WASHINGTON (AP) James Neal has become a source of leadership and inspiration for the Vegas Golden Knights during their improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final.So http://www.redwingsshoponline.com/authentic-anthony-mantha-jersey , it came as no surprise that the 11-year veteran made a point of seeking out teammate Alex Tuch, a 22-year-old rookie who missed a chance to score the potential tying goal late in Game 2 against the Washington Capitals”I talked with him a little bit today,” Neal said Friday. ”It’s all good. He’ll get a bigger one for us later in the series. He’s been great for us so far, so no reason to think about that anymore. At the end of the day, it’s a great save and you move forward.”Braden Holby snuffed the shot with his goalie stick in a 3-2 victory that evened the series heading in Game 3 on Saturday night.Vegas snagged a winner when they selected Neal from Nashville last June in the expansion draft. They got a skilled forward who scored 20 goals in 10 straight seasons (now 11) and a player who turned out to be perfect for a team that had to mesh immediately to be successful.”He’s a natural leader,” Golden Knights right wing Ryan Reaves said. ”He likes leading the boys into battle. When he has something to say he’s going to say it, and people are going to listen.”Neal reached the Stanley Cup Final last year with the Predators, who lost to Pittsburgh. Now here he is again, with another crack at winning it all.”It’s a special team and a special group of guys,” Neal said. ”I’ve been to the finals before, so just try to give them little tips. I try to lead by example, do the right things on the ice. We’ve got a group that responds well.”Neal seriously wants to win, but he isn’t always serious. And that’s the way his teammates like it.”I’m not going to pump his tires too much because I don’t want to hear about it, but he’s definitely one of those guys that keeps it loose,” Reaves said. ”You need guys like that around the team. You can’t be 100 percent business-like all the time. You’ve got to have fun.”Vegas goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury is the only other player on the club who’s played in the Stanley Cup Final Darren Helm Jersey , so he and Neal have been taking turns doling out advice.”In the locker room he’s a big voice,” Fleury said of Neal. ”He’s been to the finals, so it’s good to have someone else who can share that experience.”Although Neal is a rarity in that he’s been to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with two different teams, his most emphatic message is: Don’t take this ride for granted.”You see how badly he wants to win,” left wing David Perron said. ”To go through that last year and not come out on top, he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder and really wants to get it this time. He’s talking to guys, telling them you never know if you’re going to get another opportunity, so you’ve got to find a way to bring your best.”Toward that end, the 30-year-old Neal has helped carry the team with his stick. He has five goals and five assists in 17 games during the playoffs, including Vegas’ first goal in Game 2 on Wednesday.Asked whether Neal is more valuable as a player or a leader, Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant replied, ”On the ice is the major thing for me. When he scores goals like he did the last game, he makes our job a lot easier as coaches. James has been outstanding for us. He definitely helps our room with the young players, for sure.”Most notably, Tuch.”He’s been a mentor to me. He brought me aside today and told me what I could have done better on that shot but also that I have to move on http://www.redwingsshoponline.com/authentic-dylan-larkin-jersey ,” Tuch said. ”Everyone knows how good a hockey player he is. I don’t know if people knew he was that much of a leader. Maybe it was a different vibe in Nashville. But this year he’s been a huge leader for us, one of our (six alternate) captains, and it’s been great.”—More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinals NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Stolarz was unbeatable during his first NHL game in six weeks.Oskar Lindblom scored early, Stolarz stopped 38 shots for his second career shutout and the Philadelphia Flyers held on to beat the New York Rangers 1-0 Tuesday night for their season-high fifth straight win.Stolarz, out since Dec. 15 while recovering from a lower-body injury, got his first shutout since Dec. 11, 2016, at Detroit in his second NHL start.“It’s good to get the win,” the 25-year-old said. “For me to come out there and kind of just hold the fort down for the team, and they did a great job, too. I remember looking up at all the blocked shots. … A credit to the boys in front of me.”Stolarz, who missed last season rehabbing from knee surgeries, was making his eighth start this season and the 12th of his career.“It felt great coming back,” he said. “If I wasn’t ready I wouldn’t be back. … Points are at a premium now, so we are going to want to go in every night Frans Nielsen Jersey Kids , and we’re going to have to play like it’s a playoff game if we want to get back into (the race).”The Flyers, who have won six of seven overall, have outscored opponents 20-10 during their winning streak. Philadelphia was coming off a 3-1 win at home over Winnipeg on Monday night in its first game back after an extended break for its bye and the All-Star Game.With the two wins in two days, the Flyers have pulled 10 points behind Pittsburgh for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, coach Scott Gordon doesn’t want his team looking too far ahead,“We don’t have to worry about eighth place right now,” he said. “We have to worry about what’s in front of us, the closest team in front of us. … We get to a point where we can leapfrog them, then we worry about the next grouping of teams that are in front of us.”Alexandar Georgiev finished with 18 saves — including all seven Philadelphia shots he faced over the final two periods. New York, playing for the first time in 10 days, had won three straight.The Rangers pulled Georgiev for an extra skater with just under two minutes remaining, but couldn’t beat Stolarz.“It’s frustrating, obviously, when the game ends and you don’t get a goal,” New York coach David Quinn said. “There were opportunities and you have to capitalize on your chances and we didn’t do that today.”The 6-foot-6 Stolarz made 13 saves in the first period Gordie Howe Jersey , 12 in the second and 13 in the third.“One of his strengths (is) to get across laterally,” Gordon said. “With his size he’s getting there before a lot of goalies. … It was a tough challenge for our team (tonight) and it was a lot easier because of the effort (Stolarz) gave us.”Filip Chytil hit a goalpost from between the circles about eight minutes into the third, keeping the Rangers off the scoreboard. Stolarz then made a sprawling save in front on Brendan Smith’s shot that deflected off a Flyers player with about two minutes to go.Trailing 1-0, New York controlled play in the second period, outshooting Philadelphia 12-3.The Rangers went on their second power play of the game with just under eight minutes remaining in the period and had several good chances. Stolarz stopped a deflection by Chris Kreider from the right side, then denied Kevin Hayes and Kreider on successive tries in front 30 seconds later.The goalie also made a save on Vladislav Namestnikov’s backhand in front with 6:09 remaining, then made a sensational smothering save on Kreider seconds later.Kreider also hit a post from the left side with about 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the second.Philadelphia got on the board when Lindblom followed a flurry in front and backhanded a loose puck high for his sixth goal 1:40 into the game.“I was trying to find the puck in front of the net,” Lindblom said. “It was a nice goal to get.”NOTES: Philadelphia improved to 12-3-4 when scoring first and 17-2-2 when leading after two periods. … The Flyers have won all three meetings this season, including 4-0 at home on Nov. 23 and 3-2 in a shootout at New York on Dec. 23. The teams conclude their season series March 31 at Philadelphia. … Rangers forward Brett Howden left briefly in the first period after a hip check near the boards. Though he was back on the ice several minutes later, he did not play in the final two periods. The Rangers announced Howden sprained his knee and will be re-evaluated Wednesday. … Hayes was back in the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.UP NEXTFlyers: At Boston on Thursday night to cap a two-game road swing before a five-game homestand.Rangers: At New Jersey on Thursday night before returning for a five-game homestand.