Lars Eller the hero for Washington Capitals as they level Stanley Cup Final series with Vegas Golden Knights

Triumph 3-2 to make it 1-1 in the best-of-seven contest, with Game 3 on Saturday night

Washington Capitals centre Lars Eller, left, celebrates his goal with defenceman John Carlson, centre, and left wing Andre Burakovsky. Ross D Franklin / AP Photo

Lars Eller had a goal and set up two others to lead the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday at the T-Mobile Arena and level the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece.

The series between two teams bidding for a first Stanley Cup now shifts to Washington for games three and four on Saturday and Monday.

After a glitzy pre-game show, complete with Golden Knights fighting off invading hordes of Capitals, the real battle got underway with Vegas drawing first blood as James Neal rifled a wrist shot from the left face-off circle past Braden Holtby.

But the Capitals would hit back with three straight goals from Eller, Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Orpik before Golden Knights Shea Theodore would close out the scoring.

The loss was just the second on home ice during post-season for the Knights.