Relive the Capitals' historic Stanley Cup victory! The Washington Capitals entered the 2017-18 season still stinging from past playoff failures. But the team, led by Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby, embarked on a magical run, culminating in their first Stanley Cup! Relive the excitement through stunning images and expert analysis from The Washington Post . This commemorative volume captures the Capitals' journey, from the regular season battles to the thrilling playoff victories. Experience the emotions of the players, the dedication of the coaching staff, and the passion of the fans as Washington finally reached the pinnacle of hockey success. It's a must-have for every Caps fan and a celebration of a team that finally conquered its demons. The Washington Post was founded as a newspaper in 1877. The company is based in Washington, D.C. Worth the Wait The Washington's Capitals' Memorable Journey to the 2018 Stanley Cup By The Washington Post Triumph Books LLC Copyright © 2018 The Washington Post All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-62937-557-1 Contents Introduction by Thomas Boswell, Stanley Cup Finals, Eastern Conference Finals, Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round, Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round, 2017-18 Regular Season, CHAPTER 1 Stanley Cup Finals CAPITALS 4, KNIGHTS 1 All Champs By Rick Maese When time expired and the helmets and sticks were tossed into the air, the Washington Capitals poured onto the ice, and a celebration decades in the making ensued. The players hugged each other in joy and shook each other in disbelief. Team captain Alex Ovechkin was on the edge of the scrum, bouncing and screaming, trying to make sure his voice could be heard from Las Vegas to Washington to Moscow. As the trophy made its way onto the ice, some 2,400 miles away, a sea of red — jubilant Capitals fans who filled the streets in downtown Washington — erupted, too. The win was a season in the making for many on the ice and a lifetime in the making for so many fans back home. The Stanley Cup, the most storied trophy in sports, is coming to Washington, courtesy of a pair of Russian scoring machines, a journeyman-turned-hero, an unflappable goaltender and a supporting cast that confronted a season's worth of challenges with careers' worth of determination. The Capitals topped the final foe, the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3, in exciting fashion Thursday night in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. The comeback victory gave the Capitals a four-games-to-one series victory and secured the first NHL championship in the franchise's 44-year history — and the city's first title in any of the four major American sports in more than a quarter-century. "I can't explain what I feel," Ovechkin said when it was over. "It's unbelievable." The finale was tense from start to finish: the hard hits in the opening period, the explosion of scoring in the second and the winning goal off the stick of center Lars Eller in the third. It amounted to three periods of racing hearts and bated breath, electrifying a region of sports fans well-versed in disappointment but largely unaccustomed to the sensation that suddenly swept over them late Thursday night. After Vegas built a 3-2 lead in the second period, Washington had to claw its way back and did so thanks to one of the most unlikely stars of these playoffs. Forward Devante Smith-Pelly scored a total of seven goals in the regular season. His tying goal at the 9:52 mark in the third period was his seventh of the postseason, his third of the finals. Barely two minutes later, the Capitals struck again. Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury blocked Brett Connolly's shot but didn't secure the puck. Eller was positioned perfectly on the edge of the crease, scooping the puck from behind Fleury and into the net. The pair of quick scores lit a fire under the raucous contingent of red-clad fans who made the trek west for the game — not to mention the thousands who had turned much of the Washington region into a giant outdoor party. Many of them had dreamed of this moment for years yet were still wholly unprepared for it. Fans hugged strangers. Strangers high-fived police officers. Cab drivers stopped their cars to take pictures. Everyone seemed to pause in the middle of the street just to scream. The scene was mayhem, the soundtrack of horns everywhere, honking in rhythm. Near Capital One Arena in Northwest, Seventh Street was packed, overflowing. People sprinted down H Street, screaming, cursing. Cars everywhere honked the "Let's Go Caps" rhythm. Fans chanted "C-A-P-S" and screamed. Traffic nearby didn't move, and the honks provided a chorus to a celebration that grew as more and more people ran into the mayhem. "Congratulations," they screamed to strangers, voices cracking. "My goal was always to build a team as good as the fan base," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. "I think we have the best fans in the world, and now we have the best hockey team in the world." This was, in fact