The Washington Capitals broke a two decade drought on Wednesday with a resounding 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals.
They will now advance to the Stanley Cup Finals to face the Vegas Golden Knights, with Game 1 taking place in Sin City on Monday.
While the Capitals were founded in 1974 and have battled for the Cup twice (the last time was in 1998 when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings), the Golden Knights have exceeded all expectations in their first year of existence.
The Vegas expansion team was given 500-1 odd of winning the championship at the beginning of the season last October — by bookies in their home city, of course — making them the biggest long shots of the league.
The Capitals’ success quite as surprising, but the DC-based team has become known for postseason collapses in recent years having gone 4-11 in Game 7s before Wednesday’s game.
Few sports analysts expected this year to be any different, a fact that the Capitals’ official Twitter account was quick to mock after their victory.
Clearly @AimeeJCrawford is brilliant. But the rest of you guys… ???? #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/g2nO9Au4vI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 24, 2018
Despite facing a rambunctious crowd of Lightening fans in Tampa, Alex Ovechkin scored the game-opening goal for the Caps after just 62 seconds and they went on to beat the home team in a convincing fashion.
WWE Superstar Mojo Rawley was among many of those screaming fans in the house, as the Virginia native cheered on the Capitals.
Huge win. Way to hold it down for the #DMV. Bring it home boys! #HometownHeroes @Capitals https://t.co/LSNrYWWaaP
— Dean Muhtadi (@MojoRawleyWWE) May 24, 2018
This game is insane. Everyone in this arena is even more insane. And I love it! @Capitals @TBLightning
— Dean Muhtadi (@MojoRawleyWWE) May 24, 2018
See more tweets after the blow out victory below.
THAT JUST HAPPENED #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fMGwhim0PK
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) May 24, 2018
Alex Ovechkin finally will get a shot at the #StanleyCup#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9gV4gMYce6
— Bryan Flaherty (@bybryanflaherty) May 24, 2018
A DC team is about to play for a professional championship.
Let that sink in.#ALLCAPS— Brian Chojnacki (@BroadcastingBri) May 24, 2018
LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS #ALLCAPS https://t.co/xjgzzMzJmU
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 24, 2018
Congrats @Capitals!!!
Stanley Cup Finals, bring it back to the DMV! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wRJz2rb1o6
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) May 24, 2018
The stage is set.
Stanley Cup finals. #ALLCAPS vs #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/NLcDrAwFuM
— Golden Knights Realm (@TheVegasRealm) May 24, 2018
The puck will drop Memorial Day Monday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas 5 p.m. PT for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, which will air live on NBC.