As we watched Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom lift Lord Stanley's Cup last night, whether you're a Capitals fan or a burgeoning Knights fan, I'm sure there's one thought in our minds: at least it wasn't the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Vegas Golden Knights made history this year, blazing a trail to the top of the Pacific Division and handily defeating their opponents in each round on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals. For a team that was widely ridiculed—many didn't believe they could make it out of the depths of the Western Conference let alone be crowned the conference champions—they truly changed the expectations for expansion teams. And while they came a few games and a few goals short of the ultimate trophy, a professional hockey player's dream, you have to believe that at least one person on the ice thought, "Well, at least it wasn't the Penguins!"
Capitals fans have a lot to be proud of: their team has ended a drought that saw tragedy after tragedy occur over the past decades. It felt like the team's window had been closing for years, with strong performances in the regular season crushed by the topsy-turvy world of the best of seven rounds. Finally, however, the Cup is heading to D.C. Yet even as Jay Beagle, the first person to win ECHL, AHL, and NHL championships cruised his well-earned lap around the rink, I'm sure one thought entered his mind: "Hey, at least we aren't the Penguins!"
Congratulations to the Washington Capitals and fans. As the rest of the league waits with baited breath for the start of the 2018-2019 season, there's surely one thing we can all agree on: At Least It Wasn't The Penguins!
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