The playoffs haven't been kind to the Washington Capitals in recent years, but they finally got past the Penguins in the second round this year and Wednesday night, they were one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history.
Just over a minute in, Alexander Ovechkin scored to give the Caps the lead and they never gave that lead up as they held on to beat the Lightning on the road 4-0 to advance to the Cup Final.
For the first time in 20 years, the #Caps are off to the Stanley Cup Final.
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It's been a long time coming for the Ovechkin and the Capitals (last played for the Cup in 1998) and the hockey world was very happy Ovi and company finally got over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final.
.@ovi8 will finally get his date with Lord Stanley #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/phEsnwq8DU
β BarDown (@BarDown) May 24, 2018
Before the #StanleyCup Final starts, #Handshakes will happen. pic.twitter.com/yXKHMoe4L2
β NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2018
The @Capitals are headed to the #StanleyCup Final. [π] [π] #JayAndDan pic.twitter.com/3lPvmEH7sY
β #JayAndDan (@JayAndDan) May 24, 2018
I applaud the death of the stupid don't touch the trophy thing.
β Πrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) May 24, 2018
The #StanleyCup Final will feature some @ovi8 this year! pic.twitter.com/fmsZDGkKWG
β NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkin to Pierre McGuire on NBCSN: "FINALLY."
β Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 24, 2018
Someone tells you back in September that Alex Ovechkin and his Caps, after declaring their "all-in" window more or less closed last year, would end up finally reaching the Cup final and face... expansion Vegas? I think your reaction would have been priceless. Going to be fun!
β Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 24, 2018
The worst expansion team in NHL history vs the best! Crazy. #StanleyCupFinal
β Darren Dutchyshen (@dutchysc) May 24, 2018
I've been thinking I'm due for a new team to adorn me.
β The Stanley Cup (@StanleyCup) May 24, 2018
This will be the first #StanleyCup Final since 2011 with two head coaches who have never previously appeared in a Stanley Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/L4niKk98mB
β NHLCoaches (@NHLCoachesAssoc) May 24, 2018
We'll have home ice advantage at OUR HOUSE
β Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 24, 2018
in the middle of the Strip
our house
[π‘] #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/hPu6DaBAhD
Clearly @AimeeJCrawford is brilliant. But the rest of you guys... [π] #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/g2nO9Au4vI
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 24, 2018
A night the @Capitals will never forget. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/B5Zc0JeQu7
β NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2018
Let's be honest hockey fans.....
β Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 24, 2018
who had Golden Knights vs Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final in your bracket?
Pics or it didn't happen.
this amazing moment... pic.twitter.com/a9xOc6QV86
β NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 24, 2018
Congratulations to the @Capitals on being the EC Champions. 4 more wins! Letβs go Caps! #STANLEYCUP pic.twitter.com/HQB0BypSSz
β Peter Bondra (@PeterBondra12) May 24, 2018
OVI DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR SUPERSTITIONS [π] pic.twitter.com/oH4ZwhtNOF
β NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 24, 2018
Ask and ye shall receive! The @Capitals fans take the @NPG Steps are ALIVE and RED!#ALLCAPS #CapsKnights #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/32UMGiIhpF
β MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) May 24, 2018
Nothing like a Game 7! Congratulations, Washington Capitals - good luck in the Stanley Cup Final.
β Patrick Ewing (@CoachEwing33) May 24, 2018
The @GoldenKnights vs @Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final.... this is going to be a series all hockey fans remember. #StanleyCup
β Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) May 24, 2018
FUN FACT: With the Capitals victory, the St. Louis Blues are guaranteed to have at least two of their old fan favorite players win a cup with another team.
β Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) May 24, 2018
Either Oshie and Eller or Perron and Reaves.
Their misery lives on.
Congrats @Capitals!!!
β Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) May 24, 2018
Stanley Cup Finals, bring it back to the DMV! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wRJz2rb1o6
Guess @ovi8 predicted this four years ago... #StanleyCup https://t.co/0fyawxZYVt
β NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkin will reach the Stanley Cup Final for the 1st time in his career.
β ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 24, 2018
His 607 career goals are the 2nd-most by a player making his first Stanley Cup Final appearance (Dave Andreychuk - 634) (via @EliasSports)
Ovechkin vs Vegas in the Cup final. What a time to be alive.
β Mike Grinnell (@MikeGrinnell_) May 24, 2018
In 2015 @dcsportsbog pondered if Alex Ovechkin was the greatest D.C. pro athlete in the last 50 years. The evidence suggested yes. If any doubters remained, that's done tonight.
β Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkinβs happiness right now is the purest kind of happiness. Itβs like watching a child discover something for the first time.
β Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 24, 2018
Ovechkin after eliminating Tampa Bay pic.twitter.com/lkzHYx8gnw
β Wheeling Problems (@wheelingprobs) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkin to all y'all haters out there: pic.twitter.com/lVYDyAsJqL
β Goalie Blinnterference (@NHLBlinn) May 24, 2018
Congratulations to Alex Ovechkin who has once again earned the opportunity to get his heart ripped out by Marc-Andre Fleury!
β Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) May 24, 2018
Ovechkin looks like he wants to play game one right now.
β Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) May 24, 2018
Fleury vs. Ovechkin in the Stanley Cup final. Here we go.
β Sam Werner (@SWernerPG) May 24, 2018
So happy for Barry Trotz. If anyone deserves this opportunity, outside of Alex Ovechkin, it's him. It's so him.
β Kristopher Martel (@kmartel_sports) May 24, 2018
I THINK THE ONLY PERSON HAPPIER THAN ME RIGHT NOW IS ALEXANDER OVECHKIN
β Emma (@Emmav6522) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkin currently #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NurhqemJ19
β Old Player Tweets (@OldPlayerTweets) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkinβs hat says βChampionsβ on it. How about that?
β Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 24, 2018
