Stanley Cup party continues for Caps

Champions nowhere near close to ending their celebration

WASHINGTON — Stanley Cup champions just want to have fun.

They’re doing so right now.

The Washington Capitals took the Stanley Cup through the MGM Grand and to a dance club on the Las Vegas Strip. They took it to a popular bar not far from their suburban practice facility. Then they took it to Nationals Park, where they kept hoisting it from a suite to the roars of the crowd.

Hockey decisions, their individual Cup days and change lie ahead. This weekend is for celebrating.

“We’re getting days with the Cup right now,” defenseman John Carlson said. “We got some time to worry about the other stuff.”

From Las Vegas to Washington and with more than a few drinks in between, the Capitals are acting as if they haven’t been here before — because they haven’t. They’re the first new Cup champion since the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and finally are atop the NHL after nine early playoff exits.

Ovechkin is taking every chance he can get to lift the Cup, whether it was coming off the plane with Nicklas Backstrom on Friday or on the field Saturday before and after his two tries at a ceremonial first pitch.

“I just Cup holder right now,” Ovechkin said. Chugging beers during a TV interview, Capitals players broke out into an impromptu rendition of Queen’s “We Are The Champions,”