LAS VEGAS — Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals put years of heartbreak behind them by winning the Stanley Cup for the first time, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.
«It’s just like a dream,» Ovechkin said.
Lars Eller scored the Cup-winning goal at 12:23 of the third period after Devante Smith-Pelly tied it 3-3 at 9:52.
Ovechkin, who is the first Russia-born captain to win the Stanley Cup, and Jakub Vranascored, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves for the Capitals, who reached the Cup Final once previously, in 1998, when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.
This was their 43rd season. It was Ovechkin’s 13th season and Washington’s 10th appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2008.
«Years of heartbreak, years of breaking things down and trying again, breaking things down and trying again,» Holtby said. «This group never gave up, and we finally did it.»
Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs. He led the League with 15 goals, setting a Capitals record for a single postseason.
Los Wahington Capitals por fin ganaron la Stanley Cup, la primera en su historia, al vencer 4-3 en el quinto partido a Las Vegas Golden Knights en el quinto partido de la serie final de la NHL.
Ovenchkin quien es el primer jugador nacido en Rusia en ganar la Stanley Cup y Jakob Vrana anotaron y Braden Holtby, tuvo 28 salvamentos para los Capitalinos, que ganar su primera copa, despues de haber perdido la única otra final disputado en 1998, cuando fueron barridos por los Detroit Red Wings.
Esta fue la temporada numero 43 para Washigton. la 13 para Ovechkin y la décima aparición para los Capitalinos en Playoffs de la Stanley Cup, desde el 2008.