For the first time in their franchise’s since-1974 history, the Washington Capitals are just a single win from lifting the Stanley Cup. They took a 3-1 series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights with a decisive 6-2 win in Game 4 at home Monday night, and will try to finish the series up in Vegas Thursday. And fans in Washington got into the celebration, especially around the National Portrait Gallery (lit up red for the occasion) outside Capital One Arena:
When your team takes a 3-1 series lead in the #StanleyCup Final! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/62Dhj5NxP2
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 5, 2018
Chaos in the streets, celebrations on the steps. #ALLCAPS #wewantthecup #stanleycup pic.twitter.com/pZNTR8iNJp
— WAMU 88.5 (@wamu885) June 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/baltimoredavey/status/1003835986672062464
https://twitter.com/EddiePasa/status/1003840872767803392
Even other D.C. athletes got in on the fun, with the Nationals’ Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman enjoying the game and leading the introductory “Let’s Go Caps” cheer. In hockey helmets, no less.
The @Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and @Max_Scherzer in the building to get Game 4 started right! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/P0SO74M4Kg
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 5, 2018
Meanwhile, teammate Bryce Harper (who’s very proud of his Las Vegas roots) was not having such a good time:
*Cue Curb Your Enthusiasm music* pic.twitter.com/Up76cKIqKe
— paul williams (@paulwillFGP) June 5, 2018
The Capitals got off to a hot start in this one, with T.J. Oshie scoring near the 10-minute mark and Tom Wilson and Devante Smith-Pelly adding further goals before the end of the first period. John Carlson made it 4-0 late in the second period, and Washington looked in pretty good shape, but the Golden Knights pulled two back in the third with goals from James Neal and Reilly Smith.
That certainly made things tense for a while, but Michael Kempny made it 5-2 with a beautiful one-timer on a setup from Nicklas Bäckström and Oshie, and Brett Connolly added some insurance with just over a minute left. There was some back-and-forth ugliness late in the period, including a Brayden McNabb crosscheck on Oshie that might get some further review, but when the final horn sounded, the party was on. But there will be undoubtedly an even bigger one if the Caps are able to win one more.
[WAMU on Twitter]
