Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Alex Ovechkin Is One Win Away From Raising The Stanley Cup

06/07/2018 at 8:26am EDT

from Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post,

On Jan. 6, 2010, Alex Ovechkin emerged from the dressing room for warmups, second in line behind the goaltender, just like any other home game. While lacking in fanfare, that pregame twirl around the ice was Ovechkin’s introduction as captain, a “C” stitched onto his jersey for a first time as the Washington Capitals‘ face and best player and also their official leader. More than eight years later, Ovechkin will pull on a jersey with that same “C” on the chest before skating onto the T-Mobile Arena ice just one win away from a first Stanley Cup.

The double-edged sword of the captaincy means he shoulders the burden of criticism after repeated playoff disappointments yet basks in most of the glory of victory. If the Capitals, holding a 3-1 series lead in these best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, are ultimately victorious, Ovechkin would be the first to hoist the trophy and the one to bring the Stanley Cup to Washington, a place he’s called his “second home.” But the moment will simultaneously resonate on the opposite side of the globe, Ovechkin’s Russian roots and the first home he so proudly represents. He is just the sixth Russian captain in NHL history, and he is on the cusp of becoming the first to win a championship.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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