Life of the Party: A Look At Jakub Vrana’s 2018 Playoff Antics in Washington

Posted on February 21, 2023 by Michael Fleetwood

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

In his return to Washington, Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana was given a warm reception by the Capital One Arena faithful. Having won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, and being a former first-round draft pick of the team, Vrana was a fan favorite during his time in the Nation’s capital.

Traded by the Caps to Detroit in a deal that involved Anthony Mantha, Vrana provided some memorable moments, particularly after the team’s Stanley Cup victory.

WAKING THE NEIGHBORS

During the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, while most residents of Finland were sound asleep, diehard Capitals fan Saku Pienimaki was awake at 4:45 AM, watching his favorite team on their run to the ultimate prize. While the entire run was memorable, the team’s Eastern second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins was particularly a sweet one. A goal by Vrana in Game 5 broke a 3-3 tie, giving the Capitals an eventual 6-3 victory and set them up for a Game 6 series win.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 2018

In the days and weeks following the Caps’ Stanley Cup victory, the team’s celebrations would go down in hockey lore as some of the most unique and overt. Vrana, like his teammates, kept up the festive mood, celebrating with teammates and even Capitals’ television play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati.

A few more featuring “Jake the Snake” and his teammates:

Vrana’s day with the Stanley Cup:

During the Capitals’ Stanley Cup parade in D.C., Vrana took center stage along the way:

Needless to say, Jakub Vrana’s enthusiasm and pure joy during the Caps’ run to Lord Stanley endeared him to the fan base further, and while his time in Washington ended on less-than ideal terms, he will be a memorable part of the summer to remember.

More Reading:
Assessing The Anthony Mantha and Jakub Vrana Trade 16 Months Later
Jakub Vrana Signs Three-Year, $15.75 Million Contract With Red Wings To Avoid Arbitration
Former Washington Capital Jakub Vrana Off To Rough Start In Detroit
Jakub Vrana: “It Was A Shock”…”Sometimes I Had A Morning When I Woke Up And Thought I Was Still In Washington”
Detroit’s Vrana Reinstated From Player Assistance Program By NHL, Players’ Association

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself. Michael joined the NoVa Caps team in 2015, and is most proud of the growth of the NoVa Caps community in that time. An avid photographer, Michael resides in VA.
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2 Responses to Life of the Party: A Look At Jakub Vrana’s 2018 Playoff Antics in Washington

  1. Diane Doyle says:
    February 22, 2023 at 12:02 am

    We miss you, Jake. Memorably drunk.

    The article didn’t include when he went to the tattoo parlor with Holtby and got a tattoo of the Stanley Cup. And it apparently hurt worse than being hit with a puck.

    Reply
  2. Scottlew73 says:
    February 22, 2023 at 1:21 pm

    You know sadly what worst part of this post…..,how many of the “Youth Movement “ of the 2018 cup run aren’t in organization any longer! Maybe had your brilliant GM used that thing between his ears as more than a resting spot for his receding hairline,he would’ve signed young guys to longer term contracts with pay increases instead of trading them for older less motivated/expensive options!

    Reply

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