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SPORTS Thursday 7 June 2018
Capitals close to shot-blocking their way to Stanley Cup

By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The
Stanley Cup Final is a block
party for the Washington
Capitals.
For all of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s
points on offense and
Braden Holtby’s saves in
net, the Capitals are one
win away from block-
ing their way to the Cup.
They’ve gotten in front of
almost a third of the Ve-
gas Golden Knights’ shots,
blocking with enough
smarts and precision to
take a 3-1 series lead into
Game 5 Thursday.
“There’s more to blocking
shots than just going out
there and trying to get hit,”
Holtby said.
“We’re doing a great job
of creating the right layers,
guys going out there strate-
gically to know which lane
I’m picking for sight lines Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault, left, tries to shoot the puck past Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry
and they’re taking away Orlov, of Russia, during the second period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Monday, May 28, 2018, in Las Vegas.
the other half and making Associated Press
big blocks.” Grubauer getting on the standpoint you didn’t hin- struggling to get quality about will.”
Washington is blocking in same page. The goal- der Holts’ view.” shots through and resorting And that will can turn into
quantity and quality in the ies have worked on mak- Defensemen have an un- to settling for lower-danger skill. Washington has been
final, 86 total, in limiting Ve- ing sure they can see past derstanding of which half scoring chances. comfortable and confident
gas to 124 shots on Holtby blocks to give players the of the net is their respon- “If you’re going to take enough in the final to push
— many of which he’s see- confidence to get in front sibility and which half is shots, make sure they pay the puck up ice quickly,
ing and stopping . Even of pucks. Holtby’s. Forwards closer to a price for blocking those and a well-timed block
star captain Alex Ovech- And in return, Capitals play- the blue line have to react shots,” Vegas coach Ge- shot can set the table for
kin is blocking shots as he ers study opponents’ ten- quickly, take the right an- rard Gallant said. an odd-man rush.
gets closer to tasting his first dencies and consciously gle and get to the shooter. “Shoot it harder.” Capitals “The less shots they have,
championship. decide when to try to block “If guys have time and coach Barry Trotz doesn’t the more opportunities
“You see ‘O’ jumping in a shot and not so Holtby space, they’re going to be want his players thinking we’re gonna have in of-
front of shots, it makes ev- isn’t at a disadvantage. able to sift one through,” too much about block- fensive zone,” defenseman
eryone on the team want “You obviously don’t want Smith-Pelly said. ing shots or hesitating. He Dmitry Orlov said. “Some-
to do the same,” winger to cross in front of him,” “For the forwards, it’s just doesn’t care much about times when you block it,
Devante Smith-Pelly said. center Jay Beagle said. going out there pretty hard Ovechkin’s blocking form you get quicker pass and
Blocking shots is a team- “You don’t want to be- and just getting in the way.” or the philosophy of shot- you jump on the rush and
wide commitment right come a screen. So if you The amount of shots the blocking as long as it keeps you got 3-on-2 or 4-on-3.”
now and comes from a miss the block, which hap- Capitals have blocked the puck out of the net. The Golden Knights by this
season’s worth of skaters, pens, guys are good at through four games seems “If you’re positionally sound, point are well-aware of
goaltending coach Scott shooting pucks and stuff, to be getting in the Gold- if you’re in shot lanes, block that. But they don’t really
Murray, Holtby and Philipp you want it still so from your en Knights’ heads. They’re the shot,” Trotz said. “It’s all have a solution.q

Missy Franklin to return to

swimming at European meets

By The Associated Press Franklin is entered in the gia, where she is pursuing a
Five-time Olympic swim- 50-, 100- and 200-meter psychology degree.
ming champion Missy backstroke and the 100 At the 2012 London Olym-
Franklin is planning to re- and 200 free for Mare pics, Franklin won two in-
turn from double shoulder Nostrum meets in Canet, dividual golds, two relay
surgery at upcoming meets France, this weekend and golds and a relay bronze.
in France and Spain. Barcelona next week. At the 2016 Rio Games, she
It will mark the first time that Earlier this year, Franklin left won one relay gold. In this Aug. 8, 2016 file photo, United States’ Missy Franklin
the American competes the University of California Franklin missed all of last prepares for a women’s 200-meter freestyle heat during the
since the Rio de Janeiro in Berkeley and relocated year after surgeries on both swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
Olympics. to the University of Geor- shoulders.q Associated Press