It's been a long season and it culminates tonight with the Stanley Cup Final - the Washington Capitals vs the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
I was actually surprised the game was on tonight, because I just assumed the NHL was going to wait another 18 days to schedule the series. If this season doesn't go on until August, what will we do?
If you said last year that the Capitals - who had one of the best teams anyone in the NHL had assembled in the salary cap era - were going to be the underdogs in the Final against an expansion team, you'd have been locked up.
But that's the fun of hockey - certainly this is more exciting than another one featuring the Penguins.
Whether its the expansion angle, or the Ovechkin angle, I think the almost week between games has gotten it covered already. It's a toss up as to who wins, and the only thing I can think to add is that Braden Holtby (overshadowed by Fleury, Ovechkin and Kuznetsov) hasn't really been given the credit he deserves.
In any other year, he'd be a Conn Smythe Favorite, but even though he's having an incredible playoffs (back to back shutouts to eliminate the Lightning and let's not forget he didn't even start the first two games of the first round series) no one is really talking about him (except in reference to his insane level neck beard). The Hockey News had him as the fifth ranked player with a chance to win it. I get that Ovechkin is the romantic choice, but the real MVP of the Capitals is Holtby.
To me, the most interesting thing about this series will be whether or not the games are good. The story line is pretty sweet, but if it's just the Caps trapping all night and zero lead changes it will be kind of a let down.
I'd like to see the Capitals win, for sure. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping that Vegas has success breaking their trap because more goals means better games. Sure, defensive hockey can be fun - game seven was great just due to the intensity - but goals are best.
Fun Fact: Ovechkin needs two goals to tie Scheifele for the league lead with 14. Kuznetsov is right there too, he has 11 goals and leads the NHL in total points with 24.
Funner Fact: Crosby has 21 points in 12 games. Just a 143 point pace over 82 games, no big deal.
Funnest Fact: A Koala will eat 2.5 lbs of eucalyptus leaves every day.
Keys to the Game: Just kidding.
Go Caps!