The Ditch part deux

1-0 vegas

 

Nice stick move from Neal, D-man should have took his body.

 

No fair catch in hockey.

 

1-1

 

Bettman on Coach's Corner. Unscheduled, just an improvisation... cool stuff.

 

Haula looked like a little kid on that Caps goal.

 

Caps are alive.

 

Vegas gets one back. 3-2 Caps just before the intermission.

 

Let's see what Penn and Teller have in the 3rd.

 

Looked like Haula whacked the ref after the horn. Let's go 7.

 

Kuznetsov questionable for Capitals for Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final
Leading scorer in playoffs left Game 2 against Golden Knights with upper-body injury

Evgeny Kuznetsov is questionable to play for the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, coach Barry Trotz said Thursday.

The 26-year-old center was hit along the boards in front of the penalty boxes by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb during Game 2 on Wednesday. He left with an upper-body injury at 14:42 of the first period.

The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 3-2 to even the best-of-7 series and host Game 3 at Capital One Arena (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"I don't have any updates for you," Trotz said. "Maybe tomorrow."

Asked if he expected Kuznetsov to be on the ice for an optional practice Friday, Trotz said, "I don't know. I can't answer that."

Kuznetsov leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists), a Capitals postseason record and one more than linemate Alex Ovechkin. Kuznetsov's Capitals-record 11-game postseason point streak (six goals, 10 assists) ended Wednesday.

After Kuznetsov was injured, Nicklas Backstrom took his place at center on the top line between Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. Lars Eller moved up from the third line to take Backstrom's spot on the second line between Jakub Vrana and T.J Oshie and had a goal and two assists.

"Nick has gone out or [Kuznetsov] has been out, Lars has elevated his game and comes up in a more prominent role, if you will," Trotz said. "I think he embraces the challenge. He takes the moments very seriously that he has to step up and try to find a way to produce, and he has. He's a veteran player who has good hockey sense, and he's strong on the puck, and I think his game translates well in the playoffs." (NHL.com)

 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Evgeny Kuzetsov was an active participant during the Washington Capitals’ skate on Friday. He took turns during drills and fired off a handful of wrist shots two days after he left Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with an upper-body injury following a hit by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said the 26-year-old forward remains “day-to-day” and noted he hasn’t been fully cleared yet to play. Kuznetsov left Game 2 late in the first period with Vegas leading 1-0. Nicklas Backstrom and Lars Eller were bumped up in the line combinations, with Eller factoring in all three goals during their 3-2 victory to even the series.

Kuznetsov, the NHL’s leading playoff scorer, will likely be a game-time decision before Saturday’s Game 3

 

Thanks skinny, I enjoyed that.

 

Saddledome @ #3 is insane. The guy has never been inside and hasn't smelled the putrid swamp.

 

Close call on the goalie interference on Pelley.

 

I guess I still don't understand the rule, or the ref's don't.

 

Its a mystery to all humankind.

 

Ovie=Winning. Screw Lost Vaginas. Pay your dues bitches.

 

I've always like Trotz. Good dude!