Capitals Take Control of Game 3 and Possibly More

No matter what happens from here on out, the Vegas Golden Knights have had a season that may never be seen again in pro sports.

The Washington Capitals, though, are intensely dialed in on what happens from here on out, because their veterans may never have a chance like this again.

They're playing like it.

 

Just as they did in Game 2, the Caps simply outhustled the club whose main strength is playing hustle hockey.

As he's done all spring, Alex Ovechkin has been incredible.

Dude's been more than the Crushin' Russian, with two more hits and two blocked shots in Game 3. He's risen into the sorta balls-out, man-possessed zone that woulda made Rasputin proud.

 

And where he's gone, his teammates have willingly followed. Safe to say they're immersed in the moment, too. For example:

• TJ Oshie is proving that 8-year, $46million contract he signed last year was well worth it,
• Evgeny Kuznetsov has been busy making history with Ovechkin, and
• Braden Holtby's been standing on his head ... when he's not passing to an open Golden Knight.

The way they're playing, though, the Caps can afford to spot Vegas a late-game goal:

 

One of this spring's mysteries is why the Winnipeg Jets couldn't do what Washington's doing, ie- beat the Knights at their own in-your-face game with a stronger lineup. But they came nowhere close.

Apparently, though, the Capitals took notes.

Shea Theodore and the Knights' second line shoulda.

 

Fighting fire with fire, that's what.

On ice.

 

For Ovechkin and the other Caps vets, this is far from their inaugural season.

They're playing like their time has finally come. If Vegas doesn't chug 5-Hour Energy or something before Game 4, it has.