NHL Playoffs 2018: Capitals advance to East finals for first time in 20 years

Rudi Schuller

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NHL Playoffs 2018: Capitals advance to East finals for first time in 20 years image

It finally happened.

The Washington Capitals have moved on to the Eastern Conference finals after a 2-1 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, taking the series 4-2. The Capitals have repeatedly stumbled in the postseason despite having one of the game's greatest goalscorers in Alex Ovechkin since 2005, and it seemed as though they had no answer for the Penguins at playoff time.

With three Presidents' Trophies to their name since the 2009-10 season, the Capitals have chronically underachieved in the postseason. Washington's last appearance in the conference final came in 1998, when the Capitals were swept in the Stanley Cup Final by the Detroit Red Wings.

Since then, it's been frustration for the Capitals. Monday went a long way to erasing that pain.

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With the game deadlocked at 1-1 after 60 minutes, the Capitals and Penguins headed to overtime. It was the fifth time Washington needed extra hockey to decide a playoff game this season, with the Capitals splitting the previous four overtime games.

Pittsburgh's pedigree as two-time defending Stanley Cup champions defied them a little over five minutes into the extra period, as Sidney Crosby turned the puck over at the Capitals' blue line to allow a quick transition by Ovechkin. The Washington talisman quickly found teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov streaking down the ice and the ensuing breakaway resulted in the deciding goal, put right through the legs of Penguins goalie Matt Murray.

It wasn't just the end of a Capitals drought. The area has been starved for playoff success, with no Washington, D.C., team from the "Big 4" sports leagues having reached a semifinal since the last time the Capitals made it this far.

Needless to say, a lot of eyes are now on Ovechkin and his teammates.

Rudi Schuller