When Vegas Gold Knights won Game 1 of 2018 Stanley Cup Finals over Washington Capitals on May 28, it looked like we are in for a nail-biting series that could go either way. Well, Capitals didn’t let that happen. They won the next four games and lifted the Stanley Cup trophy on Thursday night for the first time in the franchise’s history. It was also the first major sports championship for the city of Washington since Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1992.
It's mayhem in DC! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/d3yfs4qJXL
— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2018
“Right now I’m so happy for this group because I know how much misery they’ve gone through, our fan base,” – said Capitals coach Barry Trotz after the game. “I’ve been trying to change the narrative for a couple of years, and I’ve just so glad this group just got off the floor from last year, and they just said, you know what, it’s not going to happen anymore. Great job by everybody, they just got better and better, and just the resiliency that they’ve had to endure over the last how many years, and now they get it.”
This was also the first Stanley Cup for Alexander Ovechkin, who had to wait 13 years for this. Although regarded as one of the greatest ice-hockey players in the modern NHL, Ovechkin never managed to get over the hump; until now. Ovechkin had a tremendous postseason, being the leading scorer of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs with 15 goals. He also added 12 assists and deservingly named the Finals MVP.
“We did it,” – said Ovechkin. “That’s all that matters. Look at the smiles on my teammates. This is something you’ll never forget. This moment, I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’m so happy. It’s unbelievable.“
Although they ended up on the losing end of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals, Vegas Gold Knights know that they have shattered everyone’s wildest predictions for them in this season. Despite playing their inaugural season in NHL, Gold Knights advanced all the way to the end and should be excited about the franchise’s future.
“They deserve it,” – said Gold Knights general manager George McPhee. “They were much better than we were, and they were the better team. It’s just a hell of a team. Really a talented team, experienced team, gritty team, and they were really well coached.”
