[RELATED: Complete Golden Knights vs. Capitals series coverage | Stanley Cup Final schedule]
Here you will find links to all the stories generated by our staff of a dozen writers on hand in either Las Vegas or Washington, as well as stand-alone vignettes about the sights and sounds surrounding the Final, on and off the ice.
Check back often as we will be updating this entry multiple times each day.
May 28
Game 1 is here
The Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights begins at Vegas on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS). NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen sets the stage for a matchup no one would have predicted at the start of the season.
Start ’em up
What do the Capitals and Golden Knights need to do to start the Final on the right foot? Find out in the 5 Keys for Game 1.
Ovechkin focused
Alex Ovechkin is playing in his first Cup Final, but the moment does not appear to be too big for him.
His town
No one is enjoying the Golden Knights’ run to the Cup Final more than Deryk Engelland.
Live from Vegas
Get ready for a new pregame show only on Facebook.
Cup coverage
Get up-to-the-minute coverage of the Stanley Cup Final.
Sunday, May 27
Media Day
6:13 p.m.
New gig for Reaves
Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves, who scored the series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Winnipeg Jets, took on a new role during Media Day: NHL Network reporter.
Video: Tuch gets interviewed by reporter Ryan Reaves
Reaves broke into defenseman Brayden McNabb‘s media session to ask him how he keeps his curly hair so tight and said, “You must be a lady killer.”
“I don’t know, I was blessed with curly hair, and the product I use, it really gets it going,” McNabb said.
Reaves wasn’t the only player to grab a microphone Sunday. Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky also got into the act.
Look, don’t Tuch
Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch couldn’t help but notice the Stanley Cup at the other end of the room when it was his turn to do interviews at Media Day.
“I looked at it a couple times walking in,” he said.
But the 22-year-old from Syracuse, New York, was careful not to get too close. Like most players, he’s superstitious about touching the Cup without winning it first.
That dates back to his childhood.
“I’ve been next to it,” Tuch said. “I took my picture with it at [Hockey] Hall of Fame in Toronto, but didn’t touch it even when I was 8 years old.”
Gold jacket required
Gerard Gallant is not only the coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, he’s also their fashion guru.
It turns out it was Gallant’s shiny gold jacket that defenseman Brad Hunt wore while reading the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Winnipeg Jets.
The lineup reading, which was featured in the fourth episode of the behind-the-scenes series “Quest for the Stanley Cup,” sparked Vegas on to the series-clinching win.
“[Gallant] was like, ‘Throw this on and let it fly,'” said Hunt, who has helped rally the Golden Knights despite being a healthy scratch for every game in the playoffs. “It’s been something so cool to be able to do that, it’s been an incredible experience.”
As for what he has planned for Game 1, Hunt isn’t saying.
“It’s a secret,” said Hunt, who had 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 45 regular-season games. “You guys will have to find out.”
Remember me?
Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly and Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson were teammates with the Anaheim Ducks in 2014-15. They also played together in Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2013-14.
This season, Karlsson had 78 points (43 goals, 35 assists) with the Golden Knights.
Smith-Pelly was impressed by what Karlsson did at the NHL level when they were teammates, even with a limited opportunity. Karlsson had three points (two goals, one assist) in 18 games with the Ducks.
“He was a good player there too,” Smith-Pelly said. “He made the team out of camp one year and was playing power play, penalty kill. He was doing the same things he’s doing now behind a couple of guys there.
“Playing with him in the minors (Norfolk) and playing with him in Anaheim, I knew he was very skilled and a good player.
“I don’t know if I knew he was going to score 40 goals. I knew he was a good, good player and with a bigger role he would put up some numbers.”
Setting the stage
3:15 p.m. ET
Media Day at T-Mobile Arena marks the official start of the Cup Final. Members of the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights will meet the media in preparation for Game 1 of the best-of-7 series here on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
To get you ready, here’s a rundown of the stories we have generated in advance of the series:
Playing in Vegas is different than playing anywhere else, for a variety of reasons. The Capitals believe they are ready for the challenge. Tom Gulitti explains why.
Jonathan Marchessault has been the breakout star for the Golden Knights, leading them in scoring, as well as motivation. Lisa Dillman has the story behind his maturation this season.
How good has Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury been this postseason? Good enough to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even if the Golden Knights lose the Final? Our writers debated the point.
What makes Capitals coach Barry Trotz tick? Nobody knows better than NBC announcer Kenny Albert, who spent the first few seasons of his career rooming with Trotz during road trips with the Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League. Check out Albert’s tribute to his former roommate.
Who is guiding the Golden Knights through the all the glitz and glamour that surrounds being on hockey’s biggest stage? The two men on the roster who have been here before; Fleury and forward James Neal.
One day, they will make a movie about the inaugural season of these Golden Knights. But who will play the roles of the players? We asked them.
Forward David Perron was a long shot to make the NHL, and like his Golden Knights, he has made the most of his opportunity. Shawn Roarke looks at how Perron beat the odds to get here.
Washington general manager Brian MacLellan goes back a long way with Vegas GM George McPhee, even further than when they worked together with the Capitals. Tom Gulitti explores the relationship from MacLellan’s viewpoint.
Peter Bondra and Olaf Kolzig played for the Capitals in 1998, when they last reached the Final. They hope the wait for a title ends this June.
How do the goalies stack up in the Stanley Cup Final? Kevin Woodley, our goalie guru, broke down the tape to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Fleury and Braden Holtby.
Here is the comprehensive preview of the Stanley Cup Final.
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Stanley Cup Final Coverage
Golden Knights vs. Capitals
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