1st Star: Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
Other than a power play goal, Fleury rebounded from a Game 1 loss to backstop the Golden Knights to a 3-1 series-evening victory in Game 2 over the Winnipeg Jets. Fleury finished with 30 saves, including 3-1 in the final period to halt any thoughts of a comeback. The Golden Knights have not lost consecutive Fleury starts since March 14-16.
Marc-Andre Fleury of the @GoldenKnights earned his 71st career postseason win to tie Jacques Plante for ninth place on the NHL’s all-time list among goaltenders. #NHLStats #VGKvsWPG #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RDllE06trm
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 15, 2018
2nd Star: Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights
Marchessault picked up his fifth and sixth goals of the playoffs in the Game 2 win. His first goal extended the Vegas first period lead to 2-0 and his second tally was even bigger. Kyle Connor had cut the Jets’ deficit to 2-1 early in the third period, but 1:28 later it was the Golden Knights forward finishing off a lovely sequence to bring back the two-goal lead.
[Vegas’ Tomas Tatar makes most of opportunity in Game 2]
3rd Star: Nate Schmidt, Vegas Golden Knights
Leading all Vegas blue liners with 23:17 of ice time, Schmidt also blocked two shots and picked up this assist by clearing a loose puck in Fleury’s crease.
Highlight of the Night:
Marchessault’s second goal is a fun one to watch:
Factoid of the Night:
#GoldenKnights Jonathan Marchessault matches NHL record for most postseason points by a player on an expansion team pic.twitter.com/YyOGm65p8Z
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 15, 2018
Tuesday’s schedule: Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Capitals lead series 2-0)
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 atphtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.