1st star: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
Four assists in Game 4. Thirty-one playoff points this season.
Kuznetsov is having a historic run and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
He was a question mark to even play in Game 3, but did and had a goal and an assist, and he kept on rolling along in Game 4 as he makes one heck of a case for the Conn Smythe Trophy, should Washington close this out.
With three points tonight, @Kuzya92 became just the fifth player since 1997 to record at least 30 points in a single postseason. #NHLStats #VGKvsWSH #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/WNjV8zYBOV
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 5, 2018
#ALLCAPS Evgeny Kuznetsov is just the 5th player in the past 31 years to tally 4 assists in a #StanleyCup Final game pic.twitter.com/fwTeHh6CUm
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 5, 2018
2nd star: T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals
The power-play goal that started the barrage and two assists on Washington’s fourth and fifth goals of the game.
Oshie has six points in four games in this series now and has provided the Capitals with some offensive help outside of Kuznetsov and Ovechkin. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered for the series.
#Caps are 9-1-0 at home this season when T.J. Oshie scores.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 5, 2018
3rd star: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
It sure is tempting to put the posts behind Holtby here. They played a part, that’s for sure, but Holtby continued to be everything Marc-Andre Fleury had been coming into the series.
Holtby has taken on the role of being the best goalie in the playoffs at the best possible time.
Yeah, he got lucky on a few attempts, but he also made 28 saves, including six while Vegas was on the power play.
He’s been the better goalie in the series by far and was the wall Washington needed him to be once again.
Highlight of the Night
There are several candidates here -- a lot of nice goals scored tonight -- but Devante Smith-Pelly’s stands above the rest, 1. because it was the game winner, and 2. the footwork he displayed to get the puck to his stick was simply stunning.
Key Factoids
It’s been nearly 80 years since a team came back from a 3-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final.
Teams that take a 3-1 series lead in the #StanleyCup Final hold an all-time record of 32-1.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 5, 2018
The 1942 Maple Leafs were the only team to overcome the deficit, after coming back from a 3-0 hole to defeat the Red Wings. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/v2MkA2Zbom
And...
Marc-Andre Fleury’s save percentage is now at .854 this series.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) June 5, 2018
Stanley Cup Final schedule
Game 1 Monday, May 28 – Golden Knights 6, Capitals 4
Game 2 Wednesday, May 30 – Capitals 3, Golden Knights 2
Game 3 Saturday, June 2 – Capitals 3, Golden Knights 1
Game 4 Monday, June 4 – Capitals 6, Golden Knights 2 (Washington leads series 3-1)
Game 5 Thursday, June 7 – Capitals at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Game 6* Sunday, June 10 – Golden Knights at Capitals, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Game 7* Wednesday, June 13 – Capitals at Golden Knights, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
* = If necessary
MORE:
• NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub
• Stanley Cup Final Guide
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck