Alex Ovechkin’s season began with the Capitals star unleashing a hat trick on opening night. It ended with him hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head, skating with the trophy he chased for his entire NHL career.
This season, Ovechkin and the Capitals pushed back against the narratives that plagued them for years. We’ve all heard them — even repeated them ourselves. Ovechkin can’t get past the second round. When the pressure is on, the Capitals fold. It’s time to break this core up.
With a victory in Game 5 Thursday over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Capitals clinched their first ever championship — and the District’s first in 26 years.