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Washington is known nationally for its policy and the resulting division. But the capital city championship show focuses on local residents and a united city by the title of its team.
USA TODAY Sports
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin participates in training camp on Friday.(Photo: Nick Wass, AP)
After another year of the Washington Capitals falling short of expectations in the playoffs, captain Alex Ovechkin set a simple goal early in the 2017-18 training camp.
"We are not going to be bad this year," he said.
Well, the unusual prediction worked. Despite the defeat of the defensemen, the Capitals won their division for the third year in a row. In the playoffs, they overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first round, defeated Pittsburgh Penguins' Nemesis in the second round and won match 7 in Tampa in the conference final. With a five-game win against Vegas Golden Knights expansion, Tournament MVP Ovechkin won the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career.
He repeated the phrase "suck", adding an obscenity this time to the team championship parade.
So, what is Ovechkin's goal for capitals in 2018-19?
"No fuss," said the new father with his typical smile at the beginning of the camp.
And back to back is not out of the question, even though it has only been done twice in the last 25 years.
The team is essentially intact, losing only forward Jay Beagle and substitute goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer. Coach Barry Trotz left, but assistant Todd Reirden replaced him. The team managed to retain defenseman John Carlson and spark plug Tom Wilson long-term and even brought veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik after a roundabout run.
But the Capitals will face a brief holiday season full of festivities and the fact that each team is preparing to beat them.
Ovechkin, however, said that motivation is not a problem.
"When you taste it, you want it more and more," he said.
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