CAPITALS

While past Washington teams have a long history of struggles in closeout games, these Caps have won all three of their potential closeouts in this postseason. They won the first championship in 43 NHL seasons for a franchise that began play in 1974.

Their one other trip to the Stanley Cup Final, in 1998, ended with a 4-0 sweep by the Detroit Red Wings.

The expansion Golden Knights’ magical ride came to an end one step from the ultimate prize, but it was a season to remember for the fans, players and organization. Their record-breaking season ended with their first four-game losing streak.

After the Capitals’ Jakub Vrana opened the scoring, Ovechkin scored his 15th goal of these playoffs for an early 2-1 lead.

Devante Smith-Pelly pulled Washington into a 3-3 tie midway through the third period. Defenseman Brooks Orpik sent the puck toward the net, and it went off Smith-Pelly's left skate to help him corral it and he sent a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury as he fell to the ice.

Smith-Pelly finished with seven goals this postseason, matching his total during the regular season.

The Golden Knights were 10-0 this postseason when leading after two periods, and they led 3-2 entering the third period of Game 5.

Reilly Smith gave Vegas the lead, shooting into an open net off a fantastic pass from Alex Tuch with 28.2 seconds left in the second period.

The teams combined for five goals in a wild second period. There were lead changes, a coach's challenge, fights and power plays as the teams picked up the pace after a scoreless opening period.

The offenses got rolling and then some with four goals in a heartpounding 6:32 stretch of the second.

Vrana opened the flurry with a goal 6:24 into the second, rifling a shot over Fleury’s glove.

Ovechkin put the Capitals ahead 2-1 on a power play just 34 seconds after Vegas' Nate Schmidt was credited with a goal that went off Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen's skate.

Perron pulled Vegas into the second tie of the period. The goal stood after a coach's challenge, a move Washington had to try because goaltender Braden Holtby was trying to make a save while two players were wrestling in the crease.

Holtby finished with 28 saves, and Fleury 29.