This Game Two stat shocked David Perron:
"Me, Nealer, and Hauls were watching our shifts, and at that time we were watching the game, it was 7-1 odd-man rushes," indicated Perron. "It was very in their favor. It's gotta be a lot more even."
Re-watching the game, I didn't see seven Washington odd-man rushes, but that could be just a matter of definition. I'm not sure if NBCSN counted the Brooks Orpik game-winning goal as an odd-man rush; I do not.
Regardless, the odds were not in Vegas favor -- I counted five against. Here's what I saw and what the Knights can improve tomorrow night.
The offensive turnover -- this time from Alex Tuch, springs the Capitals top line. Look at Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov criss cross to set up Kuznetsov's speed to the outside, then Wilson and Alex Ovechkin criss cross to set up an Ovechkin blast from the middle.
Vegas lucks out as Kuznetsov passes to an empty spot.
Perfectly-placed loft pass by Dmitry Orlov allows Chandler Stephenson to skate into puck with speed. Luca Sbisa gets caught by this well-executed set play, but Fleury is able to excuse the partial breakaway
Another fabulous series of plays by Orlov -- surprises Brayden McNabb with how quickly he closes gap, deftly one-hands puck forward, then beats McNabb up the ice to receive the trailer pass. McNabb has to be more careful, but you also have to tip your cap to Orlov too. Save for Fleury kicking Alex Ovechkin's cross-crease pass, this was some gorgeous Washington execution.
"I feel like they hang back a little bit behind our guys," acknowledged Perron. "They turn it around real quick."
Agitating for the tying goal, Shea Theodore steps up on the loft clear. T.J. Oshie swipes at the puck, popping it toward Jakub Vrana, who moves it to Lars Eller. Deryk Engelland is in the hole, as Eller connects with Vrana for the cross-slot pass, but the post digs out the Golden Knights.
Jonathan Marchessault noted, "We made bad decisions at their blue-line and they have a quick transition team like us."
Honestly have no idea what Theodore is doing pinching that aggressively with zero support, just a goal down, almost an entire period left.
Good thing that Eller, he of one goal and two assists in Kuznetsov's stead, was really feeling himself. He misses the shot on the 3-on-1, but I suspect in most cases, the aggressive Fleury is happy to handle the shot anyway instead of a pass over to Vrana or Michal Kempny.
The good news for Vegas?
"That’s not how we play," stressed Marchessault. "We play good defence, good structured hockey."
Usually, they do. All the problems here -- sloppy puck management, questionable decision-making, being a step behind -- aren't normal Knights' concerns.
"Just tighten it up," said Gerard Gallant. We'll see if they can tomorrow night!
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