Capitals Rejoice Because It's the Cup and It's Theirs

Washington can tell Vegas a thing or two about what it really takes to raise the Stanley Cup.

Even though the Golden Knights fell a couple of games short, their season has become one for the ages.

The Capitals, conversely, endured years of incompetence, a potential relocation that was saved by their fans, and then perpetual disappointment when they did acquire the talent to make Cup runs.

 

That's in the rear-view mirror now.

The club that went 1-39-0 away from home during its expansion season back in 1974 finally attained its ultimate goal in the city that flocks of tourists believe is the ultimate road trip.

Underscoring that point Golden Knights' T-Mobile Arena saw a massive influx of Caps fans make the trek to witness what they hoped to be history. Back in DC, the scenes were surreal:

 

And no one needed to exaggerate this turnout count:

 

All the Capitals had to do was deliver.

With the deeper-set 1-1-3 zone they implemented in Game 2, among other things like emotion, accuracy, and pedantic attention to detail, dudes withstood a hard charge from the Knights to claim a Cup-winning 4-3 victory:

 

Yeah, indeed.

Alex Ovechkin, as usual, spent the entire season doing everything a captain should do. Then, in the post-season, the Crushin' Russian turned it up to 11.

That included being on the glory end of a perfect saucer pass from Nicklas Bäckström to complete one of the lit combinations this season:

 

Then there's fundamental positioning.

Lars Eller did a workman's job putting Knights' blueliner Lucas Sbisa on his hip in the play that sealed the Caps' deal.

The question is, after getting out-positioned, why wasn't Sbisa working to raise Eller's stick? Fatal mistake.

 

Shortly thereafter, the celebration -- 44 seasons in the making was -- went epic.

TJ Oshie was right there in the middle of it, as he well deserved to be. Dude's had a significant spring.

He also had one of the most moving moments afterward.

 

Meanwhile, on the business side of Las Vegas, the sportsbooks heaved a sigh of relief. They woulda been on the hook for millions if the locals won.

 

Sometimes, it's tough being loyal in this town.

But right now, the Capitals and their fans are fine with it.