Vegas Hockey Knight
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Vegas Golden Knights deny Ovi, Caps another slice of history

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a first-period goal against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Nick Jensen #3 Capitals defend during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a first-period goal against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Nick Jensen #3 Capitals defend during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a first-period goal against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Nick Jensen #3 Capitals defend during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 17: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a first-period goal against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Nick Jensen #3 Capitals defend during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

There was no milestone moment for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals as they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Monday.

On Presidents’ Day, the Vegas Golden Knights denied Ovechkin the chance to become only the eighth player in NHL history to record 700 goals after battling to a 3-2 win.

It was a third consecutive victory for the Golden Knights and an impressive one at that given that they have now beaten the last two Stanley Cup champions in the last five days.

And, after also grinding their way to a shutout over the New York Islanders, the Knights are finally starting to unlock their potential.

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This was a dominant outing from Vegas who landed the first blow of the night at just 3:43 into the first period, with Nick Holden tipping in a William Carrier pass beyond Braden Holtby.

Vegas outshot the Capitals 15-12 in the opening frame and they made their dominance count when Reilly Smith chipped a shot past Holtby after Jonathan Marchessault weaved his way into the offensive zone.

There was only one goal in the second period and it was the Golden Knights who lit the lamp again thanks to Max Pacioretty, who snapped a quick shot to beat Holtby after William Karlsson dished the puck from behind the net.

As was to be expected, though, the Capitals fought back in the third period and launched an onslaught on Marc-Andre Fleury in the Vegas goal.

The fightback started at 8:47 in the third as T.J. Oshie went top-shelf on Fleury with a snipe from the circle.

And Oshie struck again minutes later as he blasted home a wicked one-timer to make it a one-goal game.

However, Fleury finished the game with 25 saves as the Golden Knights weathered the storm to clinch a third straight win on this homestand.

Let’s go over some notes & stats from the game…

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