Washington Capitals look to exorcise 3-1 lead ghosts and other storylines for Game 5 of Stanley Cup Finals

Jay Asser 21:26 06/06/2018
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  • Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are hoping to shut the door in Game 5.

    One win separates the Washington Capitals from hoisting the Stanley Cup and bringing the capital its first major sports title since 1992.

    They’ll try to close out the series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 on Thursday (UAE: 04:00 +1) on the road at T-Mobile Arena after reeling off three straight wins to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

    Here are the main storylines and what’s worth watching when the teams clash in Vegas for what could be the final game of the NHL season.

    Can Washington close the deal?

    The Capitals are sitting pretty with a 3-1 lead in the series, but ask fans of the team how comforting that feels.

    Washington have blown five 3-1 playoff leads in the franchise’s history, which is more than any team across the four major American sports leagues – NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB.

    Three of those have come during the Alex Ovechkin era, so it’s not as if these collapses are ancient history.

    Teams holding a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals are 32-1, including 31 straight wins, so that would suggest the Capitals have little to worry about. But conflicting histories are at play here, so something will have to give.

    Knights’ top line gone missing

    It’s hard to win in the Stanley Cup Finals when your best players are off their game, which is the predicament Vegas are in.

    Top line playmakers Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith were instrumental to the team’s success in the regular season, when they combined for 213 points, and through the first three rounds of the playoffs, in which they combined for 47 points.

    Against Washington in the Finals? The trio have a total of eight points between them, so it’s no coincidence Vegas have suffered three straight losses and find themselves on the verge of being ousted.

    Marchessault, Karlsson and Smith will need to deliver if the Golden Knights want to make history and cap their first season off with a title.

    Home cooking

    One aspect that will be working in Vegas’ favour even before the puck drops in Game 5 will be the Golden Knights playing on their home ice, where they’ve been a different team all season.

    The fans have embraced the team and the result has been a raucous environment at T-Mobile Arena, which has been almost like a fortress.

    While the Golden Knights managed 22 wins in 41 games on the road in the regular season and are 6-4 in hostile territory during the playoffs, their combined home record stands at a glistening 36-14.

    One of those losses, however, came in Game 2 to the Capitals, who have been road warriors in these playoffs with a 9-3 mark.

    Still, if Vegas do fight back to win the series, having two games at home will be a big reason why.

    Crowd

    Capitalising on the Caps

    The 3-1 series gap suggests this match-up has been lopsided so far, but it’s not as if the Golden Knights have been severely outplayed.

    Vegas hold a 125-103 lead in shots on goal, while converting two fewer power plays despite having the same amount of chances as Washington with 12.

    Game 4 was representative of the difference between the teams as the Capitals slotted six goals in just 23 shots on goal, while the Golden Knights hit the post several times.

    Now, Vegas have to convert on those opportunities, otherwise they’ll be left ruing what could have been.

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