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2018
Vegas would finally solve Braden Holtby, however it may have been too late as it came with 14 minutes left in the game. Erik Haula set up James Neal down low who roofed it over the shoulder of Holtby to cut the score down to 4-1.
The Knights would cut the lead in half just under seven minutes later. Reilly Smith would score his fourth of the playoffs after taking a pass in front of the net from Jonathan Marchessault, and backhanded it past Holtby.
It wouldn’t be enough as Washington would put this game away once and for all scoring again with on six minutes left. Nicklas Backstrom picked up the puck after TJ Oshie layer a questionable hit on Colin Miller that could have been a bit high. Backstrom made a pass to Michal Kempny who blasted the puck on a one-timer for his second of the playoffs.
Brett Connolly would score on a two-man advantage later in the period to add more salt to the already infect wound of the beaten down Golden Knights.
Braden Holtby has found the same Conn Smythe level of play we have seen from the Marc-Andre Fleury this postseason. He once again had the most solid game of any Capitals player stopping 29 of 30 Golden Knights shots.
The Capitals again found themselves reach a high number of blocks, hitting above 20 for the second game in a row. They totaled 24 blocks in Game 4.
To: @Capitals fans
Love: @ovi8 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/fSgjkbOirJ— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2018
The Washington Capitals are one win away from being Stanley Cup Champions taking the 3-1 strangle-hold heading into Game 5. However, it would be just like Vegas to find a way out of a series like this.
Will Ovi raise the cup Thursday night? Puck drop is at 6 p.m. MT from T-Mobile Arena.
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals was a one-sided affair with the Washington Capitals taking a 2-1 advantage in the series. They once again got an elite performance from their goaltender and scoring from a couple of their superstars on their way to victory.
Here’s how it went down:
A beautiful goal that stood the test of time and it's your @GatoradeCanada Cool Under Pressure Play of the Night. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/TieznCJ5VY
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2018
After Game 2 where Washington held control through the first two frames and Braden Holtby shut the door with some miraculous saves late in the third period, they looked to bring the series back home for a strong showing to gain a solid series lead.
Washington would score first with Chandler Stephenson snapping one past Marc-Andre Fleury but the goal was waived off due to Devante Smith-Pelly making clear contact with Fleury knocking his mask off.
The Caps would however score the first goal of the game….again. This time early in the second period with a barrage of bodies in front of the net chipping away until Alexander Ovechkin found the puck while falling to the ice and put it in the net off the rebound for the 1-0 lead.
Washington would add to their lead with seven minutes left in the middle frame. Returning from a wrist injury that looked like it might cause him to miss time, Evgeny Kuznetsov broke out on a 3-on-1 with Jay Beagle and Dmitri Orlov. Kuznetsov decided to hold onto the puck and shoot it through the five-hole of Fleury for the 2-0 lead.
Vegas would cut the lead in half, but at the hands of a Caps mistake. Braden Holtby played the puck behind his net and gave it right to Tomas Nosek who put it in the empty net for his fourth of the playoffs, making it 2-1 with 16 minutes left in the game.
The Capitals would however put the game away with six minutes left. Shea Theodore, who had a rough game all night, gave the puck away in his own zone. After Jay Beagle took the turnover and through back into the slot to Devante Smith-Pelly who lifted it over the glove of Fleury for the 3-1 lead and a 2-1 lead in the series.
Devante with the dagger. @smithpelly23 adds the insurance in a huge @Capitals victory. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/1OYcZ8VikD
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2018
Braden Holtby managed to have a solid night stopping 21 of 22 Knights shots, with the one goal being the mistake give-away from behind his own net.
Washington out performed Vegas in every category out-shooting them 26-22 and owning a 63% face-off percentage. They landed 38 hits and blocked 26 shots on way to victory. The Caps will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead after Game 4, heading back to Vegas.
Game 3: @Capitals #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8yTRsbTWid
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2018
Game 4 will take place Monday night at. 6 p.m. MT from Capital One Arena.
Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals had less offence than Game 1, but it saw the Washington Capitals win their first Stanley Cup Final game in franchise history behind an amazing performance from their goaltender.
Here’s how it went down:
ARE YOU KIDDING?!#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/UoKRsYSOXV
— NHL (@NHL) May 31, 2018
After a Game 1 where both teams went back and forth trading goals for a total of 10 against two elite goaltenders, Game 2 was hard to predict. Would we get more offence, or would Marc-Andre Fleury and Braden Holtby bounce back and make it a nail biter?
That held true up to eight minutes into the first period when Vegas buried their 8th shot attempt for a 1-0 lead. Luca Sbisa flipped a floater into the Caps zone from the neutral zone and James Neal snapped a shot over the shoulder of Holtby for his fifth of the playoffs.
Washington would tie the game with two and a half minutes left in the first. On a 4-on-4 face-off to the left of Holtby, Andre Burakovsky made a cross-ice pass while falling, to Michal Kempny who held onto the puck just long enough before feeding it to Lars Eller who put it in the open net to tie it at one.
Alexander Ovechkin scored his first of the finals in the second period for the 2-1 Caps lead. Just over five minutes into the middle frame Washington took advantage of the powerplay and through a series of passes capitalized with a goal after Lars Eller found The Captain open to the right of Fleury who sent it home.
The first #StanleyCup Final goal of @ovi8's career – beautiful. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/99uvrzoKAI
— NHL (@NHL) May 31, 2018
It only took four minutes for Washington to add to their lead. Vegas got caught on a defensive pinch sending the Caps out on a break where Lars Eller made a third contribution to a goal, making a nice pass behind his body to Brooks Orpik who threw it on net. The puck bounced off some bodies and the post and in for the 3-1 lead.
Vegas would score on a powerplay of their own to cut the lead to 3-2. Shea Theodore would wrist a shot from the blue-line which made its way through a screened Holtby for his third of the postseason.
That’s where the hopes ended for Vegas and the scoring stopped. Braden Holtby won the game for his team in the third period stopping 15 shots in the final frame, and all but two of the 39 shots he faced all night. The Golden Knights had two or three major scoring chances in the last few minutes but Holtby did what he needed to, sealing the deal and tying the series at one.
Evgeny Kuznetsov left the game in the first period after taking a hit from Brayden McNabb and favouring his left wrist. The Caps will surely be awaiting any prognosis they can get before Game 3.
Game 3 will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. MT from Capital One Arena.
Day 41 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs saw the Vegas Golden Knights host the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Yes, that’s right. An expansion team is hosting Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Here’s how the game played out:
Las Vegas Golden Knights 6-4 Washington Capitals
Las Vegas leads the series 1-0
Before the game even started Las Vegas had the hockey world talking with their pregame ceremony, which included an Excalibur like intro and ended with Michael Buffer announcing the starting lineup for both teams.
Best player intros ever? Best player intros ever.
Thanks Michael Buffer. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/EirwkzDCD0
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
Let’s skip the theatrics and get right into the hockey game though. The first 10 minutes of the first period was all Vegas as they were out-shooting the Capitals 9-1 halfway through. Andre Burakovsky took a boarding penalty against Cody Eakin 5:53 into the first period putting the Golden Knights on the powerplay.
At 7:15 of the first period Colin Miller blasts one home.
The building is loud and the shot is heavy. The @GoldenKnights are on the board first. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/W3TIiBnyUv
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
Washington seemed to find their footing after that though and dominated the second half of the first period for the most part.
Brett Connolly deflects one home 14:41 into the first period.
With two goals in 42 seconds, the @Capitals take the lead! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/3jHSx8Z7Kr
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
Nicklas Backstrom would go on to take the lead for Washington 15:23 into the first frame. Two goals in 42 seconds put Washington up by one.
William Karlsson 18:19 into the first period would find the puck off an end board bounce, knock it off of Braden Holtby’s shoulder and tie the game up at 2’s.
The goal scoring didn’t stop in the 2nd period as Reilly Smith would find the back of the net 3:21 in.
Doc on the call, Vegas on the celebration. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/CFAR5XcvBK
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
6 minutes later (8:29 into the 2nd period) to be precise John Carlson and T.J. Oshie would combine for a beautiful passing play tying the game up at 3’s.
We've got a @Capitals D-man on the loose out here. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/dmxhGak6gO
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
We’d skate that way through the remainder of the 2nd period, and both teams would enter the 3rd tied at 3.
Early in the 3rd period (1:10), the Capitals would take the lead on a Tom Wilson deflection.
Only to have the lead shortly extinguished by none other than Ryan Reaves.
Ryan Reaves scores to tie it up 4-4 pic.twitter.com/FeK6aFxLKI
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) May 29, 2018
The eventual game-winning goal would be by Vegas’s fourth line again who simply dominated this game, Tomas Nosek 9:44 into the 3rd period.
That nose for the net got the @GoldenKnights a Game 1 victory. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/lMe2Y72X1Q
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2018
We’d get into some controversy in the third period by who else? Tom Wilson who was a little bit late on finishing his check.
Another look at Wilson’s hit on Marchessault pic.twitter.com/f7CxFarqEf
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 29, 2018
Vegas would end up icing the game off with an empty-netter and take game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals 6-4 over the Washington Capitals.
Who would’ve thought that both goalies would let up 4 or more goals in this game after how well they’ve both played.
One thing for sure, this series is going to be a long, exciting series that will hopefully go the distance.
Vegas out-shot the Capitals 34-28, while the Capitals would outhit the Golden Knights 38-25.
Game 2: Goes Wednesday at 8 PM EST from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.