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Wednesday 30 May 2018

6 of a kind: Golden Knights outlast Caps 6-4 in opener

By GREG BEACHAM a loose puck into his own
AP Sports Writer net, but Reaves evened it
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a 91 seconds later for Vegas.
single nine-minute stretch Nosek then put the
of the third period, the Knights ahead after Shea
Washington Capitals Theodore kept the puck
dramatically took the in Washington's zone,
lead before the Vegas sidestepped a defender
Golden Knights replied and fired a beautiful cross-
with two goals of their ice pass to the Czech
own. Washington's Tom forward, who buried a one-
Wilson also flattened timer for his second goal of
Vegas forward Jonathan the playoffs.
Marchessault with a Colin Miller, William Karlsson
blindside hit that could and Reilly Smith scored
reverberate through the early goals before Nosek
Stanley Cup Final. added an empty-netter
After 10 goals and a Final- for the Knights, who are
record four lead changes three wins away from one
overall in a fantastically of the most improbable
entertaining opener, it's championships in recent
tough to imagine what North American team
these unlikely opponents sports history. Just 342 days
will do for an encore. after the Knights selected
But the upstart Golden the backbone of their first
Knights have spent Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, right, celebrates with right wing Ryan roster in the expansion
their entire inaugural Reaves and other team members after they defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4 in Game 1 of draft, Vegas had another
the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Monday, May 28, 2018, in Las Vegas.
season speeding past all Associated Press party on the Strip with its
expectations, and their remarkable collection of
first Final game didn't slow "We put fun ahead of champion Capitals hadn't and we gave them too castoffs.
them down in the slightest. everything, and you can given up this many goals much respect with the Brett Connolly, Nicklas
Tomas Nosek scored the tell," said Ryan Reaves, who in 29 games since March puck. We need to be faster Backstrom and John
tiebreaking goal midway scored the Knights' tying 18, but they hadn't seen in the defensive zone. Carlson also scored for
through the third period, goal in the third period. anything like this charmed We're going to fix that in Washington, but its biggest
and the expansion Golden "Guys have are having fun run by the upstart Knights. our game." stars didn't match the
Knights surged past the and they're smiling." With its sellout crowd The Game 1 winner has Knights' outburst. Along
Capitals for a 6-4 victory on The Eastern Conference of hometown fans at won the last six Cups and with Ovechkin's quiet
Monday night. night, Evgeny Kuznetsov —
deafening volume all night, 61 of 78 overall.
Vegas put its usual speed Braden Holtby stopped who scored a whopping
and relentlessness on full 28 shots for the Capitals, 24 points in the first three
display while overcoming whose first Stanley Cup rounds — also had just one
Paradise in the Caribbean that third-period deficit Final game in 20 years was assist.
to win the opener of a a defensive nightmare. The Golden Knights' playoff
matchup between two Washington still played a pregame shows have been
franchises seeking their first strong offensive game and a celebration of Vegas
Stanley Cup titles. had chances to win, but showmanship, and their first
Marc-Andre Fleury made never slowed the Knights. Final game started with an
24 saves in an occasionally "I think next game is going extravaganza that included
shaky performance, but to be different, and all archers, a trebuchet and a
the three-time Stanley Cup the nervousness, all the spectacular light show.
winner's new teammates bad thing goes away in And then the Knights and
carried the goalie who this game," said captain Caps put on a high-energy
has so often carried them Alex Ovechkin, who had production of their own
with a relentless outburst of an assist. "We just have to with plenty of fireworks
offense. forget about it and bounce and drama.With none of
"We're a good defensive back (in the) next one." the customary caution
group, but we weren't Wilson got credit for the or high-pressure effects
tonight," Marchessault said. goal that put the Caps up often shown by teams and
players in their first game
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com "They're a team that's very 4-3 early in the third period on the NHL's biggest stage,
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com fast in the neutral zone, when Fleury back-heeled Vegas and scoring first.q