9 Finally beating the Penguins in the playoffs
On May 7, 2018 the Caps exorcised some demons by defeating the Penguins in the playoffs thanks to an overtime goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Alex Ovechkin would provide the game winning assist. Ovechkin would create the play by forcing a turnover on Sidney Crosby.
"It's pretty emotional. I don't really have a word for it."Evgeny Kuznetsov
Alex Ovechkin would give more clarity, "Again, it doesn't matter what happened (before). We have to stick together. We knew it was there we just had to battle and we just had to fight through it."
Alex Chiasson scored the Caps only goal of regulation while Braden Holtby stopped 21 of the 22 shots that he faced. Kuznetsov added, "I'm not expecting myself to score the game winner in that situation."
It gave the Caps their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1998.
Team owner Ted Leonsis told reporters after the win, "It's almost embarassing that it's taken this long for us to get past it. But the Penguins are an unbelievable franchise. It's an unblievable team."