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

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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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) /

1. And then there was one?

Capitals fans have suffered plenty over the last couple of decades. This year feels different. They lost the first two games at home and then won four straight in the first round. They finally exorcised the demon known as Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Final and watched Holtby post back-to-back shutouts. They’re up 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final.

3-1.

The most infamous series lead in sports. Over the past couple of seasons, we’ve witnessed a basketball team and a baseball team blow a 3-1 lead in the final series. We witnessed a football team blow the equivalent of a 3-1 series lead in a single game.

We’ve yet to witness a hockey team blow a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Caps fans nervously biting their fingernails as they read that. If it’s going to happen. They know that it would be the Ovechkin Caps to do it. It would be 100 percent on brand for the Ovechkin Capitals to take a 3-1 lead over a team that didn’t exist 12 months ago. And somehow lose.

And it would be 100 percent on brand for this Vegas team. They’ve been playing with house money all season. “No one believed in us” has ever been more true than it is for the Golden Knights.

This series may look over. Holtby has the forcefield up. Vegas’ top line has been invisible. Ovechkin and Kuznetsov have been the two best skaters in the series.

But 3-1.

NEXT: 10 reasons Stanley Cup Playoffs are better than NBA Playoffs

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