LAS VEGAS – The Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup Champions. The Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
The Knights were no match for the Capitals.
The Capitals played like the best team in hockey The Knights played like an expansion team. The Capitals took 44 years to exorcise all of their playoff demons but it only took them five games to expose the Knights.
Cinderella’s carriage was a pumpkin by Game Three.
The greatest goal scorer of this generation, Alex Ovechkin, finally won the Stanley Cup. He also won the Conn Smythe for playoffs MVP. Ovechkin deserved it. Washington’s captain led the team in goals and passion. Evgeny Kuznetsov led them in points and is second only to Evgeni Malkin for points in a playoff year this century. TJ Oshie was a force on the score sheet and on the ice. He threw bone crunching hits and dynamic passes. Terrible Tommy Wilson was a menace. He was everywhere and always with bad intentions.
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
The Capitals clogged up the neutral zone and did not let the Knights use their speed on the forecheck. The Capitals were the only team this spring to make the Knights look slow.
The Knights timing was so off this series at times they had trouble making tape to tape passes.
The Capitals also physically manhandled the Knights. The Capitals did something the heavy teams of the Western Conference couldn’t do; they intimidated the Knights. Even when the Knights responded to the Capitals violence it only took the Knights out of their game.
Vegas goaltender Marc Andre Fleury always had Washington’s number in the postseason. He didn’t this year. It’s easy to say his team hung him out to dry but he didn’t play well. Fleury had been so brilliant this spring he covered up Vegas’ s mistakes and roster shortcomings. Washington’s Braden Holtby was solid in net for the Capitals.
In terms our star power this series, Washington had movie stars and Vegas had reality stars. Any of Washington’s stars Ovechlin, Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and Oshie would have been Vegas’s biggest star and best player. Vegas stars WIlliam Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal were either banged up, checked or snake bit. The Capitals buried their chances. The Knights missed open nets and hit crossbars.
Photo courtesy of DOn Haas
Washington also won the depth battle. Washington’s young legs and enthusiasm won puck battles and scored goals. Jakub Vrana, Brett Connelly and Devante Smith Pelley provided what Washington had been missing in previous years. Lars Eller and Jay Beagle gave Washington a huge advantage at 3rd and 4th center.
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Vegas’ defense by committee could not stand up the Washington forwards pressure. Fleury was under siege. The Capitals had tons of second chance opportunities and the Knights hardly any. John Carlson was a stud for Washington. Shea Theodore made Anaheim look smart for exposing him. Brooks Orpik who looked done five years ago was excellent. He played a smart and physically bruising series for Washington.
Vegas Head Coach Gerard Gallant, the hands down Coach of the Year was out-coached by lame duck Barry Trotz. The usually calm Gallant lost his cool more often than Trotz. Tactically, Gallant never solved the Washington neutral zone trap, stuck to rolling four lines instead of loading up and played Ryan Reaves way too much.
Scotty Bowman could have coached the Knights and the Capitals were going to win this series. Washington was dealt a full house. Vegas played with a pair of Jacks. Vegas played those Jacks exquisitely for nine months but folded when the stakes were the highest. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals left Vegas with all the chips in the Stanley Cup.
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
Photo courtesy of Jack Lima
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
Photo courtesy of Don Haas
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