In my series preview, I identified the Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith forecheck on Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen as a key match-up.
If Game One was any indication, tonight should be another fun battle.
On one hand, according to Natural Stat Trick, Reilly Smith, for example, put up a 66.67 Corsi For % (14-7), 70.0 Scoring Chances For % (7-3), and a 57.14 High-danger Corsi For % (4-3) on Matt Niskanen. This was in 8:18 of 5v5 time.
Here's an example of Smith's strong play -- also one of my favorites from the game:
Orlov opens up to pass, but Smith's long reach takes away the blueliner's preferred option. Orlov holds, hoping to beat Smith up the ice, but Smith gets his stick into Orlov -- on the outside of Orlov to prevent the first pass, around Orlov's elbow for a split-second so the blueliner can't keep a clean handle, then finally, on the inside to claim the puck.
With the steal, Smith tried to hit Marchessault charging down the Strip, but Devante Smith-Pelly got a stick on the pass. Great play, nonetheless.
"Their D like to carry the puck," Smith observed. "Sometimes, you can catch them doing too much."
On the other hand, it was a difficult Niskanen backhand pass up the wall -- as Smith was bearing down on the forecheck -- that initiated the Capitals breakout which led to a Tom Wilson goal.
Not blaming Smith on that play -- it's just to illustrate that this should not be a one-sided battle between Vegas's top line and Washington's most reliable pairing.
It's going to be a good one tonight!
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