The Washington Capitals have forced a Game Seven in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking Game Six at home 3-0. Man oh man, it is much more fun to write these posts after a win. The Caps are one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals, let’s get into it.

The Caps out-shot the Lightning 34 to 24, but were out-attempted at five-on-five 53 to 50.

• In a series that features players like Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Nicklas Backstrom, and other stars, I think that Evgeny Kuznetsov has been the clear player of the series. There is not a single player other than maybe Andrei Vasilevskiy that has matched Kuznetsov’s impact. Kuzy has at least one point in every single game in this series, nine overall, and has tied Backstrom for the longest postseason point streak in the playoffs in franchise history (nine games). If there is a Stanley Cup in this team’s future, Kuzy is one of this team’s major candidates for the Conn Smythe.
• Braden Holtby stopped all 24 Lightning shots sent his way for his first shutout of this years postseason. He was back in beast mode and man did he show up in what was the biggest game the Caps have played in 20 years. His glove hand was on fire, his rebound control was great, and his ability to track the puck in net front scrums, within a mess of legs and sticks is elite.
• What got into that second line? Holy cow were they absolutely buzzing or what? Backstrom led the way at five-on-five, posting a 74.2-percent shot attempt percentage, a 77.8-percent scoring chance for percentage, and a perfect 100-percent high danger chance for percentage (five chances to the Lightning’s zero). TJ Oshie tallied his first two goals of this series, adding to the five assists he has already recorded and Jakub Vrana played a perfect two-way hockey game.
• Matt Niskanen was very down on himself after Game Five and even I prodded at him a little more in the numbers post from that game. He didn’t only respond with a good game, it was his best of the entire playoffs. His most common opposition at five-on-five was Kucherov (12:34), Stamkos (10:07), and Hedman (10:03). Niskanen ended with a plus-fifteen scoring chance differential and a plus-six high danger chance differntial. That is ridiculous.
• I have so many old takes that can be exposed about Devante Smith-Pelly. If you happen to come across any in prior numbers for the morning after posts, I give you full permission to torch the hell out of me in the comments or on Twitter. DSP has scored some of the clutchest goals in the playoffs in Caps history and his 4th of this postseason was the back-breaker that sent this series to Game Seven.
• Another player that has seemingly come out nowhere is Chandler Stephenson. The fourth line overall was not very good at five-on-five, but as always with Stephenson’s speed it only takes one shift. Just ask the guy in the above bullet. Stephenson can seemingly step in and do a job on every single line and having versatility like that will keep you with the big club. His story isn’t done yet this year, but I’m excited for the next chapters in the coming seasons.
• There were multiple Caps players flying around and laying huge body checks on basically anyone in their way. The major offenders were Brooks Orpik, Tom Wilson (what a wrecking ball he was the entire game), Ovechkin, Oshie, and DSP. Hell, even Vrana and Andre Burakovsky were finishing all of their checks. Poor Cedric Paquette took about 6 different kabongs.
• Last but certainly not least, the player who set the tempo for the kind of fast, hard-hitting affair that we got was Ovechkin. He didn’t tally any points in the game, but he still made a major impact on the proceedings as the team’s captain and leader. He’s all-in, so am I, are you?

Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com, Hockeystats.ca, NaturalStatTrick.com, Capitals PR, and Corsica.hockey.

Full RMNB Coverage of Game Six

Headline Photo: Bruce Bennett