Boxing icon announcer Michael Buffer introduced the starting lineups for last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 1 at T-Mobile. Stuff like this could only happen in Las Vegas. If the appearance by Buffer was to suggest that we were about to see a heavyweight championship boxing match for which Vegas is famous, consider that mission accomplished — except the teams mostly traded goals instead of punches.
In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals, the four lead changes were the most ever in the 100-year history of the Cup. There had been six games in which the lead changed three times. The last was in Game 1 of the 2010 Final, Philadelphia at Chicago. The others took place in 1982’s Game 1, Vancouver at the New York Islanders; 1980’s Game 1, New York Islanders at Philadelphia; 1976’s Game 4, Montreal at Philadelphia, 1973’s Game 5, Chicago at Montreal, and 1971’s Game 4, Chicago at Montreal.
Washington blew leads of 2-1 and 4-3. Vegas blew leads of 1-0 and 3-2. The only time a team led by two goals came when Tomas Nosek scored an empty-netter with just 2.7 seconds left in the game, giving Vegas a 6-4 win and a 1-0 lead in the series. It was Nosek’s second goal of the game. Nosek also happened to score the first-ever goal at Vegas’ first-ever home game at T-Mobile on October 10.
The VGK’s first-ever Stanley Cup Final game had T-Mobile Arena rocking from the pre-game opening to the final buzzer. Just when you think the decibels can’t possibly get any higher, the Vegas crowd somehow seems to raise them game after game and it has a positive effect on the team. In this game, the VGK used that energy to overcome the Washington lead two different times.
In the previous six Stanley Cups, the team that won Game 1 went on to win the Cup. In the history of the Stanley Cup, teams that emerged victorious from Game 1 have won the Stanley Cup 78% of the time.
The actual Bruce Buffer portion of the game happened in the third period when Tom Wilson ran over Jonathan Marchessault in the neutral zone, well after Marchy had passed the puck and was defenseless, completely unprepared for a hit. The hit was late, unnecessary, even borderline dirty — par for the course when the Philadelphia Flyers were intimidating their way to back-to-back Stanley Cup Championship in the 1973-1974 and 1974-1975 NHL seasons. But the league has left that era of “old-time hockey” behind. Wilson had already been suspended during these playoffs and might be facing another one. The silver lining: In my opinion, Wilson’s hit energized Vegas. They responded like a team that plays with and for one another, all 18 skaters, without exception.
Amazingly, no penalty was called initially on the hit. Once play was stopped, Brayden McNabb was so incensed, he threw a punch at Wilson. Deryk Engelland also attempted to get at Wilson. Meanwhile, David Perron crossed-check Alex Ovechkin, sending him flying to the ice. Perron was taking matters into his own hands and making a statement: If you dare manhandle with one of our top players, look out; we’re coming right back at one of yours.
The four on-ice officials gathered in front of the scorer’s table. In the NHL rule book, only a referee can call a minor penalty. A linesman can inform a referee of an egregious play that might warrant a five-minute major or more. But only a two-minute minor was assessed against Wilson for interference, well after the play had stopped, and neither of the two referees had his arms raised to indicate a penalty about to be called. I guess the rule book isn’t gospel in the Stanley Cup Final. David Perron got two for cross-checking.
I believe we haven’t heard the last of this questionable hit from Vegas. Last night’s game didn’t present another opportunity to address it without jeopardizing the game. But hockey players are like elephants; they have long memories. Tom Wilson put a target on himself.
When Washington scored a first-period goal, it was the first goal Vegas surrendered in the first 20 minutes of the previous seven home games; they held the L.A. Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets scoreless in the first periods at T-Mobile. Before Nosek’s empty-net goal, the 10th of the game, eight of the nine goals were at even strength. Vegas scored the only power-play goal of the game when Colin Miller opened the scoring at 7:15 of the first period. It was Miller’s third goal of the playoffs.
Washington had two shots on goal in the first 14 minutes of play. Then, in the blink of an eye, Washington scored their first goal on just their third shot on Fleury. Luca Sbisa failed to clear the puck out of the defensive zone, leading to a goal by Brett Connolly, his fifth of the playoffs. Nicklas Backstrom scored Washington’s second goal on the fifth shot at Fleury a mere 42 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead.
William Karlsson salvaged the first period, scoring Vegas’ first goal with 1:41 left; his seventh of the playoffs tied the score 2-2. Both teams were no doubt happy to see the first period end, as the wheels seem to come off both buses at different parts of the period.
I hardly expected four goals in the first period or 10 goals in the game. We all know that Fleury has been spectacular and Braden Holtby hadn’t given up a goal in more than 160 minutes, logging back-to-back shutouts in Games 6 and 7 against Tampa Bay. It was a very sloppy game for both teams.
I do have to point out the excellent play of Vegas’ fourth line — Tomas Nosek, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and Ryan Reaves. The fourth line gave Washington fits all night with a relentless fore-check and they had three goals and a plus eight for the night.
Reaves now has a two-game goal streak after scoring the series clincher to win the Western Conference against Winnipeg. His goal last night tied the game just 1:31 after Tom Wilson put Washington ahead 4-3 when Fleury, losing the puck and not knowing where it was, dragged Wilson’s shot into the net with his left skate. On Nosek’s second goal, he blocked a slap shot from Ovechkin with 10 seconds left in the game, chased down a clearing pass from Perron, and slid it into the open net for the 6-4 final score for Game 1.
With Holtby pulled for an extra skater and the clock at 44 seconds left, the Capitals had a glorious scoring chance, when Lars Eller was alone in front of Fleury. Brayden McNabb managed to get his stick on Eller’s, preventing his shot.
The VGK rendered Alex Ovechkin a non-factor. He picked up an assist on Wilson’s goal, but that was only after Fleury put the puck into the net himself. Ovi mustered two shots on goal. His four hits were also minimal for him.
Keeping Alex out of the game will be key to Vegas getting to four wins before Washington does. One of the reasons Ovechkin might have had an off game was that he didn’t enjoy his Momma Lucia Chicken Parm with plain pasta and four different sauces that he eats every game day at 11 a.m. With Vegas having home-ice advantage, Alex will be able to get his favorite meal a possible total of three times from Momma Lucia in Bethesda, Maryland. Limiting the Great One to just three Momma Lucia meals at most could be all that’s needed.
Vegas owns the best home record in the playoffs at 7-1 record. So far, they’ve averaged 3.88 goals per game at T-Mobile, while surrendering two.
Don’t be too quick to believe that Game 2 will be another scoring frenzy, as both teams looked like their multiple days off had an effect on the defensive side of the game. Clearing attempts out of the zone were a challenge and both Fleury and Holtby seemed to lose the invincibility they’d displayed in the games leading up to the Final.
Five different VGK players scored their six goals: Colin Miller (3) PPG, William Karlsson (7), Reilly Smith (3), Ryan Reaves (2), Tomas Nosek (2-3).
My Three Stars of the Game: Tomas Nosek (winning goal and two goals for the game), Ryan Reaves (tying goal 1:31 after Tom Wilson’s goal), Shea Theodore (two outstanding plays at the blue line on Nosek’s and Reaves’ goals).
Game 2, Wednesday at T-Mobile at 5 p.m., is a must-win for Washington; the Capitals don’t want to have to win four of the remaining five games if they lose on Wednesday, especially against a resilient team like Vegas.
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