Playoff Performer of the Night | Nicklas Backstrom
Nicklas Backstrom surpassed the 20-point mark with a trio of assists in his seventh multi-point game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Washington Capitals pulled off a 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to move within one victory of hoisting hockey’s most coveted prize.
Nicklas Backstrom surpassed the 20-point mark with a trio of assists in his seventh multi-point game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Washington Capitals pulled off a 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to move within one victory of hoisting hockey’s most coveted prize.
Monday’s Game 4 saw Washington take a 3-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final in front of a home crowd, which Backstrom credited for being there through thick and thin.
Nicklas Backstrom on the Capital One Arena crowd: "It was a great atmosphere. These fans have been waiting for a long time. Without these fans, we're nothing."
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) June 3, 2018
With nine points in his last six outings and 22 points (5-17–22) so far this postseason, Backstrom has continued to be a steady contributor for his team. In fact, earlier this season, Backstrom was voted among his peers as the league’s most underrated player in the 2017-18 NHLPA Player Poll, which surveyed over 500 players.
A favourite among his teammates and respected among his opponents, Backstrom has also become a fan favourite.
Lynda Carter is rocking a Backstrom jersey@RealLyndaCarter #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/KJSL6TZkDk
— HockeyKot (@hockeykot) June 3, 2018
It’s his easy to see why. His 97 career playoff points are second-most in Washington's franchise history, while his 66 playoff assists are the all-time most among Caps players.
The puck drops on Game 5 Thursday as the series shifts back to Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights look to avoid elimination on home ice.