The state of D.C. has waited years for one of their beloved sports teams to finally make it to a conference final.
Not since 1998 has the city of Washington seen one of their four major North American sports teams make it to one round away from competing for their respective championships. In fact, over 44 American cities (including Vegas) made it to a conference final before one of the Capitals, Wizards, Redskins or Nationals did since the Caps lost in four games to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 Stanley Cup Final.
Not only did the Caps reach the Eastern Conferece Final, they came from behind down 3-2 to take Games 6 and 7 to advance to their second cup final in franchise history.
With Game 1 going Monday night in Vegas, the Capitals are back at home in Washington after taking Game 7 in Tampa as they gear up to face the Golden Knights. Before they depart for Vegas, the Caps got in one final practice at Kettler Iceplex, the team’s practice rink.
The organization held a special “Stanley Cup Final Sendoff,” with fans filling up the grandstands, and the atmosphere was electric.
Check out the reaction when Alexander Ovechkin stepped out onto the ice.
Even team owner Ted Leonsis got in on the action, and was spotted throwing t-shirts into the crowd of over 6,000.
A nice little gesture by the team owner and the organization before the Stanley Cup officially gets underway.
