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Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin Awarded Conn Smythe Trophy

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The Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the postseason, could have gone to several players on the Washington Capitals based on performance alone. Yet it really could not have gone to anyone but captain Alex Ovechkin. Yes, he led the postseason in goals and set a franchise record in playoff goals as well, but really this is indicative of the role that Ovechkin played as the locker room leader for the Capitals and the best player in franchise history.

En route to the team’s first ever Stanley Cup championship, Ovechkin scored 15 goals and totaled 26 points, the second most on the team to Evgeny Kuznetsov. He logged major ice time, played a physical game, and overloaded opposing goaltenders with shots. Ovechkin did everything right, on and off the ice, to finally get the Caps over the hump and to the Cup.

This Conn Smythe is also very much a career achievement award. Ovechkin is a career-Capital, the first overall pick in 2004 and the long-time captain. He is not only the face of the franchise, but one of the best players in the NHL since the turn of the century. He is a surefire Hall of Famer eventually, but undoubtedly has already earned the title of the best player in Washington history. Ovechkin is the franchise leader in goals and points, single season and career, and games played. He is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, a seven-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner, an Art Ross Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner, and seven-time All-Star; but he now has the ultimate prize, a Stanley Cup, and that is what he needed to go down as one of the best. A well-deserved Conn Smythe win for Ovechkin.

Washington Capitals Win 2018 Stanley Cup Championship

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For the first time in 44 years, the Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup champions. The 1974 expansion team won the first title in franchise history with a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five. The long-suffering fan base that has seen more President’s Trophies than Conference Championships in the team’s history can finally breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate their team getting over the hump. The Stanley Cup belongs to the Capitals in 2018.

Leading the charge for Washington in the postseason and in the deciding game was of course Alex Ovechkin. The franchise leader in scoring fittingly led the team in playoff goal scoring and set the franchise record for goals in a playoff by notching his 15th en route to a win the first title in franchise history. Evgeny Kuznetsov led the team with 32 points in the postseason, adding an assist in Game Five and leading all forwards in ice time. Lars Eller potted the game-winning goal mid-way through the third period to cap off an excellent postseason in which he took his game to the next level and was a clutch presence for the Capitals. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the play of goaltender Braden Holtby, who won back the starter’s job early in the postseason after a tough regular season and went on to make brilliant save after brilliant save these past month, especially in the Final. Not to be forgotten are key contributors like long-time Capitals Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Jay Beagle, T.J. Oshie, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik among others. Head coach Barry Trotz should also be commended for his excellent work and on a career that, like his superstar forward, has always lacked one thing: a title. Not anymore, as Trotz and the Caps are champs.

However, this win is also about the players that came before this team who have long waited for a title to come to Washington. Peter Bondra, Mike Gartner, Dale Hunter, Olaf Kolzig and others can all enjoy what this team has accomplished and what the last four decades have led to.

The achievements of George McPhee, Gerard Gallant, and Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team in their inaugural season, cannot possibly be overstated. Yet, this franchise has a bright future and is unlikely to have a long wait for their own title. Washington fans had waited long enough. After 44 years, the Washington Capitals are champs and D.C. is a title town once again after 26 years.

 

Perron, Carrier Draw In For Vegas In Game Five

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If the amount of Washington fans able buy Game Five tickets off of Vegas fans or the look on Alex Ovechkin’s face is any indication, this Stanley Cup final series is already over. However, the Golden Knights are not going to give up that easy. Underestimated since their inception, the team knows how to fight through adversity and tonight is no different.

To shake things up in an effort to extend the series, head coach Gerard Gallant has made some surprise changes to his lineup. Per beat writer Steve Carp, drawing back in after being a scratch in the last game is veteran winger David Perron. He will be joined by energetic checker William Carrier, who has missed the past ten games due to injury. Yet Tomas Tatar will remain in the lineup for the Knights after filling in for Perron in Game Four. Instead, bottom six contributors Ryan Carpenter and Ryan Reaves will take a seat for what may be the team’s final game of their inaugural season. Here is the projected lineup.

While Perron’s production has slowed in the postseason – no goals and eight assists in fourteen games – he in undeniably an offensive upgrade to Carpenter or Reaves. The 30-year-old winger has 444 points in 722 NHL games, including a career-high 66 points with Vegas this year. If the Knights plan to outscore the Capitals tonight, they will need both Perron and Tatar on the ice. While Carrier may be cold, he is also a pesky defensive presence and a vicious, but clean checker. Carrier brings a different element to the bottom six that Vegas has been lacking and could help to slow down the torrid Caps attack.

Will these moves make a difference? Tune in to a possibly deciding Game Five to find out.

Kuznetsov To Warm Up With Capitals, Likely To Play

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6:42: Kuznetsov is on the ice for the Capitals during warmups. Whyno reports that general manager Brian MacLellan said that if he gets through warm-ups, he’ll be in. He’s still a game-time decision.

4:37: It looks like Evgeny Kuznetsov will be considered a game-time decision tonight for Game 3 between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena, but speculation of whether the Washington Capitals leading scorer will play continues. With 25 points in this postseason, the star center has more points than any player in this year’s postseason, but after suffering an apparent wrist injury to his left arm that forced him to leave Game 2 early after a hit from defenseman Brayden McNabb, his status has been up in the air.

However, Kuznetsov participated in an optional skate with the team Friday and then again today for the team’s morning skate, which allowed the Associated Press’ Stephen Whyno to speculate that all signs point to a Kuznetsov return tonight, pointing out that the fact that he participated in line rushes alongside Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson and did not have any visible arm brace.

“It feels better every day,” Kuznetsov said. “In these type of games you always want to play, but you have to do better for your team and you have to understand it doesn’t matter who you are, what kind of player, you have to understand can you help the team or no. That’s the biggest part. You have to understand it and you have to communicate with the coaches, doctors and everybody, can you help the team?”

However, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston adds that while it might look like Kuznetsov is expected to play, don’t assume that. The possibility of subterfuge is a legitimate possibility with the hopes of throwing off the Golden Knights’ game plan for Game 3. Johnston points to Kuznetsov’s offbeat humor when asked if he could help give Washington the advantage for Game 3.

“I don’t know. We’ll see if I’m in,” he said. “I definitely can help in the morning skate, no? More people. Less time you have to go.”

Johnston also points out that while Kuznetsov did participate in all drills, he didn’t look comfortable out there, pointing out that he gritted his teeth when taking shots, which is not standard for the team’s points leader. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until right before the start of Game 3 to find out if he’ll be out there.

Evgeny Kuznetsov “Day-To-Day” With Upper-Body Injury

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Friday: Amazingly, Kuznetsov is on the ice at the Capitals option skate this morning. No word on whether he’ll play tomorrow, as Trotz still claims he has not been cleared to return to game action.

Thursday: The Washington Capitals came away with a big road win in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final last night, but they also lost a key contributor in the match-up. The postseason’s leading scorer, Evgeny Kuznetsov, was forced out of the game early after he was the recipient of a hip check into the boards from Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. Speaking to the media earlier, head coach Barry Trotz offered no update on Kuznetsov’s condition, other than to say that he is “day-to-day” with an undisclosed upper body injury, reports Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. Trotz seemed unsure if Kuznetsov would be available for Friday’s practice as he deals with this injury, but hopes to give a more educated update tomorrow.

The hit in question (video) seems to show the brunt of the impact landing on the right elbow and forearm area of Kuznetsov. If Kuznetsov suffered a break of any kind in that area, it would severely limit his stick-handling ability and would likely mean the end of his season. If he cannot return in the series, it would be a major blow to Washington’s Cup hopes. Kuznetsov has 25 points this postseason, including eleven goals, and had been on an 11-game point streak as well. Should the Capitals go on to win the series, the 26-year-old center would likely be one of the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

For what it’s worth, Kuznetsov’s teammates do not seem overly concerned about his availability. Alexander Ovechkin told Khurshudyan that he’s “sure he’s going to be fine”, while Nicklas Backstrom offered an open-ended “We’ll see what happens”. If Kuznetsov does miss any time, it is also comforting to Washington players, personnel, and fans alike that Lars Eller performed well when he was forced to take over Kuznetsov’s ice time last night. Eller’s tenure in Washington has not been without bumps in the road, but he has taken his play to a new level in these playoffs. It would not be easy to fill the shoes of the postseason’s most dangerous forward, but Eller seems to be up for the task if called upon.

Poll: Who Will Win The 2018 Stanley Cup Finals?

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The day has come. In just a few hours, the Washington Capitals will take on the Vegas Golden Knights in a Stanley Cup Finals matchup no one expected before the season. Even when the playoffs started and Vegas and Washington had won their respective divisions, few gave them a real fighting chance at winning the Stanley Cup. Now, in the matter of a four wins, a team will be crowned 2018 NHL Champions, and take home the first Stanley Cup in franchise history—short as that history is for the Golden Knights.

For Vegas, this is not something to take lightly. Though their team was constructed less than a year ago, and the team has blown their competition out of the water time and time again this season, they could just as easily take a massive step backwards in the years to come. Thanks to some exquisite drafting that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, but nothing is ever certain in sports. Just ask the Capitals, who have had season after season of individual successes, but are getting to the finals for just the second time in franchise history and first since 1998.

Washington is made up of much the same core as their previous early playoff exits, but feel like they are playing better now than ever before. A 32-year old Alex Ovechkin looks rejuvenated, and has 22 points in 19 playoff games. He’s generated a playoff-leading 80 shots on goal, and is playing physical hard working hockey. Their coach, Barry Trotz, could still be fighting for his future as he continues to work without an extension. Like a free agent during a contract year he’s showing the world what he can do at his best.

Those pesky Golden Knights won’t lie down easily though. Marc-Andre Fleury, an old nemesis of the Capitals will be standing in the way, flashing his Conn Smythe-caliber .947 playoff save percentage in their face. Fleury was replaced in Pittsburgh by Matt Murray in recent years, but is showing that he can still perform on the biggest stage. Vegas GM George McPhee knows the Capitals roster probably better than anyone not still with the organization, as he drafted many of the current players and constructed huge chunks of the group when he was Washington’s GM.

This series will be a war. After several (see: too many) days off, both teams are ready to get things started and will do so later tonight. Who do you think will win? Cast your vote below and comment on who you think will show up to secure the series for their team.

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Vegas GM McPhee Has Had A Hand In Building Both Stanley Cup Teams

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While much of the attention to this year’s Stanley Cup will go towards the players, especially Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and Vegas Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury, much of the spotlight should be shining on the Golden Knights’ general manager, George McPhee. The GM, who also worked as the general manager from 1997 to 2014 of the Washington Capitals, has had a hand in more than 75 percent of the players that will be on the ice on Monday.

McPhee is already responsible for putting together the Golden Knights roster from Fleury to William Karlsson to Jon Marchessault, to the often criticized deadline moves of acquiring Tomas Tatar and Ryan Reaves, both who have scored critical goals in the postseason. According to NBC Sports Tarik El-Bashir, not only has he had a hand in every player the Golden Knights have on their roster from Day 1, McPhee also is responsible for 13 of the team’s 25 players on their roster who have played in this year’s playoffs.

As the Capitals general manager, McPhee was responsible for drafting Alex Ovechkin (first overall in 2004), Nicklas Backstrom (fourth overall in 2006), Jay Beagle (signed as a free agent in 2008), John Carlson (24th overall in 2008), Braden Holtby (93rd overall in 2008), Dmitry Orlov (55th overall in 2009), Evgeny Kuznetsov (26th overall in 2010), Philipp Grubauer (112th in 2010), Travis Boyd (177th overall in 2011), Tom Wilson (16th overall in 2012), Chandler Stephenson (77th overall, 2012), Christian Djoos (195th in 2012), and Andre Burakovsky (23rd overall, 2013).

McPhee also has a close relationship with Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan. They played junior hockey together, were teammates at Bowling Green and worked together in Washington for 14 years, making this a very strange Stanley Cup Finals.

“It’s kind of a weird experience. We’ve been texting back-and-forth how strange it feels,” said McLellan on facing Vegas GM George McPhee.

Poll: Who Will Win The Eastern Conference Finals?

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In just over an hour, the Eastern Conference Finals will get underway between the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. This may have been deemed an improbable matchup last summer, after the Lightning had missed the playoffs entirely and Washington had bowed out at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins once again.

But this year is different, as the Lightning overcame their injury woes to lead the Eastern Conference in the regular season, while the Capitals slayed the demon that was the Penguins in the second round. Now Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will try to take the next step on the way to their first Stanley Cup.

Just before the playoffs started, we polled or readers and asked who would represent the East in the Stanley Cup Finals. The top two vote-getting teams have already been eliminated, as the Penguins and Boston Bruins came in with 29 and 22 percent of the vote. The Lightning naturally were next, while the Capitals had just 84 people who believed they could go all the way.

Has your vote changed? Is this the year that Ovechkin finally shows that he can carry a team all the way to a Stanley Cup victory? Is the Tampa Bay depth too relentless to overcome? Who will come out of the Eastern Conference? Vote below, and make sure to explain your decision in the comments.

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Playoff Notes: Tortorella, Miller, Devils

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The Washington Capitals, who have tortured their fans with crushing playoff losses in the past, are a game away from digging out of a 2-0 hole and advancing to the second round. After beating Columbus 4-3 in overtime this afternoon, Washington has a chance to wrap the series up Monday night in Columbus. But it won’t be that easy, writes the Washington Post’s Roman Stubbs, who quotes Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella as saying there will be another game in D.C.:

“We will be back here for Game 7,” he said, before doubling down after another question about how he would prepare his team for the next game. “I won’t have to say a damn word to them. We’ll be back here for Game 7.”

As Stubbs points out, this isn’t the first person to guarantee victory, as the Caps’ Alex Ovechkin vowed that his team would rally from the two game deficit. Last season, Mike Babcock guaranteed a seventh game against the Capitals, but as Stubbs notes, that guarantee “rang hollow.” The Jackets’ bench boss is most likely trying to deflect the pressure that builds after squandering a two game series lead, or as Caps coach Barry Trotz said after hearing of Tortorella’s guarantee: “He wants to get it out there he believes in his team, just as I believe in my team.”

  • J.T. Miller is thriving with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the former Ranger has been a key part in Tampa’s first round success writes Newsday’s Colin Stephenson. With four points in five games, Stephenson reports that being on a line with Steven Stamkos certainly helps his performance, but it’s Miller’s grit and tenacity that has made him so valuable on a team loaded with skill. Whether it’s his work on the ice leading to goals, like his screen of Cory Schneider during Nikita Kucherov’s goal, or his knack to win crucial faceoffs (currently 56% through five games), he’s a guy, according to Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper, who “can make plays.”
  • Emily Kaplan of ESPN (Insider Subscription needed) offers a post-mortem of the Devils season and writes that the team has to add some defensive depth as it was a glaring need during the five game loss to the Lightning. She writes that both Sami Vatanen and Will Butcher are great building blocks for a strong defensive corps, but “reinforcements” are needed to get the Devils back into the playoffs and beyond. She also touches on predictions for next season, and what the Devils should do concerning Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner.

All-Star Skills Competition Assignments Released

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With the All-Star game one day away, many NHL fans often get more excited for the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition, which will be tonight. The NHL released the list of who will be participating in each of the six competitions with the winner of each receiving $25K.

Enterprise NHL Fastest Skater – Each skater is timed for one full lap around the rink.
Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Rickard Rakell (Anaheim Ducks)
Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes)
Josh Bailey (New York Islanders)
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres)
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)

Dunkin Donuts NHL Passing Challenge – Requires three skills over one round, including Target Passing (making four passes to a target that light up randomly), Give-and-Go (must complete four successful passes through a course in the neutral zone) and Mini Nets (must complete four passes over barricades and into mini-nets).
Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers)
Brayden Schenn (St. Louis Blues)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona Coyotes)
Eric Staal (Minnesota Wild)
Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues)
Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings)

GEICO NHL Save Streak – Goalies attempt to win by making the most consecutive saves against an opposing division on a minimum of nine shots.
Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers) vs. Central Division
Connor Hellebuyck (Vancouver Canucks) vs. Pacific Division
Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) vs. Metropolitan Division
Marc-Andre Fleury (Vegas Golden Knights) vs. Atlantic Division
Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning) vs. Central Division

Gatorade NHL Puck Control Relay – A timed event that involves three skills, including Stickhandling (where a skater must control a puck through a series of eight pucks in a straight line), Cone Control (where a skater controls a puck through a series of eight cones in a zig-zag formation) and Gates (where a skater must shoot or choose to guide the puck through a lighted rung of a gate).
Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames)
Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators)
John Tavares (New York Islanders)
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars)
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)

PPG NHL Hardest Shot – Over two rounds, each player will attempt two shots measured in miles per hour with the highest speed recorded.
John Klingberg (Dallas Stars)
Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
P.K. Subban (Nashville Predators)
Brent Burns (San Jose Sharks)
Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Honda NHL Shooting Accuracy – A timed event in which a skater is positioned 25 feet behind the goal line and must shoot at five LED targets in the goal. A target will light up and the players has three seconds to hit it.
Brian Boyle (New Jersey Devils)
Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets)
James Neal (Vegas Golden Knights)
Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks)
Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins)
Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)

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