Save of the Year!
Evgeny Kuznetsov was forced to leave the game after he took a hit from Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. The Caps announced that he was questionable to return, but he never did. Losing the points leader from these 2018 playoffs sparked the Washington Capitals attack tonight.
Lars Eller stepped up big-time in Kuznetsov’s absence. Eller had a hand in all three goals for the Capitals. Scoring a goal and two assists in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Braden Holtby turned aside 37 of 39 shots. As awesome as Eller was, the star of the show was Holtby.
The Capitals went into the third period with a 3-2 lead, but they had to kill off a 5-on-3 power play for 1:09 early in the frame. Holtby was terrific on the kill and he came up with a number of big saves throughout the game, including the miraculous stick save on Alex Tuch with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.
Barry Trotz on Braden Holtby’s brilliant late save: “Once he made that save I knew we were going to win the game.”
— Chris Gordon (@bychrisgordon) May 31, 2018
Ovechkin’s reaction to Holtby’s save: “Thank God he’s our goalie.” Niskanen: “That’ll be on Sportscenter.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 31, 2018
Braden Holtby on his save: Our goal is much bigger than a save that’s big on social media.
— Chris Gordon (@bychrisgordon) May 31, 2018
The Capitals are one win away from matching the StanleyCup Playoffs record for road wins after handing Vegas its first regulation home loss since March 28.
The #StanleyCup Final is heading to Washington tied 1-1 after Brooks Orpik ended a 220-game goal drought with the winner in Game 2. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/HMOGkaJ32m
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 31, 2018
Let’s have one more look at “The Save”
WHAT
A
SAVE! pic.twitter.com/DQN7cqcW9o— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 31, 2018
