Stanley Cup Final 2018: Eller, Holtby help Capitals earn gritty Game 2 win over Golden Knights

John Arlia

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Stanley Cup Final 2018: Eller, Holtby help Capitals earn gritty Game 2 win over Golden Knights image

The Washington Capitals continue to find ways to grind out victories away from home.

Lars Eller recorded a three-point night and Braden Holtby made 37 saves, including a ridiculous paddle stop to preserve a one-goal lead in the final two minutes, to help the Capitals even the Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece with a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.

James Neal got the home crowd going less than eight minutes after the opening puck drop, but Washington responded with three unanswered goals to turn the tide.

Eller, who played significant minutes after Evgeny Kuznetsov left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury, took a beautiful feed from Michal Kempny and fired it into an essentially empty net to tie the game late in the first.

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Eller turned provider in the second period, setting up Alex Ovechkin's first career Stanley Cup Final goal and Brooks Orpik's first goal in 220 games. The Capitals looked poised to run away with the game near the midway point of the contest, but their lack of discipline nearly cost them.

Shea Theodore scored a power play tally in the final three minutes of the second to cut the deficit to one and the Golden Knights had their chances to level things in the third. Vegas had a 5-on-3 power play for 69 seconds, but managed just one shot on Holtby's net in that span.

The Golden Knights piled on the pressure at the end, but Holtby came up clutch down the stretch to preserve the win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves in the loss for the Golden Knights. 

The series will now shift to Washington D.C. for Game 3 on Saturday (8:00 p.m. ET).

MORE: Watch the Stanley Cup Final on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Here's how it went down as Sporting News provided live updates of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. (All times Eastern)

Game 2 result: Capitals 3, Golden Knights 2

Third Period

11:03 p.m. —  That's it! A scrum breaks out after the final whistle, but the Capitals won't care. Washington has evened the series at a game apiece with a 3-2 victory at T-Mobile Arena. 

11:01 p.m. —  With Fleury on the bench for an extra attacker, Miller fires a shot just wide and the Capitals ice the puck with 10.8 seconds remaining. 

10:56 p.m. —  Incredible save by Holtby! The Capitals netminder robs Alex Tuch right in front with the paddle of his stick to deny a sure goal. Somehow this game isn't tied. Wow. Save of the year candidate for sure.

10:54 p.m. —  Marchessault finally ends that drought, but Holtby holds on with 3:38 to play. Fleury remains in his net for now.

10:50 p.m. —  Vegas hasn't had a shot on goal since its extended power play ended over nine minutes of game time ago. We've got less than five minutes remaining in regulation.

10:47 p.m. —  Niskanen fires a rolling puck on goal, but Fleury is able to extend his right pad out in time to keep this a one-goal game.

10:41 p.m. —  Eller chips the puck behind the net to Vrana, who goes for a wrap-around and takes a swipe at the rebound at Fleury's near post. The goaltender looked a little unsure of where the puck was, but managed to keep it out.

10:31 p.m. —  Huge kill for the Capitals! The Golden Knights take their time on the 5-on-3 and aren't able to get anything past Holtby. The Washington netminder makes a few more saves through traffic after Wilson returns to the ice as the Capitals surivive. Vegas gets off nine shots and records five chances, but can't find an equalizing goal.

10:27 p.m. — Nate Schmidt finds Miller, who makes a move towards the net and gets hooked by Eller. Vegas will have a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:09. 

10:22 p.m. —  Vegas' fourth line causes some more problems for Washingon as Reaves redirects a shot on goal that Holtby barely gets a pad on. Tom Wilson then takes an interference penalty to give the Golden Knights another power play. They're 1-3 on the night and scored on their last opportunity.

10:20 p.m. —  The puck is dropped for the start of the third period. Brooks Orpik's first goal in over two years is the difference at the moment.

Second period: Capitals 3, Golden Knights 2

Shots: Golden Knights 24, Capitals 20

10:02 p.m. —  And with that, we head to the second intermission with Washington holding a one-goal lead.

10:01 p.m. —  PING! Eller enters the zone on a 2-on-1 rush, he feathers a pass across to Vrana for a first-time shot the beats Fleury but strikes the post.

9:57 p.m. — Goal Vegas!  Right off the faceoff, Shea Theodore fires a shot from the point through traffic that finds its way into the corner of the net. Good screen in front by Alex Tuch as the Golden Knights finally convert a power play. We've got a game again... 3-2 Capitals, 2:13 remaining in the period.

9:56 p.m. —  Another offensive zone penalty, but this one is going to Washington. Oshie runs over Miller in retaliation and is whistled for interference. Vegas is 0-2 on the power play so far with just one shot on goal.

9:51 p.m. —  Washington kills off the remaining power play as we enter the final five minutes of the period.

9:46 p.m. —  Orlov turns the puck over and Carpenter escapes the zone on a breakaway. The Capitals defenseman hooks him and we'll play 4-on-4 for 26 seconds before Vegas gets a brief power play opportunity.

9:44 p.m. —  That's Orpik's first goal of any kind, regular season or playoffs, since Feb. 2016. The Capitals will get a chance to add to their lead as Reaves is sent to the box for roughing.

9:41 p.m. — Goal Washington!  Brooks Orpik gives the Capitals a two-goal lead! Lars Eller plays creator once again as he feathers a drop-pass for the defenseman, who fires a shot off a body in front that bounces off ice then hits the post and gets past Fleury. 3-1 Capitals, 10:19 remaining in the period.  

9:37 p.m. —  We'll play some more 4-on-4 hockey as Backstrom and Haula tangle and are whistled for coincidental holding penalties.

9:31 p.m. — Goal Washington!  Guess who? Alex Ovechkin gives the Capitals the lead from his favorite spot below the circle. Eller plays a nifty feed through the blue paint and Ovechkin lifts a shot over Fleury's pad for his first career Stanley Cup Final goal. Bad penalty from Tuch and Washington capitalizes on the power play.  2-1 Capitals, 14:22 remaining in the period.

9:29 p.m. —  Alex Tuch gets caught with a cross-check on John Carlson in front of the Capitals' net. Very reminiscent of the non-call on Ryan Reaves from Game 1 in the lead-up to Reaves' game-tying goal. Washington gets its first power play of the game.

9:27 p.m. —  Capitals get a very clean penalty kill to start the period. Just one shot on goal for Vegas on the man-advantage.

9:24 p.m. — Golden Knights get the game's first power play as Orpik goes off for an illegal hit to the head on Neal. It looks like Neal might've made the most of this one...

9:23 p.m. —  Bad news for the Capitals as there's no sign of Evgeny Kuznetsov for the start of the second. He left the game late in the first period after being hit by Brayden McNabb and is questionable to return.

9:21 p.m. —  The puck is dropped for the start of the second period. We're tied 1-1. In case you were wondering, here's the scene at Capital One Arena back in Washington:

First period: Golden Knights 1, Capitals 1

Shots: Capitals 12, Golden Knights 10

9:02 p.m. —  That's the end of the first period. Looks like we've got another back-and-forth contest on our hands.

8:57 p.m. — Goal Washington! The Capitals take advantage of 4-on-4 play as Lars Eller ties the game late in the period. Kempny fakes a shot and finds Eller alone in front with a perfect pass, leaving the forward to fire the puck into an empty net.  1-1, 2:33 remaining in the period.  

8:54 p.m. —  Niskanen fires a point shot through traffic, but Fleury finds it and holds on. A scrum breaks out in front of his net, which will see Oshie and Engelland head to the penalty box with matching roughing minors. 

8:51 p.m. —  Evgeny Kuznetsov is shaken up after getting hit hard by Brayden McNabb. The Capitals forward, who leads the team in points this postseason, is going straight to the locker room.

8:46 p.m. — Vrana tries a wrap-around backhand effort that finds its way harmlessly through Fleury's crease.

8:39 p.m. —  Worth noting, the Golden Knights are 11-1 when scoring first in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Vegas has also scored first in all nine of its games this postseason.

8:35 p.m. —  Goal Vegas!  Sbisa floats the puck out of the defensive zone and James Neal takes it down brilliantly and fires it past Holtby's glove. Golden Knights lead 1-0, 12:02 remaining in the period.   

8:32 p.m. —  Stephenson blows past the Golden Knights' defense and forces Fleury into a pad save. On the other end, Engelland fires a shot from the point through some traffic, but Holtby is equal to it.

8:30 p.m. —  The Capitals fail to clear their defensive zone, which gives James Neal a chance for the Golden Knights. His shot is stopped by Braden Holtby.

8:26 p.m. —  First big chance goes to Washington! TJ Oshie finds a loose puck in front and tries to finesse a backhander past Marc-Andre Fleury, but is denied by the sprawling goaltender. Fleury had some help from Theodore checking back as well.

8:22 p.m. —  The puck is dropped and Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final is underway!

Pregame

8:15 p.m. —  As has become tradition, Vegas' pregame show is very entertaining but also rather long. Tonight, there's been another sword fight at center ice and a live performance by Imagine Dragons.

8:00 p.m. —  Only in Vegas... The showgirls are here and we're nearly ready for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

7:45 p.m. —  The teams have taken the ice at T-Mobile Arena for pregame warmups. Here is how the Capitals and Golden Knights are expected to line up based on their line rushes.

5:30 p.m. —  After some warm weather and the Vegas pregame pyrotechnics affected the ice quality in Game 1, Capitals coach Barry Trotz has confidence that the surface will be better tonight in Game 2.

2:00 p.m. —  Good news for the Golden Knights as coach Gerrard Gallant says that top-line winger Jonathan Marchessault will be ready to go for Game 2.

 

John Arlia