Alex Ovechkin is soaking up his Stanley Cup moment the way you’d expect — with unfiltered euphoria.
The Capitals captain led his team into a rally capping the championship parade through the streets of downtown Washington, D.C. and unleashed a torrent of thank-yous and exclamations. Tens of thousands of fans decked out in red lined the parade route along Constitution Avenue, including hundreds on the steps of the Nationals Archives, to celebrate the city’s first major sports championship in 26 years.
The Capitals ended their title drought with a 4-3 victory over the Golden Knights in Game 5 last Thursday.
“What’s up, babes?” Ovechkin, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the NHL playoffs, began his speech to cheers resonating through the National Mall.
After expressing his gratitude to the fans, players’ families and the team’s front office, Ovechkin led the crowd through Queen’s “We are the Champions.”
With the music blasting through the loudspeakers, Ovechkin realized he had one more message for the fans. The three-time Hart Trophy winner wanted to remind them what he said at the beginning of the season — that the Capitals, who weren’t expected to contend as strongly this year after capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2015-16 and 2016-17, would not disappoint.
“The one and last thing,” he said into the microphone. “Before the year, I said … we’re not going to f–king suck this year! We’re the Stanley Cup champions! Yeahhhhh!”
Ovechkins’ teammates got in on the fun, too. Veteran center Nicklas Backstrom gave his take on what got the Capitals over the Stanley Cup hump.
“Finally we start playing hockey like we can party,” Backstrom said, “so that’s the good thing.”
Popular winger T.J. Oshie showed off his partying skills on stage, downing a bottle of Bud Light through his red Capitals jersey.
On the way to the rally, bringing up the rear of the parade caravan was a bus featuring Ovechkin, Backstrom, Brooks Orpik, owner Ted Leonsis, team president Dick Patrick and the Stanley Cup trophy.
Fans along Constitution Ave. chanted, “Raise the Cup!” and “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” Others held up “Ovechkin for President” signs.
Ovechkin sat at the front of the double-decker bus, alternating between resting his arms on the trophy, raising it, and drinking out of his blue Bud Light bottle.
Coach Barry Trotz reiterated his interest in returning, though his four-year contract is up, saying the Capitals are going to repeat as champs. Oshie also led fans in a chant of “back-to-back” at the rally.
With AP