Thursday, May 24, 2018

Stanley Cup Final 2018

History will be made in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Whether that’s a franchise first for the Washington Capitals, who have existed for 44 years without a Stanley Cup, or the first title for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, in their inaugural season, remains to be seen.

Regardless, the story lines — Can Alex Ovechkin finally hoist the trophy? Will Marc-Andre Fleury win his third in a row? Can an expansion team do the unthinkable? — are endless.

Full Stanley Cup Final schedule

Game 1: May 28 at Vegas, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
Game 2: May 30 at Vegas, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
Game 3: June 2 at Washington, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
Game 4: June 4 at Washington, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
*Game 5: June 7 at Vegas, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
*Game 6: June 10 at Washington, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, fuboTV)
*Game 7: June 13 at Vegas, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, Sportsner, fuboTV)

The Golden Knights have looked nearly invincible, needing just 15 games to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Marc-Andre Fleury has often looked unbeatable. But there is something to be said for scratching and clawing your way to the final the way the Capitals did. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin looks as if he's on a personal quest to deliver his team to the franchise's first championship. This is a series that will be decided by injuries, breaks and perseverance. It just feels like the Capitals are a team of destiny.

The Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights are the only two hockey teams left standing and will meet to decide the 2017-18 NHL Stanley Cup champion.

The Capitals advanced to the Stanley Cup FInal for the first time since 1998, thanks to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

The Golden Knights, in their inaugural season, shocked the NHL world, defeating the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets to become the first team in major American professional sports history to reach the championship game in the franchise's first season.

Despite the elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs back in the first round, hockey continues on and it’s been fun to watch.  There was the Brad Marchand “licking” situation, what some would call “biased” refereeing, and Washington finally defeating their nemesis Pittsburgh. Hopefully the shenanigans are in the past – the stakes are higher than ever. The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue into the third round Friday night as the Eastern Conference Final begins. The Western Conference Final will start Saturday night.

There’s no doubt that all four teams deserve to be here. The final four were all among the top six teams in the NHL in the regular season. (The Capitals tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs, only a year after being the best team in the NHL and facing them in a 1 vs 8 matchup).