5 players who will go off in the Stanley Cup Final

A whole load of storylines are swirling around the Stanley Cup Final. Maybe the biggest of them all is to decide which player will have a series to remember.

A  Washington Capitals rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final now has them playing the Vegas Golden Knights for the Cup.

Both teams have had some ups and downs throughout the course of the playoffs, but both squads endured the three rounds up to this final series. Some players have really dictated the play for either side and once the silverware is presented, their respective teammates would be thanking them.

On the same note, other players haven’t been that strong in the playoffs in terms of stats. However, the playoffs isn’t really all determined by stats. Other areas of the game are well-suited for some players to go off as well.

There’s a lot of motivation for both sides heading into the Cup Cinal. Vegas is obviously trying to cap off an already historic inaugural season with the Stanley Cup, while the Caps are trying to finally solve the playoff doom that has surrounded them for quite some time.

It should be an entertaining series; probably the most thrilling fans have seen in a while. Both sets of teams provide elite and breakout scoring power, stability at the blueline and amazing goalies in between the posts.

With the way things have turned out in this year’s playoffs, it will be surprisingly hard to predict the outcome of this series which makes just the thought of it drool-worthy.

What’s even more hard to predict is which players really shine for the last set of games. Despite what some have done for the regular season and the playoffs, the final itself can tell a whole different story about players.

Regardless of how hard it is to predict, this piece will still try to do so. Here are the five players who could have a great performance throughout the Stanley Cup Final.

5. Alex Ovechkin

What a great playoff run for Ovechkin. The winger has put all the doubters aside and has put on a Conn Smythe-worthy performance since April.

There were some close moments for Ovi throughout the playoffs. A two-game series lead for the Columbus Blue Jackets provided some nerves, but the Caps were able to battle through that to win four contests in a row. An upset against the Pittsburgh Penguins followed by a real tough battle in the Eastern Conference Final versus the Lightning were likely provided by a huge spark from the Caps’ captain.

Ovechkin is one step away from what he’s been trying to chase for so long. The silverware is within arms’ reach, and he knows it.

It should be rather expected to see the Great 8 go off in the final series. Scoring, tracking back defensively and hitting have all been top-notch from Ovechkin and it shouldn’t change against the Golden Knights.

Ovi has 12 goals and ten assists in 19 playoff contests this spring.

Most captains in the NHL don’t have their set of players really “playing” for them. In other terms, it’s more about personal and badge gain for a lot of players in the NHL rather than providing for their leaders.

It’s a huge difference for Washington, as seemingly every player is not only playing for what was mentioned above, but keeping Ovechkin in mind. One of the greatest players in the world and surely the best sniper in the game right now deserves the Stanley Cup, and his teammates know that.

Ovi is providing the spark for himself and his mates. May 28 will be the start of the end for using that spark to finally win something for the Capitals.

Look at Ovechkin in the video above. Something says that he’s more than ready for a final just by the face expression there.