1st Star: Lars Eller, Washington Capitals
Eller continued his strong postseason with a huge goal and an assist 59 seconds apart late in the second period to help the Capitals to a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2. Washingon now leads the series 2-0. Eller netted his fifth of the playoffs and then set up Evgeny Kuznetsov’s power play goal with three seconds to go in the period to flip a 2-2 game in the Capitals’ favor. He would later add a second assist on Brett Connolly’s third of the playoffs.
2nd Star: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
After allowing Tampa’s second goal of the game, Holtby would stop the final 30 shots he faced for his fourth straight victory. He would finish with 33 saves, his sixth 30-plus save night of the postseason.
[Lars Eller emerging as unexpected playoff star for Capitals]
3rd Star: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
Kuznetsov finished with a three-point evening and now has 19 points this postseason. After assisting on Tom Wilson’s opening goal 28 seconds into the game and then doubling Washington’s lead late in the second period, he later set up Alex Ovechkin’s 10th of the playoffs with a cool dish. He now has 10 points in his last five games.
Highlight of the Night: Vincent Lecavalier’s son, Gabriel, helped pump up the AMALIE Arena crowd before Game 2.
Factoid of the Night:
John Carlson collected his 13th point of the 2018 #StanleyCup Playoffs to establish a @Capitals franchise record for points by a defenseman in single postseason. #NHLStats #WSHvsTBL pic.twitter.com/1siJW9pnoM
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 14, 2018
Monday’s schedule: Vegas Golden Knights at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Jets lead series 1-0)
MORE:
• Conference Finals schedule, TV info
• NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub
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Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.
