LAS VEGAS – The Washington Capitals’ 44-year championship drought is over.
Lars Eller stepped up when Nicklas Backstrom was injured earlier in the playoffs. He stepped up when Evgeni Kuznetsov was injured. He scored a double-overtime goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
And Thursday he scored at 12:43 of the third period to give the Washington Capitals a 4-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights to earn their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. They joined the NHL in 1974-75. It's the city's first championship since the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1992.
Devante Smith-Pelly continued to be Washington’s unsung hero, delivering the tying goal midway through the third period.