Stanley Cup: Knights Out-Chaos Capitals in Game 1

Published on 29-May-2018 by Alan Adamsson

NHL    NHL Daily Update

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Stanley Cup: Knights Out-Chaos Capitals in Game 1

In a tale of two expansion clubs, one knows the best of times while the other knows the worst.

And who knew Charles Dickens coulda been a sportswriter?

The observation works when comparing the first seasons of this year's Stanley Cup finalists.

The Washington Capitals were forced to pick over the dregs of pro hockey in their expansion draft and had a record-breaking inaugural season because of it.

 

They carried vapor trails of that futility well into their history until, for the time being, right now.

Then there are the Vegas Golden Knights, whose prime adversity to date has been tangling with the United States Patent Office.

 

Full marks to the hockey gods, then, for pairing these two in this year's Stanley Cup finals.

Based on crazy ticket prices -- for a Game 1, yet -- it's been by popular demand in at least two cities.

Speaking of, the Knights organization went all out in an effort to top even themselves in getting this ultimate playoff series underway:

 

Anyone wanna move up the timetable for The Hunger Games becoming a reality?

Still, here's the reality: Game 1 upstaged the opening mini-epic.

Get set for a Stanley Cup record nine lead changes with an eclectic mix of wide-open play and old-fashioned grinding:

 

Damn. Talk about both teams turning a frenetic pace into artistry. Even the fans needed a long shower after all that.

The 6-4 victory means Vegas has won all but one of its openers in their first ever post-season.

 

If the officials continue their laissez-faire approach to the proceedings, look for more of Ryan Reaves and Tom Wilson factoring even more significantly into this series.

No one's gonna argue that the Caps have superior possession skills, but the Knights did an excellent job of offsetting them with neutral-zone aggressiveness.

And while Washington is persistent, the most accurate term for Vegas' style of play remains relentless.

 

They're everyone else's expendables, that's who.

These dudes aren't necessarily on a mission. They're just continuing to play the sorta hustling hockey that many of them needed to do just to gain and/or hold onto a spot in the lineup every once in a while for their old teams.

It's what Old School called lunchbucket hockey. Disruptive lunchbucket hockey.

 

They're good at it.

Doesn't matter how this series goes. No one's gonna argue that, either.

Click on a photo to enlarge.