Lo and behold, Ovechkin scored immediately off a faceoff win by Dylan Strome, and the Capitals had a lead they wouldn’t relinquish despite a brutal start to their evening. The goal was Ovechkin’s fourth of the series and third at Capital One Arena. Strome has assisted on them all.

The Washington Capitals had waited a long time for this. Still, the Capitals’ celebration following their series-clinching 4-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Capital One Arena on Wednesday was subdued and fitting of a team with bigger expectations in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just like during the season when they were the top team in the Eastern Conference and one of the best in the NHL, the Washington Capitals got goals from Alex Ovechkin, superb play in net from Logan Thompson and scoring up and down their lineup in the first round of the playoffs.