There may only be one better feeling than how the Washington Capitals felt waking up this morning – and that would be winning the Stanley Cup.
With a 4-2 second-round series win now in the books, the club took a huge step forward to their ultimate goal. Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 5:27 into overtime, assisted by a takeaway from Alex Ovechkin, which sent No 92 on a breakaway to propel the Washington Capitals to their first Eastern Conference Final since 1998 a 2-1 win over their rival Pittsburgh Penguins Monday Night.
Kuznetsov recorded six points over the second-round series to bring his 2017-18 postseason totals to 14 points (7-7–14) for second-most among Washington scorers.
The victory was a welcome reversal of fate for the Capitals and a big boost in morale, by snapping a string of seven straight series losses to the Penguins.
Alex Ovechkin is going to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in his career pic.twitter.com/OPWJzggq3i
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) May 8, 2018
When asked by reporters how relieved he felt about not having the series require a trip home to Washington for a Game 7, Kuznetsov kept the moment light.
Kuznetsov is the best quote in hockey and I don't think it is close.
Pierre: "How much relief is it you don't have to go home [for Game 7]"
Kuz: "My wife is on vacation it doesn't matter if I am there"
— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) May 8, 2018
Ovechkin and the rest of the Capitals weren't the only ones having fun with the moment. The internet went wild, accordingly, with mixed emotions over Kuznetsov's trademark bird celebration, which first surfaced at World Cup of Hockey 2016. If you don't like it at first, why not try it to the tune of the music from Titanic?
The Capitals are headed to the conference finals!!!
Evgeny Kuznetsov's series ending goal is even better with Titanic music!!! Congrats to the @Capitals and their fans!!!
🏒🚢🎶 pic.twitter.com/luIp41sI1D
— 🏀🚢🎶TITANIC HOOPS🏀🚢🎶 (@TitanicHoops) May 8, 2018
With the weight of Round 2 off their shoulders, and their "demons exorcised," the Capitals can rest up until their Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning kicks off.