Capitals close to the title

WASHINGTON — The Stanley Cup Final is a block party for the Washington Capitals.

For all of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s points on offense and Braden Holtby’s saves in net, the Capitals are one win away from blocking their way to the Cup. They’ve gotten in front of almost a third of the Vegas Golden Knights’ shots, blocking with enough smarts and precision to take a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 Thursday.

“There’s more to blocking shots than just going out there and trying to get hit,” Holtby said. “We’re doing a great job of creating the right layers, guys going out there strategically to know which lane I’m picking for sight lines and they’re taking away the other half and making big blocks.”

Washington is blocking in quantity and quality in the final, 86 total, in limiting Vegas to 124 shots on Holtby — many of which he’s seeing and stopping . Even star captain Alex Ovechkin is blocking shots as he gets closer to tasting his first championship.

“You see `O’ jumping in front of shots, it makes everyone on the team want to do the same,” winger Devante Smith-Pelly said.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz doesn’t want his players thinking too much about blocking shots or hesitating. He doesn’t care much about Ovechkin’s blocking form or the philosophy of shot-blocking as long as it keeps the puck out of the net.

“If you’re positionally sound, if you’re in shot lanes, block the shot,” Trotz said. “It’s all about will.”

Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press Washington’s Alex Ovechkin smiles during practice on Wednesday. The Capitals lead the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-1, in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals series.