Caps Game Winning Goal
2018 Stanley Cup Finals
12345Total
Washington Capitals433644
Vegas Golden Knights621231
Location(s)Washington: Capital One Arena (3, 4)
Paradise: T-Mobile Arena (1, 2, 5)
CoachesWashington: Barry Trotz
Vegas: Gerard Gallant
CaptainsWashington: Alexander Ovechkin
Vegas: Vacant
National anthemsWashington: Caleb Green and Bob McDonald (game 3) Caleb Green, Bob McDonald and U.S. Army chorus (game 4)
Vegas: Carnell Johnson
RefereesMarc Joannette (1, 3, 5), Wes McCauley (1, 3, 5), Chris Rooney (2, 4), Kelly Sutherland (2, 4)
DatesMay 28 – June 7
MVPAlexander Ovechkin (Capitals)
Series-winning goalLars Eller(12:23, third, G5)
NetworksCanada (English): CBC
Canada (French): TVA Sports
United States (English): NBC and NBCSN
Announcers(CBC) Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson
(TVA) Felix Seguin, Patrick Lalime, Renaud Lavoie
(NBC/NBCSN) Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
(NHL International) Steve Mears, Kevin Weekes
(NBC Sports Radio & NHL Radio) Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti (1–4), Ray Ferraro, Jim Fox (5), Steve Goldstein
Eastern FinalWashington Capitals defeated Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–3
Western FinalVegas Golden Knights defeated Winnipeg Jets, 4–1
  1. Below is an excerpt from the book 100 Things Capitals Should Know and Do Before They Die, highlighting Hunter’s game winner, which remains one of the greatest goals in franchise history.
  2. Posts about Game-Winning Goal written by Michael Fleetwood. (NoVa Caps, LLC) is not associated with the Washington Capitals; the NHL, or its properties.
  3. Thanks to Lars Eller’s game-winning goal with 7:37 to play, the drought, at long last, is over, and it was okay to believe. Special teams play was one of the keys to the Capitals’ Game 4.

For the first time in 20 years, the Washington Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they did it by knocking out their nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in a thrilling overtime game.

The 2018 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2017–18 season and the culmination of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals defeated the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights four games to one to win their first championship, in their 44th season. The Vegas Golden Knights made the Finals in their first season, while this was the second Finals appearance for the Capitals. This was the first Finals series since 2007 where neither team had previously won the Stanley Cup and the third consecutive year in which a Western Conference team made their Finals debut. This was the first Finals since 2014 to require fewer than six games. Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

The series began on May 28 and ended on June 7.[1] The Vegas Golden Knights had home ice advantage in the series since the Golden Knights won the Pacific Division with 109 points during the regular season, while the Capitals won the Metropolitan Division with 105 points.

  • 1Path to the Finals
  • 2Game summaries
  • 3Team rosters
  • 4Stanley Cup presentation and engraving

Path to the Finals[edit]

Washington Capitals[edit]

This was Washington's second Finals appearance; the Capitals were swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998.[2]

The Capitals did not make many major offseason transactions with the exception of signing forward Devante Smith-Pelly.[3] Major re-signings during the off-season included forwards T. J. Oshie,[4]Evgeny Kuznetsov,[5] and Andre Burakovsky;[6] and goalie Philipp Grubauer.[7] Washington then re-signed Lars Eller during the season.[8] The team was conservative during the trade deadline. Wanting to make a Stanley Cup run with the core players that they already had,[9] they only acquired defensemen Michal Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks[10] and Jakub Jerabek from the Montreal Canadiens.[11]

The Capitals finished the regular season with 105 points (49–26–7), winning their division. Left winger and team captain Alexander Ovechkin was the winner of this season's Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy, leading the league with 49 regular-season goals.[12] Kuznetsov led the team in assists with 56.[13]

In the first round of playoffs, Washington came back from a 0-2 series deficit to win four in a row to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games. The Capitals then won a 4–2 series against their division rival and two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, whom the Capitals had beaten in a playoff series only once in ten previous attempts since 1994; losing the last seven prior series to them. The Penguins had eliminated Washington from the playoffs in the second round the previous two years. Washington then defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games, winning game seven on the road for only the second time in franchise history and first since 2012.[14]

Vegas Golden Knights[edit]

Vegas became the first expansion team since the 1967–68 St. Louis Blues to make the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season. However, the 1967–68 expansion was structured so that an expansion team was guaranteed to make the final. By contrast, the Golden Knights entered the season as long shots to make the postseason, let alone the Final,[15] with sources like Deadspin[16] and Newsweek[17] predicting that Vegas would be among the worst teams in the league. The team ended up enjoying one of the strongest debut seasons for an expansion team in North American professional sports history.[18]

Las Vegas was awarded as the NHL's 31st franchise on June 22, 2016, to begin to play for the 2017–18 season.[19] On April 13, 2017, the team announced the hiring of their inaugural head coach, Gerard Gallant.[20] The team then participated in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, selecting an available player from all of the other 30 NHL teams. Some notable selections included goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who had won three Stanley Cups as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, winger James Neal from the Nashville Predators, and Jonathan Marchessault from the Florida Panthers. Fleury was left exposed by the Penguins because of the emergence of Matt Murray.[21] The Panthers, who had salary cap issues, traded Reilly Smith to the Golden Knights in exchange for Vegas selecting Marchessault.[22]

The team started winning, despite Fleury being injured for most of the first months of the season.[23] The team relied on four other goaltenders while their starter was injured. Instead of being sellers trying to unload players with one-year contracts by the trade deadline, Vegas became surprise buyers,[24] acquiring Ryan Reaves from the Penguins[25] and Tomas Tatar from the Detroit Red Wings.[26]

On March 26, 2018, Vegas became the first team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season in the league since the Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers in the 1979–80 season.[27] Following that achievement, on March 31, Vegas became the first modern-era expansion team from any of the four major sports and the first NHL team since the 1926–27 New York Rangers to win their division in their inaugural season (excluding the 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers, as all teams in the West Division that year were expansion teams).[28] The Golden Knights ended up finishing the regular season with 109 points (51–24–7). In the playoffs, Vegas swept the Los Angeles Kings in four games, defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games, and eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Finals in five games.[29]

Filler

With Vegas' trip to the 2018 Finals, a brand-new team in the league has now reached the Stanley Cup Finals every 50 years dating back to 1918.[30] The Toronto Arenas reached the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals and won the Cup, but this was the first year of the new NHL (after every team except the Toronto Blueshirts left the National Hockey Association). The St. Louis Blues reached the 1968 Stanley Cup Finals and got swept by the Montreal Canadiens, but this was a year in which six brand-new expansion teams all entered the league at the same time and were all placed in the same division and the winner of that West Division would face the winner of the East Division. As such, 2018 was the first of these three occurrences where a team in their inaugural season was not guaranteed a chance to reach the finals beforehand.[citation needed]

Game summaries[edit]

Number in parenthesis represents the player's total goals or assists to that point of the entire four rounds of the playoffs

Game one[edit]

May 28Washington Capitals4–6Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile ArenaRecap

Both teams scored twice in the opening period. The first goal came from Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Colin Miller whose slap shot went past Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. Washington struck back later in the period as both Brett Connolly and Nicklas Backstrom scored 42 seconds apart. William Karlsson then snuck the puck in between Holtby and the left post to tie the game. Early in the second period, a rebound off the glass came to Deryk Engelland who passed to an open Reilly Smith firing one past Holtby. Capitals defenceman John Carlson tied up the score after some nice passing from the defender and T. J. Oshie left himself wide open for the goal. In the third period, Tom Wilson redirected Alexander Ovechkin's shot past Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to take the lead in the game. However, Vegas responded 1:41 later as Ryan Reaves went top-shelf to tie the game yet again. This goal proved to be controversial, as Ryan Reaves illegally cross-checked John Carlson to get into position to score. Tomas Nosek was able to score for Vegas later in the period, taking the pass from Shea Theodore. Vegas kept the lead in the penultimate minutes, grabbing an empty-net goal in the final minute to finish the game 6–4.[31]

Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stVGKColin Miller (3) – ppErik Haula (5)07:151–0 VGK
WSHBrett Connolly (5)Michal Kempny (2), Andre Burakovsky (1)14:411–1
WSHNicklas Backstrom (5)T. J. Oshie (9), Jakub Vrana (5)15:232–1 WSH
VGKWilliam Karlsson (7)Reilly Smith (15), Deryk Engelland (1)18:192–2
2ndVGKReilly Smith (3)Deryk Engelland (2), Jonathan Marchessault (11)03:213–2 VGK
WSHJohn Carlson (4)T. J. Oshie (10), Nicklas Backstrom (13)08:293–3
3rdWSHTom Wilson (4)Alexander Ovechkin (11), Evgeny Kuznetsov (14)01:104–3 WSH
VGKRyan Reaves (2)Unassisted02:414–4
VGKTomas Nosek (2)Shea Theodore (6)09:445–4 VGK
VGKTomas Nosek (3) – enDavid Perron (8)19:576–4 VGK
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayerPenaltyTimePIM
1stWSHAndre BurakovskyBoarding05:532:00
2ndVGKBench (served by David Perron)Too many men on the ice13:552:00
3rdWSHTom WilsonInterference05:532:00
VGKDavid PerronCross-checking05:532:00
Shots by period
Team123Total
WSH1081028
VGK1114934

Game two[edit]

May 30Washington Capitals3–2Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile ArenaRecap

During the first period of game two, James Neal took a pass from Luca Sbisa, firing a wrist shot past Braden Holtby. The Capitals tied the game during a four-on-four when Lars Eller shot into an empty net from Michal Kempny's pass. During the second period, Golden Knights rookie Alex Tuch was penalized for cross-checking, and on the ensuing power-play, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin fired a shot from a tight angle to give Washington the lead. Brooks Orpik extended the Capitals' lead to two goals when his shot deflected off Alex Tuch past Marc-Andre Fleury. Vegas cut the deficit by one goal when T. J. Oshie interfered with Colin Miller and Shea Theodore scored on the power-play. In the third period Holtby backstopped Washington to the victory, stopping the final fifteen shots from Vegas to win 3–2.[32]

Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stVGKJames Neal (5)Luca Sbisa (3), Colin Miller (2)07:581–0 VGK
WSHLars Eller (6)Michal Kempny (3), Andre Burakovsky (2)17:271–1
2ndWSHAlexander Ovechkin (13) – ppLars Eller (10), Nicklas Backstrom (14)05:382–1 WSH
WSHBrooks Orpik (1)Lars Eller (11), Andre Burakovsky (3)09:413–1 WSH
VGKShea Theodore (3) – ppReilly Smith (16), William Karlsson (8)17:473–2 WSH
3rdNone
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayerPenaltyTimePIM
1stWSHT. J. OshieRoughing16:432:00
VGKDeryk EngellandRoughing16:432:00
2ndWSHBrooks OrpikIllegal check to head02:042:00
VGKAlex TuchCross-checking05:132:00
WSHNicklas BackstromHolding06:562:00
VGKErik HaulaHolding06:562:00
VGKRyan ReavesRoughing10:102:00
WSHDmitry OrlovHooking11:422:00
WSHT. J. OshieInterference17:272:00
3rdWSHTom WilsonInterference03:132:00
WSHLars EllerHooking04:052:00
Shots by period
Team123Total
WSH119626
VGK10141539

Game three[edit]

Blues Game Winning Goal

June 2Vegas Golden Knights1–3Washington CapitalsCapital One ArenaRecap

After a tense first period in which neither team scored, Alexander Ovechkin scored early in the second period to give Washington the lead. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was believed to have suffered an arm injury the game prior,[33] scored 11:40 after Ovechkin, extending Washington's lead to two. Tomas Nosek scored off of a Braden Holtby giveaway to cut the deficit in half early in the third period. However, 10 minutes later Shea Theodore mishandled the puck in his own zone and Jay Beagle capitalized on the error, making a pass to an open Devante Smith-Pelly who restored the two-goal lead for Washington. The Capitals played defensively for the final minutes of the game to win 3–1, and took the series lead.[34]

Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stNone
2ndWSHAlexander Ovechkin (14)John Carlson (14), Evgeny Kuznetsov (15)01:101–0 WSH
WSHEvgeny Kuznetsov (12)Jay Beagle (5), T. J. Oshie (11)12:502–0 WSH
3rdVGKTomas Nosek (4)Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (3)03:292–1 WSH
WSHDevante Smith-Pelly (5)Jay Beagle (6)13:533–1 WSH
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayerPenaltyTimePIM
1stWSHDevante Smith-PellyInterference05:042:00
VGKReilly SmithHolding11:212:00
2ndVGKErik HaulaHooking09:552:00
WSHDevante Smith-PellyTripping18:342:00
VGKMarc-Andre FleuryTripping19:382:00
3rdVGKDeryk EngellandTripping07:352:00

Game Winning Goal Hockey

Shots by period
Team123Total
VGK58922
WSH714526

Game four[edit]

June 4Vegas Golden Knights2–6Washington CapitalsCapital One ArenaRecap

During the first period, a penalty called on Colin Miller for tripping allowed T. J. Oshie to give Washington the first lead. The Capitals extended the lead after Evgeny Kuznetsov fed a pass to Tom Wilson who fired a wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleury. Devante Smith-Pelly then gave Washington a 3–0 lead after a pass by Matt Niskanen deflected off Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault to the stick of Smith-Pelly, who scored top-shelf on Fleury. Even with the Golden Knights more than doubling the shots of Washington, John Carlson gave the Capitals a 4–0 lead, firing a slap shot on the power-play. In the third period, Vegas ended the shutout as James Neal scored just as Evgeny Kuznetsov's tripping penalty had expired. Reilly Smith cut the deficit to two goals, scoring on the backhand past Braden Holtby. Washington restored a three-goal lead during a four-on-four; as Nicklas Backstrom fed an open Michal Kempny, firing the shot past Fleury. Brett Connolly added an insurance goal with less than two minutes remaining, giving the Capitals a commanding 6–2 lead.[35]

Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stWSHT. J. Oshie (8) – ppEvgeny Kuznetsov (16), Nicklas Backstrom (15)09:541–0 WSH
WSHTom Wilson (5)Evgeny Kuznetsov (17)16:262–0 WSH
WSHDevante Smith-Pelly (6)Matt Niskanen (8), Alexander Ovechkin (12)19:393–0 WSH
2ndWSHJohn Carlson (5) – ppEvgeny Kuznetsov (18), T. J. Oshie (12)15:234–0 WSH
3rdVGKJames Neal (6)Erik Haula (6), Colin Miller (3)05:434–1 WSH
VGKReilly Smith (4)Jonathan Marchessault (12), Luca Sbisa (4)12:264–2 WSH
WSHMichal Kempny (2)Nicklas Backstrom (16), T. J. Oshie (13)13:395–2 WSH
WSHBrett Connolly (6) – ppNicklas Backstrom (17), Evgeny Kuznetsov (19)18:516–2 WSH
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayerPenaltyTimePIM
1stWSHJohn CarlsonTripping03:582:00
VGKColin MillerTripping09:222:00
2ndWSHJohn CarlsonTripping05:212:00
WSHTom WilsonCross-checking09:182:00
VGKJames NealSlashing14:452:00
3rdVGKErik HaulaSlashing01:332:00
WSHEvgeny KuznetsovTripping03:422:00
WSHTom WilsonRoughing13:032:00
VGKRyan ReavesRoughing13:032:00
VGKNate SchmidtTripping16:572:00
VGKBrayden McNabbCross-checking17:442:00
VGKDeryk EngellandMisconduct17:4410:00
WSHT. J. OshieMisconduct17:4410:00
VGKRyan ReavesMisconduct19:1710:00
Shots by period
Team123Total
VGK1111930
WSH105723

Game five[edit]

June 7Washington Capitals4–3Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile ArenaRecap

Although no goals were scored in the first period, the Capitals had the shot advantage nine to seven. During the second period, Tom Wilson passed to a speedy Jakub Vrana going past the Golden Knight's defender and beating Marc-Andre Fleury to take the lead. The Golden Knights tied the game soon after as former-Capitals defenceman Nate Schmidt shot through a flurry of players and the puck deflected off of Matt Niskanen past Braden Holtby. Alexander Ovechkin gave the Capitals the lead again on the power play, firing a shot onto Fleury, bouncing off his back and into the net. With the goal, it broke a tie with John Druce for most goals in a postseason by a Capitals player with fifteen. David Perron tied the game for Vegas, scoring his first goal of the postseason via deflection. Coach Barry Trotz of the Capitals challenged the play on goaltender interference as Perron appeared to hit the skate of Holtby as he was battling for position; the challenge was unsuccessful. An open Reilly Smith gave the Golden Knights the lead in the final minute of the second period, taking the pass from Alex Tuch. During the third period, Devante Smith-Pelly tied the game halfway through the period and less than three minutes later, a shot came from the slot and went between Fleury's pads, but, unbeknownst to Fleury and his defensemen, the puck sneaked through and was laying in view just behind him and Lars Eller forehanded it into the net to give the Capitals the lead with 7:37 left. With two minutes left, Vegas pulled Fleury for an extra attacker. At 18:11 of the third period, the game clock froze, however, the next stoppage in play occurred at 28.9 seconds remaining, allowing the clock to be readjusted.[36] Nevertheless, the attempts of the Golden Knights were thwarted as the Capitals held on to win the game and their first Stanley Cup.[37][38] Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.[39]

Scoring summary
PeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore
1stNone
2ndWSHJakub Vrana (3)Tom Wilson (10), Evgeny Kuznetsov (20)06:241–0 WSH
VGKNate Schmidt (3)Reilly Smith (17), Jonathan Marchessault (13)09:401–1
WSHAlexander Ovechkin (15) – ppNicklas Backstrom (18), John Carlson10:142–1 WSH
VGKDavid Perron (1)Tomas Tatar (1), Colin Miller (4)12:562–2
VGKReilly Smith (5) – ppAlex Tuch (4), Shea Theodore (7)19:313–2 VGK
3rdWSHDevante Smith-Pelly (7)Brooks Orpik (4)09:523–3
WSHLars Eller (7)Brett Connolly (3), Andre Burakovsky (4)12:234–3 WSH
Penalty summary
PeriodTeamPlayerPenaltyTimePIM
1stVGKColin MillerInterference11:442:00
2ndVGKShea TheodoreTripping00:212:00
WSHChristian DjoosHigh sticking03:192:00
VGKBrayden McNabbTripping09:512:00
WSHAlexander OvechkinTripping17:462:00
WSHBrooks OrpikRoughing19:312:00
VGKReilly SmithRoughing19:312:00
VGKAlex TuchRoughing19:312:00
WSHJay BeagleRoughing19:312:00
3rdVGKTomas TatarHooking05:372:00
Shots by period
Team123Total
WSH9111333
VGK7131131

Team rosters[edit]

Vegas Golden Knights[edit]

Deryk Engelland served as the de facto team captain during the playoffs
#NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance
3Brayden McNabbDL272017Davidson, Saskatchewanfirst
5Deryk Engelland – ADR362017Edmonton, Albertafirst
6Colin MillerDR252017Sault Ste. Marie, Ontariofirst
15Jon MerrillDL262017Oklahoma City, Oklahomafirst
18James Neal – ARWL302017Whitby, Ontariosecond (2017)
19Reilly Smith – ARWL272017Toronto, Ontariofirst
21Cody EakinCL272017Winnipeg, Manitobafirst
24Oscar LindbergCL262017Skellefteå, Swedenfirst
27Shea TheodoreDL222017Langley, British Columbiafirst
28William CarrierLWL232017LaSalle, Quebecfirst
29Marc-Andre FleuryGL332017Sorel-Tracy, Quebecfifth (2008, 2009, 2016, 2017)
30Malcolm SubbanGL242017Toronto, Ontariofirst
33Maxime LagaceGL252017Saint-Agustin, Quebecfirst
40Ryan CarpenterCR272017Oviedo, Floridafirst
41Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – ALWL332017Le Blanc-Mesnil, Francefirst
47Luca Sbisa – ADL282017Ozieri, Italyfirst
56Erik HaulaLWL272017Pori, Finlandfirst
57David Perron – ALWR292017Sherbrooke, Quebecfirst
71William KarlssonCL252017Märsta, Swedenfirst
75Ryan ReavesRWR312018Winnipeg, Manitobafirst
81Jonathan MarchessaultCR272017Cap-Rouge, Quebecsecond (2015)
88Nate SchmidtDL262017St. Cloud, Minnesotafirst
89Alex TuchRWR222017Syracuse, New Yorkfirst
90Tomas TatarLWL272018Ilava, Czechoslovakiafirst
92Tomas NosekLWL252017Pardubice, Czechoslovakiafirst

Washington Capitals[edit]

Alexander Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy[39]
#NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance
2Matt NiskanenDR312014Virginia, Minnesotafirst
6Michal KempnyDL272018Hodonin, Czechoslovakiafirst
8Alexander Ovechkin – CLWR322004Moscow, Soviet Unionfirst
9Dmitry OrlovDL262009Novokuznetsk, Soviet Unionfirst
10Brett ConnollyRWR262016Campbell River, British Columbiafirst
13Jakub VranaLWL222014Prague, Czech Republicfirst
18Chandler StephensonCL242012Saskatoon, Saskatchewanfirst
19Nicklas Backstrom – ACL302006Valbo, Swedenfirst
20Lars EllerCL292016Rødovre, Denmarkfirst
22Madison BoweyDR232013Winnipeg, Manitobafirst
25Devante Smith-PellyLWR252017Scarborough, Ontariofirst
28Jakub JerabekDL272018Plzeň, Czechoslovakiafirst
29Christian DjoosDL232012Gothenburg, Swedenfirst
31Philipp GrubauerGL262010Rosenheim, Germanyfirst
39Alex ChiassonRWR272017Montreal, Quebecfirst
43Tom WilsonRWR242012Toronto, Ontariofirst
44Brooks Orpik – ADL372014San Francisco, Californiathird (2008, 2009)
63Shane GersichLWL212014Chaska, Minnesotafirst
65Andre BurakovskyLWL232013Klagenfurt, Austriafirst
70Braden HoltbyGL282008Lloydminster, Saskatchewanfirst
72Travis BoydCL242011Hopkins, Minnesotafirst
74John CarlsonDR282008Natick, Massachusettsfirst
77T. J. OshieRWR312015Everett, Washingtonfirst
79Nathan WalkerLWL242017Cardiff, Walesfirst
83Jay BeagleCR322008Calgary, Albertafirst
92Evgeny KuznetsovCL262010Chelyabinsk, Russiafirst

Game Winning Goal Hockey

Stanley Cup presentation and engraving[edit]

Stanley Cup at the Capitals' victory celebration

The Stanley Cup was presented to Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin by NHL commissionerGary Bettman. The following Capitals players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup:[40]

Winning

Players

Centres

Washington Capitals Game Winning Goal

  • 18 Chandler Stephenson^
  • 19 Nicklas Backstrom (A)
  • 20 Lars Eller
  • 83 Jay Beagle
  • 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov
Wingers
  • 8 Alexander Ovechkin (C)
  • 10 Brett Connolly
  • 13 Jakub Vrana
  • 25 Devante Smith-Pelly
  • 39 Alex Chiasson
  • 43 Tom Wilson
  • 65 Andre Burakovsky
  • 77 T. J. Oshie
Defencemen
  • 2 Matt Niskanen
  • 6 Michal Kempny
  • 9 Dmitry Orlov
  • 22 Madison Bowey
  • 29 Christian Djoos
  • 44 Brooks Orpik (A)
  • 74 John Carlson
Goaltenders
  • 70 Braden Holtby
  • 31 Philipp Grubauer
  • ^ - Also played Wing

Coaching and administrative staff

  • Ted Leonsis (Chairman/Majority Owner/Chief Executive Officer/Governor), Dick Patrick (Vice Chairman/Chief Operating Officer/President/Alt. Governor-Minority Owner), Brian MacLellan (Sr. Vice President/General Manager/Alt. Governor)
  • Donald Fishman (Asst. General Manager), J. Ross Mahoney (Asst. General Manager), Kristian Wagner (Director of Hockey Operations)
  • Christopher Patrick (Director, Player Personnel), Steve Richmond (Director, Player Development), Rob Tillotson (Director of Team Operations)
  • Barry Trotz (Head Coach), Todd Reirden (Associate Coach), Blaine Forsythe (Asst. Coach)
  • Lane Lambert (Asst. Coach), Brett Leonhardt (Video Coach), Timothy Ohashi (Video Analyst)
  • Scott Murray (Goaltending Coach), Mitch Korn (Director of Goaltending), Mark Nemish (Strength & Conditioning Coach), James Serbus (Athletic Trainer)
  • Michael Booi (Asst. Athletic Trainer), Brock Myles (Equipment Manager), Craig Leydig (Asst. Equipment Manager), David Marin (Equipment Asst.)
  • Steve Bowman (Head Amateur Scout), Jason Fitximmons (Pro Scout/Director of Minor League Operations), Ed McColgan (Scout), Martin Pouliot (Scout)
  • Brian Sutherby (Scout), Olaf Kolzig (Pro Development Coach), Sergey Kocharov (Vice President of Communications)

Players included[edit]

  • 6 Michal Kempny — played 31 regular season games for Chicago, 22 games for Washington. He played all 24 playoff games for Washington and qualified to have his name on the Stanley Cup.
  • 39 Alex Chiasson — played 61 regular season games and 16 playoff games, but no Stanley Cup Final games, qualified to have his name on the Cup for meeting the 41 regular season game requirement.
  • 22 Madison Bowey — played 51 regular season games and no playoff games, qualified to have his name on the Cup for meeting the 41 regular season game requirement.

Included on the team picture, but left off the Stanley Cup[edit]

  • 28 Jakub Jerabek (D) — played 25 games for Montreal, plus 11 regular season games for Washington and two playoff games (in the first round)
  • 72 Travis Boyd (C) — played 8 regular season games and one playoff game (in the second round)
  • 79 Nathan Walker (LW) — played 2 games for Edmonton, plus 7 regular season games for Washington & one playoff game (in the second round)
  • 63 Shane Gersich (LW) — played 3 regular season games and two playoff games (in the second round)
  • Raul Fernandez (Vice Chairman-Minority Owner), Sheila Johnson (Vice Chairman-Minority Owner)
  • Cleo Bates (Message Therapist), Ray Straccia (Locker Room Asst.)

Engraving notes[edit]

  • Devante Smith-Pelly was the second player, after Patrice Bergeron-Cleary to have a hyphenated surname engraved on the trophy.
  • The Cup is now full so a new ring was added to include Washington Capitals members. The top ring with the winners from 1954 to 1965 (12 teams) was taken off and will be put on permanent display at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Some famous names that will no longer be on the Cup include Dickie Moore, Maurice Richard, Jacques Plante, Bert Olmstead, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, and more. There are several retired rings at the Hockey Hall of Fame that feature winning team members' names from 1924 to 1965.

TV and radio[edit]

In Canada, the series was broadcast by Sportsnet and CBC Television in English,[41] and TVA Sports in French. In the U.S., the Finals were split between NBC (Games 1, 4 and 5) and NBCSN (Games 2 and 3).[42]

In the U.S., with an average of 4.918 million viewers across all games, they were the highest-rated Stanley Cup Finals without an 'Original Six' team since 1994. Game 5 drew 6.714 million viewers, making it the most-watched game 5 since 2002.[43]

References[edit]

  1. ^'Stanley Cup Final schedule'. NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  2. ^Allen, Scott. 'Remembering the Caps' run to the 1998 Stanley Cup finals: 'Nobody wanted to play against us''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
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Caps Game Winning Goal Video

External links[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_Stanley_Cup_Finals&oldid=915313518'
Published 12:53 AM EDT May 4, 2018

The Pittsburgh Penguins lose some, and win some when it comes to goal reviews in these NHL playoffs.

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal game against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins believed Patric Hornqvist jammed a puck into the net. But the referees never saw the puck cross the line, and four cameras used on video review could not verify the goal either.

According the review rules, no proof, no reason to overturn the ruling on the ice. No goal for the Penguins.

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On Thursday night, the Penguins were in a similar position when Evgeni Malkin appeared to jab the puck over the line during a goalmouth scramble. Was it in?

This time overhead cameras captured the puck over the line to confirm the goal. But the matter still wasn’t settled, as Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz challenged on the basis of goaltender interference.

The replay was looked at again, but interference wasn't detected. Good goal, giving the Penguins a lead 2-1 with 2:29 left in the second period.

More: Goal or no goal? What goes into NHL reviews that always stir up controversy

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Malkin's goal ended up standing as the game-winner as the Penguins added an empty-netter to win 3-1 and even the series up at 2-2.

“It’s a good goal, we’re happy,” Malkin said. “Sometimes it’s a bad call against us. Sometimes it’s a good call. But we’re looking at the next game. We understand it’s not over.”

Contributing: Associated Press

Blues game winning goal
Published 12:53 AM EDT May 4, 2018