Alex Ovechkin has been with the Washington Capitals for 13 years after going No. 1 overall in the draft. He's been their captain since 2010. So who else was going to win the Conn Smythe Tropy for the Capitals after their first Stanley Cup victory? Ovechkin capped a postseason that Capitals fans will remember forever by winning the NHL's postseason MVP award. And the moment that he touched the trophy, it solidified a career that needed no validation. Throughout the postseason, Ovechkin led the NHL with 15 goals, the 15th coming in Game 5. He was second on the team in points with 26. And, above all else, he continued to be the lifeblood of the Washington Capitals. In five games against the Golden Knights, Ovechkin put up three goals and two assists. He had a point in every game for Washington. And his presence was felt constantly. Ovechkin's trophy case is filled to the brim. He has three Hart Memorial Trophies for league MVP, seven Maurice Richard Trophies as the leading goal scorer in hockey, and an Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer. All of those, however, built up to this: Ovechkin winning the Conn Smythe as the player that led his team through the NHL Playoff gauntlet. It's a career in the making, and much like Ovechkin hoisting the Cup, it's one of the iconic moments that we've seen from the Capitals on Thursday.<doc-sep>The Washington Capitals are the 2017-18 Stanley Cup champions, but that wasn’t the only trophy awarded on the ice for their historic win. There was the little matter of who would receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 2017-18 Stanley Cup playoffs MVP. Though a strong case could be, and was, made for Evgeny Kuznetsov, realistically there was no other choice but to award it to Alex Ovechkin. Video Over the course of the playoffs, Alex Ovechkin tallied 15 goals — tying Sidney Crosby’s record from the 2009 postseason — and 12 assists. One of those goals came during their crucial Game Five win. But, more than that, Ovechkin has been a crucial part of pulling this Washington Capitals team together. From his assertion that they were “not going to be suck this year,” to openly celebrating and supporting his teammates throughout their Cup run, it couldn’t have gone to anyone else. Ovechkin becomes just the fourth player in NHL history to recieve three or more Hart trophies (awarded to the regular-season MVP) as well as a Conn Smythe. He’s also the second Russian-born player to ever win it. Evgeni Malkin was the other (2009). Alex Ovechkin is the second Russian-born player in NHL history to earn the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player to his team in the playoffs. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Ct7cB8FLdT — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 8, 2018 Though we all know which trophy Ovechkin was eagerly anticipating lifting over his head. "this is not the stanley cup, take it" pic.twitter.com/5twGNquYNW — Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) June 8, 2018 Full Coverage of Game Five<doc-sep>“Just like all great goaltenders, you go through some dry spells in your game where you lose your way a little bit and your foundation,” Trotz said. “We had a conversation and he was very respectful. He understood that he wasn't going to start in the playoffs. And he said, `If I get a chance to go back in, I'm gonna be really good for you.’ And he was.”<doc-sep>"It's unbelievable. I'm just happy," Ovechkin said. After defeating the Golden Knights and winning the Stanley Cup on Thursday night, Conn Smythe winner Alex Ovechkin confirmed that he and his wife, Nastya, are expecting their first child. During a postgame interview with Sportsnet, Ovechkin was asked, "Okay, you’re married now, you and Nastya are expecting your first child, you’ve got the Stanley Cup: could life be any better than it is tonight?" Ovechkin did not reference his child specifically, but answered about how happy he felt. "It's unbelievable. I'm just happy," Ovechkin said. Ovechkin also went on to share a message with Capitals fans over the historic win. "Fans, we did it," he said. "Get some beers. Start celebrating. We're the Stanley Cup champions." The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 on Thursday night.<doc-sep>
LAS VEGAS — Alex Ovechkin’s NHL legacy swelled considerably Thursday when he added a Stanley Cup championship and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. As the greatest goal scorer of this generation, Ovechkin was already destined to be recognized as one of the best players in NHL history. But before Thursday, he was also on the list of top players never to win the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin led the Capitals with 15 playoff goals, including one in the clinching game Thursday. "Man, did Ovi play well and he produced," Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "He ran people over. He blocked shots. He led the charge. He was really consistent and he scored big goals at big moments." His victory against teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov in the Conn Smythe vote is presumed to have been close because Kuznetsov was the Capitals’ offensive catalyst, leading all NHL playoff scorers with 32 points in 24 games. The Conn Smythe winner is selected by a panel of members from the Professional Hockey Writers Association. D.C. sports curse over:Capitals capture first Stanley Cup in Game 5 win Stanley Cup mania:Pandemonium in Washington as Capitals win first title Terrible timing:Clock freezes in final minutes of Stanley Cup Final Kuznetsov’s 1.35 points-per-game average was Mario Lemieux-like by today’s lower- scoring standards. But Ovechkin was both a dominant offensive player (15 goals, 26 points) and inspirational leader. He is the first Russian to captain his team to a Stanley Cup championship. Ovechkin played a tough, physical style and the Capitals seemed to feed off his focus and passion. Previously, Ovechkin had won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, three Hart trophies as regular-season MVP, the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy seven times as goal scoring champion and the Art Ross trophy as scoring champion once. He also won the Ted Lindsay Trophy, the players’ MVP award, three times.