Fansided

Kuznetsov leads charge as Capitals take 3-1 series lead: 3 takeaways

By Jeremy Lambert

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) and left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) converge to congratulate right wing T.J. Oshie (77) after his first period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights on June 4, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) and left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) converge to congratulate right wing T.J. Oshie (77) after his first period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights on June 4, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Evgeny Kuznetsov continues to make his mark and other takeaways from the Washington Capitals’ Game 4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Washington Capitals are just mediocre at home, they said. Prior to Game 3, Washington was 4-5 at home in the playoffs. They played their best game of the series in Game 3, downing the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-1.

They played even better in Game 4, skating away with a 6-2 victory to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

T.J Oshie got the scoring started with a power play goal midway through the first period. Evgeny Kuznetsov took a sharp angle shot that caught of shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury. The puck took a bounce to Oshie, who got his World Cup on, kicking the puck to his stick before depositing it into an empty net.

Tom Wilson and Kuznetsov made it 2-0 after a pretty two-man game that freed up Wilson in the slot.

The backbreaking goal came courtesy of Devante Smith-Pelly. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the period, Smith-Pelly kept the play alive at the blue line. Following his keep in, he drove to the front of the net. They say if you love something, let it go. If it returns, it’s yours. The puck showed its love for Smith-Pelly, coming back to him at the side of the net. He kindly sent the puck home to give Washington a 3-0 lead.

The first period could have gone much differently for Vegas had it capitalized on its early power play. After some tape-to-tape passing to get Braden Holtby out of position, James Neal was left staring at a wide open net and the puck on his stick. He put it off the post.

It was a deflating moment for Vegas and another missed opportunity in a series full of them for the rookie club.

The Golden Knights cut the lead to 4-2 in the third period, but Washington potted two goals of their own in the period.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29: Goalie Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29: Goalie Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Braden Holtby in their heads

Is Braden Holtby in the heads of the Golden Knights? Since his iconic save in Game 2 on Alex Tuch, the Knights have scored just three goals on Holtby. One of those was gift-wrapped for them.

The Knights have had their scoring chances. They’ve rang multiple shots off the post. They’ve also tried to beat Holtby with perfect shots when a garbage goal yields the same result on the scoreboard.

Holtby took the blame for the Game 1 loss where he gave up five goals. He talked about being rusty and not being prepared for the forecheck of the Golden Knights. The Capitals looked out of sorts in front of him, failing to clear the puck from around the crease. Since Game 1, everyone on Washington looks to be on the same page. And if they have been out of sorts, their goaltender has been there to bail them out. Since the Capitals went down 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Holtby has given up ten goals in six games. Half of those came in Game 1.

The Knights managed to solve him in the third period. Those two goals look nice on the scoreboard and maybe they’ll serve as confidence boosters heading into Game 5. But Vegas needs goals when it isn’t down by more than one basketball possession.

Vegas won’t find many better chances than the one Neal had early in the first period. Plays like that have to end up in the back of the net. Not only because it would have given Vegas its first lead since the first period of Game 2, but because if they fail to capitalize on those opportunities in Game 5, the Golden Knights’ season will be over.

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