Jessica Belmosto

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals started just like the first one. The theatrics and bright lights from the pregame ceremony got everyone more excited for the next sixty minutes of hockey.

Vegas took an early lead ( 12:02 ) thanks to James Neal’s snipe of a goal. It was a more than entertaining first period. Would it be a hockey game if Tom Wilson didn’t try to end someone’s career? Wilson went unpenalized after sending Ryan Carpenter over and into the Vegas bench. Kuznetsov went down the tunnel after a nasty hit from McNabb. Many would argue it’s a suspendible hit. McNabb was not served a penalty. ( This could easily become a blog about inconstancy in the league but I will spare you. ) Both goal tenders had beautiful saves. However it was one save that stirred the pot. After a Marc Andre-Fluery save, a fight broke out in front of the net. Washington’s Oshie and Vegas’ Engelland were handed two minutes for roughing.  Fluery left the next unattended and Lars Eller tied it up.

It was Alexander Ovechkin’s goal that put the Caps ahead in the second. A beautiful tie breaker assisted by Backstrom and Eller.  Ovi wasn’t the only Cap to score. Opik broke his 220 game goalless streak. Physicality was alive and well during the second. It was a bit of a strange second period as well. James Neal ( VGK ) essentially punched himself in the face while Orpik went to the sin bin. It’s hockey. You’re going to get the hits and the checks but what exactly can a player get away with? Ryan Reaves served time for checking Tom Wilson. Orlov went to the bin for holding. It was ruled that he was too far away for it to be a foul from behind. Colin Miller checks TJ Oshie from behind and no whistle is blown. Oshie retaliates and takes the penalty. Oshie wasn’t the only one who retaliated though. Shea Theodore put one in the net on the power play, making it 3-2.

The last twenty minutes of the game matter. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye. I always think about how Nashville scored two goals in a matter of forty two seconds. I hope you’re sitting down for this one because you may not believe what you’re about to read… Tom Wilson was called for interference. It wasn’t long after that Lars Eller was caught hooking, it making it 5v3. Vegas was unable to capitalize on the power play. It was Braden Holtby who quite literally saved the game. The game didn’t end when the refs blew the whistle. There was a pig pile on Tom Wilson. Make of it what you will.

Both goalies had it cut out for them. Silly mistakes lead to missed saved and missed saves lead to losses. The Capitals tied the series and we will see the teams again on Saturday in the nation’s capital.