Washington Capitals win first Stanley Cup; Ovechkin earns Conn Smythe Trophy
LAS VEGAS — The Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup champions for the first time.
Lars Eller scored with 7:37 left in the third period as the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the best-of-seven final to take the series 4-1.
Eller was quickest to a loose puck sitting behind Marc-Andre Fleury after Brett Connolly’s initial shot went off Knights defenceman Colin Miller and squeezed through the Vegas goalie for his seventh goal of the playoffs.
The Knights tried to write one more chapter in their improbable expansion season, but were unable to find a way as the Capitals spilled on the ice to celebrate the first Cup in their 44-year history.