The Washington Capitals are the first team from D.C. to play for a championship in 20 years and Caps players are now rockstar status throughout the DMV. After the team practiced Saturday morning at Kettler in front of a standing room only crowd at both rinks, the players talked to the media, hit the showers, and headed to Las Vegas. In their path between the locker room and the bus to the airport an estimate of 6,000 Capitals fans sending their heroes well wishes. If you couldn’t make it, NoVa Caps has you covered.
Evgeny Kuznetsov was the first to come out at 11:45 a.m. We would’ve loved to hear his reasoning for being the first and gotten a shot of it but he was quick. It took roughly a half hour before other players started exiting the team facility at Kettler. In between the hoopla, Capitals owner and chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment: Ted Leonsis was throwing t-shirts to the crowd.
Then came the dynamic duo of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Chandler Stephenson and Philipp Grubauer.
Chandler Stephenson and Philipp Grubauer #ALLCAPS#StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/18MQbNLGLb
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
Dmitry Orlov.
Orlov #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/zvTDOVzdqw
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
Lars Eller, Andre Burakovsky and Christian Djoos!
Eller and Burakovsky! pic.twitter.com/eLFeTiqHdn
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
T.J. Oshie and DSP got loud receptions!
Oshie and DSP! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NPDxteLhVO
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
Tom Wilson getting the “Willy!” chats!
Willy! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Yq8TCXxsU5
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
The Con man! Brett Connolly
Connolly! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NKD8hbN203
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
John Carlson, Alex Chiasson and Brooks Orpik
Carlson, Chiasson and Orpik #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6g1BhR0DDZ
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
Holtby! Holtby! Holtby! He hasn’t allowed a goal since Game 5 last round and he heads to Vegas to attempt to slay some Knights.
Loud chants for the #Holtbeast #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/wzeCwON8yp
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek, the trade deadline acquisitions. Plus, everyone’s favorite: Jay Beagle!
Kempny, Jerabek and….. Beagle! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/97Qz5cSfU0
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
That was all from the player sendoff. Next stop: Las Vegas for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals!
Westward Ho! (📸 @capitals) pic.twitter.com/ASNbUnKyMi
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 26, 2018
By Michael Marzzacco
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