Washington Capitals

TAMPA, FL - MAY 23: Nicklas Backstrom #19, John Carlson #74, and Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Playoff Diaries: Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Final

NHL playoffs 2018: Final bracket after Capitals beat Lightning

Capitals finish off Lightning in Game 7: 3 takeaways

Capitals vs. Lightning Game 7: Full highlights, final score and more

Schedule

Standings

Team Leaders

Injuries

Team Rankings

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 01: Washington Capitals Right Wing Tom Wilson (43) reacts during the second period. The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 1, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Congrats if you took the Tom Wilson gets in a Game 7 brawl prop bet

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Game 7 isn’t at home for Capitals, but fans still pack Capital One Arena

ARLINGTON, VA - MARCH 02: Head Coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals looks on during practice for the 2018 Coors Light Stadium Series at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on March 2, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Capitals’ Barry Trotz burns up the rink with hot lap in practice

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21:Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is pressured from behind by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi (5) during the first period of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, May 21, 2018. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals: Game 7 prediction

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: Tyler Johnson #9 and J.T. Miller #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fall to the ice against Lars Eller #20 and Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals live stream, Game 7: TV schedule, online and more

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: The Washington Capitals celebrate dueing their 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Capitals blank Lightning to force Game 7: 3 takeaways

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: Devante Smith-Pelly #25 of the Washington Capitals celebrates in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals Game 6: Full highlights, final score and more

TAMPA, FL - MAY 19: Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) track the puck in the air during the first period of the fifth game of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Final between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 19, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Capitals vs. Lightning: Game 6 Predictions

TAMPA, FL - MAY 19: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning takes a shot on Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals during the second period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 19, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals, Game 5: Full highlights, final score and more

TAMPA, FL - MAY 19: Ryan Callahan #24 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal against the Washington Capitals during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 19, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

Capitals rally falls short against Lightning in Game 5: 3 takeaways

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal on Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals live stream, Game 5: TV schedule, online and more

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with his teammates Steven Stamkos #91 and Nikita Kucherov #86 after defeating the Washington Capitals 4-2 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lightning shutdown Capitals in Game 4 to even series: 3 takeaways

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals battles for the puck against Ryan McDonagh #27 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Capitals vs. Lightning: Game 4 Prediction

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals follows the puck in front of Tyler Johnson #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Capitals vs. Lightning live stream, Game 4: TV schedule, online and more

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals with a score of 4 to 2. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Lightning strikes the Capitals in Game 3: 3 takeaways

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Steven Stamkos silences doubters with scorching-hot one-timer vs. Capitals

TAMPA, FL - MAY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning tends goal against Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 13, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Capitals vs. Lightning live stream, Game 3: TV schedule, online and more

TAMPA, FL - MAY 13: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 13, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

3 takeaways from the Capitals bottling up the Lightning in Game 2

TAMPA, FL - MAY 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals avoids a check from Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals: Game 2 Prediction

TAMPA, FL - MAY 11: Lars Eller #20 of the Washington Capitals scores a second period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Capitals defeated the Lightning 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals live stream, Game 2: TV schedule, online and more

TAMPA, FL - MAY 12: A Tampa Bay Lightning fan dressed as an astronaut cheers with fans prior to Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 12, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Despite attempted Tampa Rocketman sabotage, the Capitals found liftoff in Game 1

TAMPA, FL - MAY 11: Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gives up a goal against the Washington Capitals during Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Capitals are murdering the Lightning on live television

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against Dominik Simon #12 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Don’t panic, Capitals fans, but Nicklas Backstrom is out for Game 1

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 20: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in the first period on February 20, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals, 4-2. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Lightning vs. Capitals: Game 1 prediction