The Washington Capitals are one win away from a long-awaited Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights have their backs against the wall. What will we be talking about tomorrow?
The Washington Capitals have a 3-1 lead on the series and teams with that record in the Stanley Cup Finals have a 32-1 record. If the Vegas Golden Knights fight back to win it all, they will be the first team to do it since World War 2.
Here are the three keys to victory for both teams in Game 5.
Washington Capitals
1. Braden Holtby needs to maintain his dominance
In the series, Holtby has posted save percentages of .848, .949, .955, and .933. Guess which games the Capitals won? The last three. It’s hard to beat a team when their goalie is stopping all the shots and the posts have doubled in size. Holtby has given them so much over the past two months. Now he needs to give them one more strong performance.
2. Keep being Kuzy
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If Washington wins it all, Evgeny Kuznetsov is a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe. In 23 games, he has 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points. In the series alone, he has a goal and six assists. He and Alex Ovechkin have been running the show and the Caps need the eagle to land them to victory.
3. Keep a level head
A 3-1 lead is a stranglehold on their opponent, but taking the foot off the gas for even a second can quickly turn the tables. Washington needs to keep a level head and not let the moment overwhelm them. In their 43 year history, they have never been so close and they need to contain their excitement until the end.
Vegas will fight back with all they’ve got and the Capitals need to be mentally and physically prepared for it.
Vegas Golden Knights
1. Marc-Andre Fleury needs to regain his Flower Power
Before the three-game skid, Fleury winning the Conn Smythe was a huge topic. His performance lately has quickly shut that narrative out. In the three losses, he has posted save percentages of .857, .885, .885, and .739. The reason the Knights have been so good in the playoffs is all because of Fleury and his teammates need him back for Game 5.
2. Close the passing lanes
The Caps’ players have been scoring a lot of goals on and off the rush by passing back and forth before releasing deadly one-timers. Moving from post to post is tough for all goalies and when faced with an Ovechkin one-timer, it’s practically impossible to stop. If the Knights want to reduce the goals allowed, the defensemen need to clear the crease and close the passing lanes.
3. Do not shy away from the moment
Players are always tentative at the start of big games. They are terrified of making a mistake that will cost their team and as a result, they play it safe. The Golden Knights need to start “on time” and make an aggressive jump on the Capitals. Their season is on the line and they need to play like it.
Lucky for them, Sin City is the party capital of the world and their fans will be injecting them with infectious energy. They need to use the adrenaline from the pressure and fans to their advantage.
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The Washington Capitals are one win away from their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Vegas Golden Knights are nicknamed the Golden Misfits for a reason. Buckle up everybody, Game 5 is going to be an exciting one.
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