Capitals ready for 'wild' atmosphere against Golden Knights in Game 3

WASHINGTON-- Ten years and 52 days since Alex Ovechkin played in his first home game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Washington Capitals captain will play his first home game in the Stanley Cup Final.
"It's going to be a very special atmosphere," Ovechkin said.

Game 3 against Vegas Golden Knights is at Capital One Arena on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS). It's the first Cup Final game hosted by the Capitals in 7,291 days (since June 16, 1998).
RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Capitals series coverage\]
The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1.
"I think everybody [is] excited in Washington," Ovechkin said. "It's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be hard. That's why we worked so hard to be in this spot and be in this moment."
The Capitals and Golden Knights got to this moment by each winning one game at Vegas.
Washington won 3-2 in Game 2 on Wednesday with Braden Holtby making 37 saves, none bigger than his stick save on forward Alex Tuch with 1:59 remaining that prevented Vegas from tying the game.
"We were that close," Vegas forward James Neal said.
Vegas won 6-4 in Game 1 on Monday.
Ovechkin said experiencing the first two games clued him into why people say the Cup Final is unique and why you seem to live and die with every shift, every momentum change, every emotional high and low.

"As soon as you step on the ice, you feel a different atmosphere and energy," Ovechkin said. "It's a total different thing."
The first two games were different too. Game 1 had 10 goals and chances on each side. Game 2 had five goals and a more concerted effort to lock up defensively.
The Capitals did it better even though they allowed 39 shots on goal. They blocked 18 shots and said they won the area in front of Holtby by tying up sticks and keeping the Golden Knights on the outside. Washington was also sharper through the neutral zone.
It's a recipe the Capitals think they can continue at home, where they haven't played since May 21, when they played arguably their best home game of the playoffs, a 3-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Washington is 4-5 at home in the playoffs. No team has won the Stanley Cup after losing as many as six home games.
"I love playing at home," Capitals center Lars Eller said. "There's no reason we can't play our best game tomorrow night."
They may have everyone available, which didn't seem likely after Game 2, when there were questions about the health of center Evgeny Kuznetsov. The leading scorer in the playoffs with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) sustained an upper-body injury with 5:18 remaining in the first period.
Kuznetsov took part in an optional practice Friday and took line rushes at the morning skate on Saturday. Coach Barry Trotz said he'll be a game-time decision.

"I'm sure he's going to be fine," Ovechkin said Friday.
Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has a 3.56 goals-against average and .870 save percentage in the two games (seven goals allowed on 54 shots) after a 1.68 GAA and .947 save percentage (27 goals on 505 shots) in the first three rounds of the playoffs.
"There were maybe a few unfortunate goals throughout this series," Fleury said. "I don't think I've sweat it too much so far."
The Golden Knights aren't sweating the loss in Game 2 even though they weren't sharp enough with the puck, fed Washington's transition game, and didn't generate enough Grade A chances in front of Holtby because they didn't win the battles to get to the front of the net.
"Especially today, it was a good practice, guys were in each other's ear as usual," Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "I guess status quo for us."
Vegas is 3-0 and has scored 12 goals in games following a loss in the playoffs. It is 3-0 in Game 3s, including winning twice when the series was tied 1-1. The Golden Knights are 6-2 on the road in the playoffs.
"Our team does a really great job of not letting the game get too big for us," Schmidt said. "Yes, every game in the Stanley Cup Final you want to say is a must-win game. But at the same time our guys are great at being able to put aside the pressure, put aside what they need to do that night and just go out and play and be loose up here. That's the biggest thing, making sure your mind is sharp in some areas but kind of let yourself relax and understand it's just the game you've been playing for your whole life, it's just a little bit of raised stakes."
They're the stakes Ovechkin, the Capitals and their red-rocking fans have been craving for a long time.
The wait ends Saturday.
"It's going to be wild," Washington forward Tom Wilson said. "It's going to be an experience of a lifetime."