Golden Knights take lead in Stanley Cup final series
4th-liners deliver Game 1 victory over visiting Washington
LAS VEGAS (CP) — Tomas Nosek scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and then added an empty-netter as the expansion Vegas Golden Knights beat the Washington Capitals 6-4 on Monday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Reilly Smith, with a goal and an assist, Colin Miller, William Karlsson and Ryan Reaves also scored for the Knights, who got 24 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury. Deryk Engelland chipped in with two assists.
“I am excited,” Nosek said. “It’s just the first win, so three more and I’ll be more excited for sure.”
Nicklas Backstrom, with a goal and an assist, Brett Connolly, John Carlson and Tom Wilson replied for the Capitals. T.J. Oshie added two assists.
Braden Holtby finished with 28 saves for the visitors.
Game 2 goes Wednesday in Sin City before the series switches to Washington for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and next Monday, June 4.
Nosek’s winner at 9:44 of the final period came after Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore moved down the sideboards and fed the wide-open winger for his second goal of the playoffs.
“I just told myself to focus on the puck and hit it at the right time,” Nosek said of the winning goal. “I expected it (the pass) the whole time, that’s why I moved from the goalie’s eyes to the back door, so he (Theodore) could pass it to me.”
The Capitals pressed late with Holtby on the bench, with Lars Eller flubbing on a wide-open net, but were unable to find an equalizer before Nosek sealed it.
Monday marked the first game for the Capitals in the final since their only other appearance in 1998 when they were swept in four straight by the Detroit Red Wings.
Washington had failed to get beyond the second round of the playoffs in the 20 years since, including captain Alex Ovechkin’s entire career, before beating the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this spring to advance to the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who the Capitals downed in seven games.
Ovechkin said he was both nervous and calm during his first Stanley Cup Final game.
“Yeah, it was both. I think next game is going to be different,” Ovechkin said. “A little nervous overall . . . . just have to forget about it and bounce back (for the) next one.”
The Golden Knights, who eliminated the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets to improbably advance to the final in a stunning first season, played just their 98th game in franchise history.
The winner of Game 1 has lifted the Cup 78.2 per cent of the time since the best-ofseven format was introduced in 1939 — 61 of 78 times. The 2011 Boston Bruins were the last team to rally after losing the opener when they beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.