Before the start of the 2017-2018 NHL season, nobody could have predicted that the Washington Capitals and Las Vegas Golden Knights would be the final two teams in the race for Lord Stanley's Cup. Expectations were as low as they can get for both clubs. Vegas is an expansion team in their very first year of operation. The proverbial window had supposedly slam shut on the Capitals, with their aging core and losing several key players. Smart money would have had both teams missing the playoffs entirely.
Yet here we are.
The Golden Knights have had an impressive playoff run, dispatching their first three opponents in a total of 15 games (12-3). They are led by the stellar play of goaltender Marc Andre-Fluery, who has a .947 save percentage and 1.68 GAA so far in the playoffs. He will be fighting for his third Cup in as many years, having been a backup in Pittsburgh the previous two years when they won back-to-back.
Offensively, center Jonathan Marchessault has been spectacular for Vegas. In 15 games, he has racked up 18 points, including 10 goals. He centers the Golden Knights' top line, which has combined for a remarkable 47 points in the post-season.
For the third year in a row, the Capitals faced the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. Any Capitals fan will tell you that historically that is where their season ends. But the Caps were able to defy the odds and win in 6 games.
After a shaky year by his own standards, Caps goalie Braden Holtby didn't even start the playoffs. But after a rough first two games from Philipp Grubauer, he took back the reigns and has performed admirably. Since taking over, he has posted a 12-6 record, with a .924 save percentage and a 2.04 GAA. He put together back-to-back shutouts in games 6 and 7 against Tampa Bay, the most prolific offense in the regular season.
The Capitals will need their captain Alex Ovechkin to have a huge series. So far this post-season, he has been spectacular. With 12 goals and 10 assists, it's clear that he is on a mission this year. Will this be the year that the greatest goal scorer of his generation is finally able to hoist the Cup?
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