The 2018 Stanley Cup Final marks the sixth time in NHL history where two clubs are chasing their first Stanley Cup.  The last time this happened was in 2007, between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators, when the Ducks defeated the Senators in five games to take the Cup.  

Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Washington Capitals

It’s unlikely that many people predicted the final would come down to these two teams, but in the end, the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in game five.  This is the Capitals’ first Cup after having been a franchise for 43 seasons. The Capitals are the second team in NHL history to win the Cup despite trailing in all previous playoff rounds.  Game one of the series, which Vegas won 6-4, was the third playoff game in NHL history to feature four lead changes, the others being in 1936 and 1992. Because of game one, Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury earned his 75th career playoff win to pass former Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood for eighth place on the league’s all-time list.  The Capitals won game two, extending the streak of there not being a sweep in the Stanley Cup Final to 19 straight seasons. Brooks Orpik of the Capitals scored his first goal in 220 games during game two, having not scored since February of 2016. Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault added an assist in game one of the series to earn 19 points in the playoffs, breaking the NHL record for postseason points by a player with a franchise in its inaugural season.  Washington forward Devante-Smith Pelly scored seven goals in the regular season, as well as posting seven goals in the playoffs, scoring the tying goal in game five. The Washington Capitals, who won the Cup in Vegas, will return home to parade through Washington D.C. with their first Stanley Cup in the coming days.