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Wednesday 6 June 2018

Capitals on verge of Cup after blowing out Golden Knights

By STEPHEN WHYNO Kuznetsov said after just Ovechkin and Nicklas
WASHINGTON (AP) — the fourth four-assist game Backstrom era — and
Evgeny Kuznetsov smiled in Cup Final history. "And plenty of disappointments
about getting four assists. I don't really care about in the previous decades,
He tried not to smile too that yet, so it's kind of easy too. While Vegas rang
much at the thought of for me. You know me, I several shots off the posts,
being one win away from always stay loose a little bit the Capitals seized just
the Stanley Cup. especially off the games. about every opportunity as
With Kuznetsov and I'm pretty sure when game they have throughout this
goaltender Braden Holtby gonna come, we're gonna surprising run. Kuznetsov
leading the way, the a little bit think about it. padded his lead as the
Washington Capitals are It's pretty hard to not think playoffs' leading scorer with
on the verge of capturing about that." primary assists on Oshie's
the first title in their 43rd T.J. Oshie, Tom Wilson and power-play goal that
season after routing the Devante Smith-Pelly all made it 1-0 and Wilson's
Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 scored in the first period that doubled the lead.
on Monday night to take to get the Capitals rolling "He just tells me to put my
a commanding 3-1 series against a determined stick on the ice and he'll hit
lead. Vegas team that has not it," Wilson said of Kuznetsov.
Alex Ovechkin and the found consistent answers "It's a privilege to play with
Capitals will get their first against Holtby, who him. He's one of the best at
chance to hoist the Cup in stopped 28 shots in another his craft."
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) scores a Game 5 on Thursday night strong showing. The Golden Smith-Pelly, who scored
goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre in Las Vegas. Knights outchanced the the insurance goal to ice
Fleury during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey
Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Washington. One more win. Capitals by a wide margin Game 3, kicked the puck
Assocated Press "I've never been there," but fell apart after James from his left skate to his
Neal clanked a shot off stick and roofed a shot on
the post instead of hitting Marc-Andre Fleury with
a wide-open net early, 20.5 seconds left in the
and the expansion team's first period. Fleury came
Cinderella run could be into the final as the Conn
over in a matter of days. Smythe front-runner for
"It probably changes the playoff MVP honors but
game," Neal said. "It's looked human again by
probably a different game allowing six goals on 23
after that I had a wide- shots at a defense that has
open net, and then I just hit often left him vulnerable.
the post." Fleury called the
John Carlson, Michal loss "frustrating and
Kempny and Brett Connolly demoralizing." Coach
also scored as thunderous Gerard Gallant was quick
chants of "We want the to absolve his goaltender
Cup! We want the Cup!" of blame.
rang out from the crowd. "At least five of the six goals
No team since the Detroit were wide-open nets,"
Red Wings in 1942 has Gallant said. "Nothing he
blown a 3-1 lead in the Cup could do on them."
Final. Kuznetsov leads all playoff
"It can be easy in a game scorers with 31 points,
where you can clinch to Ovechkin is tied for the
get a little bit ahead of goal lead with 14 and
ourselves," Oshie said. "But Holtby showed again his
we've got a good group ability to alter the course of
of leaders in the room ... a game. Holtby got some
and we'll be focused at the good fortune from the post
start." on shots by Alex Tuch, Neal
The Capitals seem to be and Brayden McNabb, but
getting enough bounces he also had not allowed
to make up for nine a goal in more than 62
previous first- or second- minutes stretching back to
round playoff exits in the Game 3.q