Ovechkin’s Caps aim higher
A new Stanley Cup champion will be crowned.
The Washington Capitals saw to that by eliminating the two-time reigning Pittsburgh Penguins in dramatic style.
It’s “monkey off their back” and all that for the Alex Ovechkin-era Capitals, who until now have only ever found ways to stub their toes in the playoffs. Now Ovechkin and the Capitals will face the Lightning in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final, starting Friday in Tampa.
“I’ve never been in this position before,” Ovechkin told the Washington Times.
Sidney Crosby’s Penguins were the last team to beat either of this year’s Eastern finalists in post-season play: Washington in the second round last spring, Tampa in the 2016 conference final.
“The goal isn’t to get past the second round,” centre Jay Beagle told the Washington Post. “The goal is the Stanley Cup. That’s always been the goal since we’ve been here. It’s a great feeling. Obviously we’ll enjoy it, but we’re halfway there. Now we have a big job ahead of us here with Tampa.”
The Pittsburgh connections extend to the Western final as well, where the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, backed by former longtime Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who will take on the Winnipeg Jets.
The NHL Eastern Conference final starts Friday night in Tampa. Here’s how the Lightning and Capitals match up:
THE LIGHTNING …
Won the season series 2-1-0 ... Eliminated the Devils in five, then licked Boston in five ... Are in the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four years, boasting a roster that includes 17 players with 278 conference final games under their belts.
OFFENCE: Nikita Kucherov leads the way with six goals and six assists in 10 games … Brayden Point had seven points (three goals, four assists) against Boston … They roll four lines with average minutes ranging from 11:32 (Cedric Paquette) to 19:54 (Point) versus Boston … The power play is 10 for 38 (26.3 per cent). DEFENCE: Victor Hedman leads in ice time, averaging 26.08 … The Bolts did not allow a five-on-five goal in the final three games against Boston … Averaged 34.2 hits per game against Boston, up from 30.2 against New Jersey … The penalty kill has allowed five goals in 19 chances (74.2 per cent).
GOALTENDING: Andrei Vasilevskiy put up a 2.01 goalsagainst average and .941 save mark in the first round — 2.38, .909 in the second.
THE CAPITALS ...
Beat Columbus in six, then dethroned Pittsburgh in six … Are in the conference final for the first time in 20 years … They have three players (Brooks Orpik, Matt Niskanen, Lars Eller) who have played in the conference final before.
OFFENCE: Alex Ovechkin has racked up eight goals and seven assists … Evgeni Kuznetsov has seven goals, seven assists … Nicklas Backstrom has 10 assists … Tom Wilson’s threegame suspension for a hit on Pittsburgh’s Zach Aston-Reese is over … The power play is 13 for 42 (30.9 per cent) … The Caps have blocked 213 shots in the playoffs, leading the league at 17.75 a game.
DEFENCE: John Carlson leads Eastern Conference blue-liners in points with 11 (three goals, eight assists) … Carlson and Niskanen average more than 26 minutes a game … The penalty kill has allowed nine goals in 43 chances (79.1 per cent).
GOALTENDING: Braden Holtby is 8-3 with a 2.04 GAA and .926 save mark since winning back the starter’s job from Philipp Grubauer in the first round.
THE WINNER …
Lightning in six