The Washington Capitals are now two wins away from the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Thanks in large to a great hustle play by Jay Beagle and finish by Devante Smith-Pelly late in the third period to put away the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Jay Beagle rushed the puck in his offensive zone, taking the puck away Shea Theodore. Then Beagle delivered a beautiful pass to a charging Smith-Pelly in front of the net before Smith-Pelly finished the sequence by roofing the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury with 6:07 remaining.
Filthy goal from Devante Smith-Pelly!
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The goal erased two critical plays that went against the Capitals. For Smith-Pelly he got vindication after his goalie interference wiped off a Chandler Stephenson goal. Meanwhile, it extended the Capitals’ lead to 3-1 after goalie Braden Holtby’s turnover behind his net led to the Golden Knights’ lone goal that at the moment cut the Caps’ lead in half.
However, the Capitals remained the more aggressive team and in the end that aggressiveness paid off, as Beagle got his second assist of the night. Washington leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 in D.C. on Monday.
