At the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, NoVa Caps introduced you to Saku Pienimaki from Finland. Over the course of the playoff he has sent us videos of his reaction to big Washington Capitals goals. His latest one included his reaction to Lars Eller’s game winning goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
From Kevin Shattenkirk’s overtime winner last year against Pittsburgh.
As we “chuck deuces” to “Shatt Deuces”, our favorite Shattenkirk moment, game 2 OT winner vs. #Pens, from NoVa Caps reader in Vassa, Finland pic.twitter.com/DORYp4JN3M
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) July 1, 2017
From Evgeny Kuznetsov’s overtime winner this season to defeat the Penguins.
Finland. 6:00 a.m., Tuesday. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/IzHvXdzdF2
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 8, 2018
Eller’s goal is the biggest goal in Capitals history as the team went on to capture their first Stanley Cup. Off of a Brett Connolly shot, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury thought he had the puck stopped. Little did he know the puck was right behind him and Eller made him pay.
Whether you were in Las Vegas or in D.C. thousands of Capitals fans went wild. But no one went crazier than Pienimaki. At first, like many others. he thought Connolly had the goal but then found out it was indeed Eller who knocked it in.
Translation:
“Connolly! Connolly! Connolly! Connolly! 4-3! Connolly! Connolly! Connolly strikes! Game is 4-3! Eight minutes! Eight minutes left! Eight minutes left! Amazing team! Eight minutes left! Eller or who does it? Doesn’t matter! Eller!”
After the game, Eller said that he will donate his stick from the game-winner to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
I watched as a rep from the Hall of Fame asked Lars Eller if he would donate the stick he used to score the GWG to the Hall. Eller couldn’t say yes fast enough, but first he had to find it.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 8, 2018
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo