Alex Ovechkin finally did it. The Capitals defeated the Lightning and are going tot he Stanley Cup Final against the Golden Knights.

Lightning go out with a whimper as Capitals eliminate them 4-0 in Game 7 - Raw Charge
Tampa Bay dominated play for long stretches of time, but it wasn’t good enough as Washington capitalized on their opportunities to eliminate the Lightning.

Now the fun begins. Can the Golden Knights roll over the Capitals they way they have every other team?

Game 1 is in Vegas on Monday at 8:00 pm.

ICYMI

The Marlies trounced the Phantoms last night, taking a 5-0 lead in the series.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms go down kicking and screaming - Hardev
At this rate, the Marlies should face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley cup Final.

The Phantoms all-star goalie Alex Lyon screwed them when he was actually ejected from the game and given a misconduct for kicking Mason Marchment. They had to bring in backup goalie Dustin Tokarski, which is a name you probably haven’t heard for a long time.

Mark Hunter’s draft record with the Maple Leafs: too soon to tell - Katya
A list of every player drafted by Hunter along with where they are today.

Women’s Hockey Wednesday: Minnesota Whitecaps join the NWHL - Nafio and Annie
Plus some new coaches, and interesting interviews from around the world of women’s sports.

Keaton Middleton to return to the draft: report - Katya
With his rights expiring, this long-shot, fourth-round pick is not getting an NHL contract.

Other News

The Texas Stars Experience: A Look Into the Future - Defending Big D
[Species: Get to know the likely opponent of the Marlies should they finish off the Phantoms this week.]

David Quinn Named Rangers Head Coach - Blueshirt Banter
Quinn is the 35th head coach in the history of the franchise.

Paletta sets sights on NHL team for Aldershot - TheSpec.com
Angelo Paletta has told league officials of his interest in expansion or relocation to a new arena which would be adjacent to the Aldershot GO station.

NHL Smart Puck Will Bring Big Data to the Pro Hockey Ice - Sport Techie
The NHL is embedding technology into its pucks that will allow it to track movement on the ice at a rate of roughly 200 times a second.

From The Branches