For the first time in two decades, the Washington Capitals are heading to the Stanley Cup Final, where they will face this year's Cinderella team, the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. “They got to the next level and realized they’re not going to be defined by anything they’ve done or not done in the past.”

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) holds the Prince of Wales trophy after the Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 during Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) holds the Prince of Wales trophy after the Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 during Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Washington Capitals celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Washington Capitals celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, left, and defenseman Michal Kempny (6) celebrate after the Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, left, and defenseman Michal Kempny (6) celebrate after the Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) The Washington Capitals star is headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his 13-year career, eager to put more distance between the Eastern Conference champions and a lingering perception of Ovechkin and the Caps as playoff underachievers. Holtby made his presence felt during the winner-take-all showdown, stopping 29 shots and handing the Lightning, who led the NHL in goals during the regular season, their second straight shutout. More: Capitals' Tom Wilson goes berserk, then punches off Lightning player's helmet in Game 7 fight

More: Capitals player Devante Smith-Pelly blocks Lightning shot in Game 7 with his neck, returns

The Capitals eliminated the Lightning in convincing fashion, rallying from a 3-2 series deficit by shutting out Tampa Bay in the final two games. The Lightning last played in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 when they lost to the Blackhawks, while the Capitals' only appearance came when they lost to the Red Wings in 1998. Video: WSH@TBL, Gm7: Holtby, Ovechkin on going to Cup Final

Vegas, which had four points more than Washington this regular season (109-105), has home-ice advantage and will host Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena on Monday (8 p.m.
The Washington Capitals will play the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals after a game 7 victory. It is the first Stanley Cup Finals appearance for the Capitals since 1998.