Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the 2018 NHL postseason. We are one day away from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals. Game 1 is at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
[RELATED: Complete Golden Knights vs. Capitals series coverage | Stanley Cup Final schedule]
Here is a look at the latest news surrounding the Cup Final:
March of the Golden Knight
Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault will play in the Stanley Cup Final, which is incredible when you think about how his pro hockey career started.
Conn he do it?
Marc-Andre Fleury has carried the Golden Knights in the playoffs, but can he win the Conn Smythe Trophy if Vegas doesn’t win the Cup? NHL.com writers debate that topic in the latest writers roundtable.
No vacation for Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin says the Capitals aren’t heading the Vegas for fun and games; they’re on a mission to win the Stanley Cup.
Remember when?
NBC’s Kenny Albert was once road roommates with Capitals coach Barry Trotz. He shares his experience with NHL.com.
Facts and figures
* Two players in this year’s Final have won the Stanley Cup — and they did it as teammates.
Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury played on three Stanley Cup-winning teams as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017). One of his teammates on the 2009 championship team was defenseman Brooks Orpik, who now plays for the Capitals. The only other player on either team who has played in the Stanley Cup Final is Vegas forward James Neal, who lost to Fleury and the Penguins with the Nashville Predators last year.
* Vegas general manager George McPhee had a big hand in building each of this year’s finalists.
As general manager of the Capitals from 1997-2014, McPhee acquired 13 of the 25 players who have appeared for Washington in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. McPhee drafted 12 of the 25 and signed center Jay Beagle as a free agent on March 26, 2008.
During his time in Washington, McPhee acquired two players who are now on the Golden Knights’ roster: defenseman Nate Schmidt (free agent, 2013) and center Cody Eakin (third round, No. 85, in 2009 NHL Draft).
McPhee is the first GM in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) and the second in League history to face a former team of which he was GM in the Stanley Cup Final. The other was Tommy Gorman, whose Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1944 Cup Final after Gorman led Chicago to the Cup in 1934 by defeating the Detroit Red Wings.
Cup is full
Check out complete coverage of the Cup Final.
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Stanley Cup Final Coverage
Golden Knights vs. Capitals
Stanley Cup Final Schedule
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