USA TODAY International Edition
Golden Knights fight to overcome odds
If anyone understands odds, it’s folks from Las Vegas.
Teams that hold a 3-1 Stanley Cup Final lead have gone on to win 31 series in a row (32-1) since the NHL went to a bestof-seven format in 1939.
No team since the 1942 Maple Leafs has done it, and yet fans still have hope the Golden Knights can climb back into this series. After all, they were 500-1
odds to win the Stanley Cup at the start of the season.
Here is a five-step plan for the Golden Knights, trailing 3-1 to the Capitals, to follow heading into Game 5 on Thursday in Las Vegas (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). 1. Start like they did last game: The Golden Knights liked how they started in Game 4 in Washington. They were just unlucky to not score. If they match that energy and commitment, they could jump off to a quick lead at home. It doesn’t take much to amp up Vegas fans. A quality 10 minutes could push momentum back in the Golden Knights’ corner.
2. Top line must be first rate: Coach Gerard Gallant needs a strong game from the No. 1 line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. Marchessault, a dynamic presence in the first three rounds, doesn’t have a goal in this series. He totaled 14 shots on goal in the first two games in Las Vegas and six shots in the two games in Washington. Karlsson has five shots in this series. Smith didn’t have a shot in the first game in Washington. With Gallant owning the last change, he can get favorable matchups for his top line in Game 5. 3. Fleury taking charge: It’s not Marc-Andre Fleury’s fault that the Golden Knights are down 3-1 in the series. The Capitals have created far too many prime scoring chances. But Fleury looked near-invincible in the first three rounds of the playoffs, and he has surrendered
16 goals on 103 shots (.845 save percentage) in the final. The Golden Knights need a dominant performance from him.
4. Win special teams battles: The Golden Knights didn’t score a powerplay goal in the two games in Washington and are 1-for-11 on the power play in three consecutive losses. The Capitals are 4-for-11 on the power play in those games. 5. More sacrifice, tighter defense: With the Capitals on top of their game, the Golden Knights have to play a stingier defensive game, particularly against Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been a force in this series. He has six points in the past two games. The Golden Knights have to do a better job of getting into the shooting lanes. Washington’s blockedshot advantage in their three wins is 68-25.