Capitals Bring Home Stanley Cup to D.C.

By Tyler Nicol on June 18, 2018

If you live in D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, you have probably witnessed the impact of a D.C. sports team’s first championship in over 20 years. The Washington Capitals Stanley Cup victory marks the first championship D.C. has seen since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1992. The Capitals success in their 2018 season has caused some fans to question the authenticity of people celebrating who have not supported the team in the past. Whether you have watched one game all season or every game, this championship win goes beyond just being a Capitals fan. This is something the whole city has a right to be proud of.

Photo by Tyler Nicol

Playoff run

The Washington Capitals entered the playoffs with an outstanding regular season record of 49-26; however, the same expectation of disappointment in previous years remained among fans. The Capitals have had success in the regular season, making the playoffs nine times out of the past ten years but they constantly fall short of the trophy. Little did everyone know, 2018 would be different.

In case you missed any Capitals playoff games, here is a recap:

Round 1 versus Columbus Blue Jackets

The Capitals entered the playoffs with issues at the goalie position. Their struggles through the second half of the regular season caused some changes to be made between goalies Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer. Head coach Barry Trotz decided to start second string Grubauer going into the playoffs, which seemed like the right decision at the time.

The switch ultimately contributed to the first two losses at home in round one. After falling 0-2 to the Blue Jackets, Holtby was named the starter again. The Caps traveled to Columbus for what felt like a must-win game three in the seven-game series. They managed to hang on for a 3-2 overtime win. Their first win of the playoffs brought energy to the locker room that carried over into the rest of the games in the series. The Capitals won game four in Columbus 4-1 before heading home for the last two games of the series. They went on to win the next two games at home, making four straight wins to move on to the conference finals against Pittsburg.

Conference Finals versus Pittsburg Penguins

The second round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference featured the Pittsburg Penguins – the team that Washington fans dread playing in the playoffs. Out of eleven playoff series between the two teams, the Penguins have won every single one.

There is no doubt that the Capitals had the fear of losing again in the back of their minds, but they were not going to let it affect the momentum established in round one. Washington started Game 1 of the Conference Finals strong in D.C with a two-goal lead going into the final period, but Pittsburg was able to score three goals late in the game to take the win. Refusing to lose yet another playoff series to the Penguins, the Caps managed to win Game 2 at home to tie the series. The team headed to Pittsburg for the next two games.

They won a close Game 3 with a score of 4-3 thanks to star goal scorer Alex Ovechkin’s game-winning goal. Game 4 yielded a tough loss that tied the series once again, leaving fans nervous that their team was going to fall short of the Stanley Cup as they have many times before. The Capitals, however, won the next two games to finish out the series and move on to the Semi-Finals against Tampa Bay. This victory was nearly as exciting for the fans as celebrating a championship win. The team had finally got passed the Pittsburg Penguins, the previous Stanley Cup Champions.

via Wikimedia Commons

Semi-Finals versus Tampa Bay Lightning

The next round against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a new challenge for Washington. Tampa Bay had the best regular season record (54-23) in the NHL. They are a team that is known for skating fast and scoring often. The Caps did not let it affect the mentality they had after beating Pittsburgh. Capitals General Manager, Brian MacLellan, stated, “we just seemed to have a mental toughness that we haven’t had in the past” when describing the result of the win in Pittsburgh.

The first two games of the Semi-Finals began in Tampa Bay and the Capitals were an unlikely favorite. Nevertheless, they won both games on the road. Things were looking up for the team heading into the next two games at home; however, the Lightning came back strong and won both games in Washington before going back to Tampa to win their third game in a row. Within a week, the Caps’ playoff story had shifted completely. They were down 3-2 in the series and facing elimination. In order to move on to the Finals, the Capitals needed to win the next two games. Because of their memorable playoff run and shot at the trophy, the Caps refused to fall short of a shot at the Stanley Cup. The next two games, one at home and one away, included immaculate performances by goalie Braden Holtby. Holtby shutout Tampa Bay in both games, carrying his team to 3-0 and 4-0 wins, respectively. Washington fans were ecstatic at the opportunity for their team to take home its first Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup Finals versus Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights, an expansion team that was new to the NHL this year, broke records as

they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year as a team. Before the Finals, they only lost three games in the playoffs compared to the Capitals’ seven. Both teams would have a special victory if they won the Cup; Vegas would win a championship in their first season of existence and the Capitals would win a championship that they have fought hard for and fell short of in many years past.

The Stanley Cup Finals began in Vegas for Game 1. It was a high scoring game that resulted in a 6-4 loss for the Caps. Capitals fans were uneasy after the loss when announcers stated that the winners of Game 1 are statistically favored to win the Stanley Cup. The Caps defied the odds and went on to win the next four games in a row, bringing the Stanley Cup home to Washington.

The Stanley Cup Championship was the first title for a major D.C. sports team in 26 years.

Fans had been disappointed in the past, but now they have a reason to celebrate. Others appreciate witnessing one of the greatest hockey players of this generation, Alex Ovechkin, finally win his first Championship along with the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP award.

Celebration in D.C.

Capitals players made the news, celebrating in the streets with fans after the championship win. The celebrations continued for days leading up to the parade in D.C. on Tuesday, June 12th. The parade was unlike anything the city has ever seen. The streets were filled with red shirts and happy faces, bringing a sense of joy for D.C. sports that the city has not been fortunate enough to have in the past. People of D.C. have a reason to celebrate this achievement, and they have done so with high intensity for the rest of the country to see.

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