NHL Stanley Cup Final game 2 recap and analysis

With Knights leading 1-0 in the series the Capitals in the second race were already playing with a thought that was almost like a requirement: to win not to finish under 2-0! Counting the unconvincing home performance of the team of the capital. The start of game 2 was very balanced with the teams that did not want to find out because of the course of game 1 and the great expenditure of energy that such a match entails. The balance lasted until Neal managed with a spell to retrieve a disk in the air, check it and beat it with a perfect Holtby wrist shot on the far post. Despite the T-Mobile after the goal is literally inflamed creating an electric climate, the Capitals have once again shown that they have a solid mentality away that allowed him once again not to go mentally and continue to play their hockey while remaining in the match, thanks to this feature, the guests created a couple of good chances before they managed to equalize the match with Heller who supported the net after a series of excellent passes in quick succession that unmarked him in the goal he created. In the second period, Washington continued to play at a high level despite Kutznetsov's ice exit forced by a McNabb violent body check in the half-ice area. The physicality and the competitive spirit have continued to rise and it was Ovechkin one of the most active in that field that as a good leader gave the charge to his, a charge that was turned first in a power play then in a goal during the same thanks to an excellent circulation of the disk that once finished in front of the slat of the number 8 in the slot did not leave any hope to Fleury. The Capitals having learned the lesson of game 1 were not satisfied but they continued to play strong and to bring many men in the offensive zone and this really resulted in their third goal of the match. A goal result of a very well orchestrated action and in my opinion also surprisingly as the player to conclude on goal and score was Bruce Orpik (one of those defenders who really rarely outweigh the blue line), to underline again the offensive organization of the host team that still exploiting a very inspired Heller (at his third point of the game) has managed to create spaces that are generally not granted by the Knights. Under two goals Vegas began to charge their rivals with a low head, which obviously has slowed down the considerable offensive rhythms held so far sometimes going into trouble and committing penalties like that of Wilson who gave the go-ahead to power play that at the end of the second period led Theodore to score the second goal for the hosts. The third period saw the Knights try in every way to score the goal of the tie and the Capitals to try to defend it while remaining dangerous from the parts of Fleury with the deadly counterattacks of Heller, Oshie and Ovechkin. The best chance to grab a draw came in the middle of the period when Vegas was in a situation before 5 against 3 then 5 against 4 but that despite the nine shots shot towards the mirror of the goal has not led to the goal thanks above all to a Holtby able to manage the rebounds much better than the previous game. All in the last period has been performed well defensively for the Capitals and this has allowed him to bring the series to Washington in total balance and balance.

The battle of the goalie was better than in game 1 and Holtby came out clearly winner, the physicality of the Capitals was remarkable and together with a smooth game with many steps well executed that allowed to open an excellent defense like that of the Knights they have led to a deserved victory. For Vegas Marchessault and Karlsson were subdued and their contribution is missed in the implementation phase but it does not matter because with these two teams the field factor is not very relevant counting the trend held so far in the playoffs. Kuznetsov out and not returned in the first period is in doubt for game 3 and although today did not weigh his absence in the long run could create many problems between training and play to the Eastern Conference champions.