By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
For the Washington Capitals, it finally happened in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, June 7. It was a long time coming for captain Alex Ovechkin as well.
The Washington Capitals finished off a run to a Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3, in Game 5 to claim the series, 4-1.
The game constantly held an intense edge with physical back-and-forth action throughout. The two teams skated to a scoreless first period before a flurry of goals in the second.
Washington opened things up with a goal by Jakub Vrana, who got free on a break and lifted a perfect shot to the top corner to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 6:24.
Just over three minutes later, Vegas was buzzing and got a break. Nate Schmidt threw a shot on goal that hit off the skate of Matt Niskanen and went through the five-hole of Braden Holtby to tie the game at one.
Seconds after getting the equalizer, Vegas took a penalty to put Washington on the power play. Ovechkin made them pay, beating Marc-Andre Fleury with a sharp-angle one-timer to make it 2-1.
The Golden Knights got the tying goal again just under three minutes later. With a battle in the crease, Tomas Tatar redirected a chance on goal that hit the body of David Perron and went in. The play was reviewed for goalie interference, but ruled a good goal.
Vegas got a power play late in the period and were able to capitalize on that as well. With more jousting going on in the crease, the Golden Knights were able to get the puck in front as Alex Tuch turned a pass to an open Reilly Smith. Smith kicked the puck from his skates to his stick and scored into a yawning cage with Holtby out of position, then celebrated as a mad scrum broke out behind the net. Smith's go-ahead goal came with 31 seconds left in the period.
The Golden Knights carried the 3-2 lead into the third as the intensity only picked up with a frantic pace. The Capitals were able to capitalize on a Vegas error.
Off a failed clear, Brooks Orpik threw a shot toward the net that was partially blocked and fluttered through the slot. It landed within reach of Devante Smith-Pelly behind the defense. He was able to corral the puck and turn a shot on net while falling to tie the game with 10:08 left in the third.
Lars Eller scored what will now be the biggest goal in Capitals history. Luca Sbisa turned the puck over behind the Vegas net to Andre Burakovsky who centered for Brett Connolly. Connolly fired a one-timer that was stopped by Fleury, but leaked through behind him. Eller was there to whack in the rebound and give the Capitals the lead with 7:37 remaining.
Holtby did the rest from there, preserving the lead in the closing minutes as the Capitals finished off the championship run. Holtby finished the game with 28 saves in the win. Fleury had 29 saves in the loss.
Ovechkin, who led the playoffs with 15 goals, was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP. The Stanley Cup title is the first in the 44-year history of the Washington Capitals. With the exception of Brooks Orpik, who won as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, every member of the Capitals is a first-time Stanley Cup winner.
