Flyers
Around the NHL: Capitals Claim Game 4, On Cusp of 1st Cup Win
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor
The Washington Capitals slogan during the playoffs has been #ALLCAPS. Game 4, literally, was all Caps.
The Capitals stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, taking Game 4 by a score of 6-2 to take a 3-1 series lead on the Vegas Golden Knights. The win puts Washington one win away from their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
The Golden Knights got the early opportunity in the game with a power play and had everything but the finish on the man-advantage. James Neal had the puck on his stick with a wide open net and fired off the post, keeping the game scoreless.
The Capitals got a power play shortly after and took full advantage. Evgeny Kuznetsov centered for T.J. Oshie, who kicked the puck from his skate to his stick and scored at 9:54 to give the Capitals the lead.
Kuznetsov set up Tom Wilson in front at 16:26 of the first to make it a 2-0 game. With 21 seconds left in the period, Washington extended the lead to three as Matt Niskanen got the puck to Devante Smith-Pelly, who beat Marc-Andre Fleury to make it 3-0.
The 3-0 score held through most of the second period until the Capitals had a late power play. John Carlson rifled a one-timer off the post and in for his fifth goal of the playoffs off another set up from Kuznetsov.
Vegas got on the board at 5:43 of the third period with Neal getting a rebound seconds after a power play to make it 4-1.
Reilly Smith cut the lead to two with 7:34 remaining to make things interesting, but the Capitals got the goal back 1:13 later with Michal Kempny scoring on a one-timer from the right circle to make it 5-2 and essentially put the game away.
Brett Connolly capped the scoring with 1:09 remaining with a goal with Washington up two men, as emotions and frustration boiled over for the Golden Knights.
Kuznetsov finished the game with four assists. Nicklas Backstrom had three assists. Oshie had a goal and two assists.
Braden Holtby made 28 saves on 30 shots in the win. Fleury made 17 saves on 23 shots in the loss.
Game 5 is set for Thursday night from Vegas at 8 p.m.