Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals celebrated their Stanley Cup with the Nationals
Even after raising the Stanley Cup in front of the crowd at Nationals Park and throwing out the first pitch Saturday morning, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin hadn't finished celebrating with D.C. faithful.
As the Capitals exited the field following their pregame recognition for winning the NHL championship on Thursday night, Ovechkin carried the Stanley Cup around the corners of the field, raising the trophy at each section as fans roared.
Videos have surfaced online in the past 36 hours of the Capitals celebrating their title at various bars, and they brought that party to Nationals Park on Saturday before Washington played the Giants. In the clubhouse, players from both teams came together for a photo:
GANG¡¯S ALL HERE! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/0FqcAyEyGF
— Washington ? Capitals (@Capitals) June 9, 2018
Before Saturday's game, Capitals coaches and players took the field in Nationals shirts. Ovechkin threw out the first pitch, but his attempt flew over
When you win the Conn Smythe Trophy, you get as many mulligans as you want.#OnePursuit // #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oJ0BfR9P60
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 9, 2018
"He needs to work on his pitching," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said afterwards.
Ovechkin then took his victory lap around the field before he and two Capitals players conducted a press conference after the ceremony to discuss their celebrations while fans outside of the room chanted "Let's go Caps!"
Capitals players lifted the Stanley Cup from a suite during the game, causing some of the loudest cheers at unprompted times during the game.
Alex Ovechkin is just holding the Stanley Cup up in the middle of the inning. They won¡¯t put him on the Jumbotron because the ball is still in play lmfao #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/XRRuUUWrOP
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) June 9, 2018
Before the game, Trotz spoke with the Nationals, ensuring them the Capitals erased any bad luck D.C. sports teams have experienced after he won the city's first title since 1992. The Nationals could use some of that good fortune, since they haven't won a playoff series in four postseason trips.
"Just let them know there's no curse or anything," Trotz said. "They're all gone."