Golden Knights dominate Capitals from beginning in 6-2 win

“I assumed we as a crew have been actually good,” Cotter mentioned. “We had a variety of vitality off the beginning. We wanted to get again to it. I don’t know what it took precisely, nevertheless it was a variety of positivity. So it was simple for me to sort of simply play my sport and, clearly, two targets is good.”

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin didn’t play due to a lower-body damage and is listed by the Capitals as each day. He leads the crew with 30 targets and 52 factors.

Even when Ovechkin had been on the ice, the Capitals might need had hassle in opposition to the Knights.

“They have been the higher crew tonight,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette mentioned.

The Knights had regarded something however sharp in shedding 4 of their earlier 5 video games. They went 3-4 on a homestand and don’t return to T-Cellular Area till Tremendous Bowl Sunday.

Nicolas Roy had a aim and two assists for the Knights, Alec Martinez a aim and an help and Alex Pietrangelo and Chandler Stephenson two assists apiece. Goalie Logan Thompson saved 20 photographs to run his profession file in opposition to Washington to 3-0.

“It it virtually felt like we discovered our sport once more, like the beginning of the 12 months,” Thompson mentioned. “We weren’t actually giving them a lot. Once we did, the crew was so tight in entrance of me and capable of play rebounds.”

Opponents had scored the opening aim in 5 consecutive video games earlier than the Capitals got here to city.

Vegas got here out firing, scoring two targets within the first 7:36. Martinez buried a rebound when Stephenson’s shot hit the left publish, and Roy scored off a move from Jonathan Marchessault to finish a 2-on-1 breakaway.

“I believe when you’ve a lead and issues haven’t gone your approach, you begin feeling higher about your self,” Cassidy mentioned. “You’re like instantly, ‘OK.’ Then impulsively after I noticed (Stephenson’s) shot off the bar you recognize, I’m like, ‘Right here we go once more.’ Good for (Martinez). He wants the aim as a lot as anyone.”

The Knights added three targets within the second interval — from Michael Amadio, Byron Froese and Cotter — to go up 5-0. It was the primary aim of the season for Froese, who has spent many of the season taking part in for the Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson.

Froese’s aim with 7:55 left additionally chased Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper, who gave up 4 targets on 18 photographs. His alternative, Charlie Lindgren, allowed a aim simply 1:34 later.

The Capitals lastly scored with 1:40 left within the second when Erik Gustafsson fed T.J. Oshie for the aim.

Each groups traded targets within the third interval, with Cotter scoring for the Knights and Marcus Johansson for the Capitals.

The Knights play their subsequent six video games on the highway, together with the again finish of a back-to-back Sunday at Arizona. They then performed all three New York-area groups earlier than the NHL All-Star Sport break. Vegas goes again on the highway for 2 video games after that.

The Knights even have been higher on the highway at 15-3-2. Their house file if 14-13.

“We’ve been fairly good on the highway,” Cotter mentioned.

Capitals: At Colorado on Tuesday evening.

Golden Knights: At Arizona on Sunday evening.

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