Golden Knights, Capitals looking to tighten up in Game 2

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights were over-the-moon happy to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

How they got across the finish line is another matter entirely.

Vegas put in an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive showing in Monday’s chaotic 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals — a back-and-fourth tilt that saw a Cup-record four lead changes.

Inching ever closer to an improbable championship in their expansion season was nice, but the Knights know there’s lots to clean up ahead of tonight’s Game 2.

“Small margin for error out there — one turnover and you find it in the back of your net,” Vegas forward James Neal said after Tuesday’s optional practice. “We’ve got to be a little bit better coming out of our end . . . when we get in the offensive zone, be a little bit better there.”

The Knights had a seven-day layoff in the wake of beating the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference final, while the Capitals had four days of inaction following their triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning to capture the East crown.

“After a long break for both teams, it’s going to be a little wild,” Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore said. “They’re going to tighten up a lot of things and so are we.”

There are just three players in the best-of-seven series with previous Cup experience — Neal, Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury and Capitals defenceman Brooks Orpik — so nerves were probably a factor in some of the lapses that resulted in a 10-goal outburst.

The ice was also an issue on a couple of occasions as workers at T-Mobile Arena had to deal with problem areas due to scorching temperatures outside and a late-afternoon puck drop in the Nevada desert.

“Neither team played their best game,” Knights forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare said. “The break, the stage, the final . . . guys being a little bit more stressed than they are usually.”

Both clubs were loose in the neutral zone and in the danger areas in front of Fleury and Washington counterpart Braden Holtby, although neither goalie was in top form.

“The chances were pretty close, and they’re a lot higher than most teams give up in a playoff game,” said Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant. “Both teams will be a lot better. “It wasn’t the best game, but it was an exciting game. When you go through the chances, there were 2-on-1s, there were lots of opportunities. I’m sure it was great for the fans.”

Washington, meanwhile, doesn’t have the luxury of feeling good about the result in spite of its performance after allowing six goals for the first time since March 18.

“I don’t think we executed our game plan 100 per cent,” forward Tom Wilson said. “We didn’t play the game the way we wanted to, and we were still in it.

“In the third, we’re up a goal on the road in a tough building. Hockey’s a game of ups and downs, and we’re focused on the next one.”

The Capitals, who closed out Tampa Bay with back-to-back shutouts, led 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 in Game 1, but allowed the Golden Knights to battle back each time.

“There’s a couple moments where maybe if you control those a little bit better, then the outcome’s different,” Wilson added.

Washington fell behind the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 to open the playoffs — on home ice, no less — and also dropped the opener to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.

Needless to say, the Capitals have been here before.

“You’ve got to bounce back regardless of the scenario,” said defenceman John Carlson. “We’ve got to get back on our horses.”