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Washington Capitals Fan Guide to the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Finals

ByHutton Jackson|
BOSTON, MA - MAY 12: Boston Bruins left wing Marcus Johansson (90) holds the puck along the boards during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 12: Boston Bruins left wing Marcus Johansson (90) holds the puck along the boards during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 08: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 08: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The best (and likely only reason) to root for the Boston Bruins is former Capital Marcus Johansson.

Marcus Johansson was drafted by the Washington Capitals 24th overall in 2009 and played a huge part in the Capitals’ offensive attack for seven seasons, scoring 290 points in 501 games for Washington.

Unfortunately, the team was never able to make it over the postseason hump when he was on the roster and the Capitals traded him to the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2017-18 season.

The Capitals longtime left winger missed out on the team’s magical playoff run and had to watch many of his former teammates hoist the Cup last season. After being traded to Boston at the trade deadline this season, Johansson once again has a shot at the Cup. So for many Capitals fans, it makes sense to show support for a former Capital and root for him in his pursuit of a championship.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 15: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 15: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Marcus Johansson gave a lot to the Capitals and there’s no doubt he wants to win the Cup after seeing his ex teammates taste that glory themselves. One could imagine the motivation of being on a new team playing in your first playoff series since watching a former team win it the year before.

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