Capitals’ firepower will determine Stanley Cup final

This has to be one of the most unlikely matchups in Stanley Cup finals history. The expansion Golden Knights have already had the best inaugural season in any professional sport, while the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin have finally gotten out of the second round with The Great 8 now on the verge of the championship that will cement his legacy as one of the best of all time.

Vegas as a city is still emotionally connected by the awful Oct. 1 mass shooting that the team has repeatedly honored, and the team is united under its self-made moniker of the “Golden Misfits.” The teams are relatively evenly matched and should deliver an entertaining series. Let’s take a closer look at the matchups.

Goaltending

Marc-Andre Fleury has carried the load all season as the face of the Golden Knights since the three-time Stanley Cup winner was taken off the Penguins roster in the expansion draft. He has also been the team’s best player in these playoffs, posting a 1.68 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage that is the best all-time for a goalie in the playoffs.

Braden Holtby has been somewhat of a disappointment despite putting up good numbers (2.04, .923). It seemed like the Same Old Capitals when he allowed two softies to the Lightning in Game 5 of the East final, losing and going down in the series, 3-2. But he and the team were able to bounce back.

Edge: Golden Knights

Forwards

Alex Ovechkin could have retired a few years ago and he still would have walked into the Hall of Fame. But the second-best player of his generation has raised his game to a new level in these playoffs, utterly dominating for stretches. His 12 goals and 22 points in 19 games have come mostly with Evgeny Kuznetsov (league-leading 24 points) as his center, while right-winger Tom Wilson managed to be suspended for only three games after a series of malicious hits.

Center Nicklas Backstrom missed three games with injury but has returned to play well even while away from Ovechkin, while Lars Eller has stepped up his game after a somewhat disappointing first regular season in Washington. Everyone knows T.J. Oshie’s penchant to shine in the spotlight, while rookie Jakub Vrana has not shied away either.

The Knights are led up front by James Neal, who has always been one of the game’s great goal scorers but has done so much more for this new team. It helps when he is supported by William Karlsson, whose jaw-dropping regular season when he had 43 goals has made Blue Jackets fans cringe. Their Big Three is rounded out by Jonathan Marchessault, who is having a huge postseason with eight goals and 18 points.

Alex Tuch has proven to have the hands to go with his good skating ability and big body, while Cody Eakin and Erik Haula are solid depth guys. If it gets nasty, Ryan Reaves can come in for a game and punch someone in the face, or if it gets super-fast, Tomas Tatar can draw in to counter with his speed.

Edge: Capitals

Defense

Nate Schmidt has turned out to be a revelation for the Knights since they poached him off the roster of the Capitals in the expansion draft. He is playing big minutes, and his swift skating enables them to get it out of the zone fast. Colin Miller, coming from the Bruins, also has risen to the occasion, while veteran and Vegas resident Deryk Engelland has been the emotional leader. Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb have been steady.

The Capitals are watching John Carlson play with dollar signs in his eyes, the 28-year-old set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Trade-deadline pickup from the Blackhawks Michal Kempny has proved to be worth well more than the third-round pick surrendered, while veteran Brooks Orpik has played better than he had in recent years. Dmitry Orlov has also been terrific, and Matt Niskanen has always been an apt power-play quarterback.

Edge: Capitals

Special teams

Everyone knows that Ovehkin operates from his office in the left circle, but they still can’t stop him — and that’s why their power play is the best in the game. The Knights’ terrific penalty kill will have its hands full. On the other end, the Knighs power play hasn’t been great, and neither has the Capitals penalty kill.

Edge: Capitals

Coaching

The Knights’ Gerard Gallant should win the Jack Adams Award as the league’s best coach in a landslide, as he has gotten all these scattered pieces to form a cohesive group. His counterpart in Barry Trotz has never been beyond the second round, but has proven he should be considered one of the elite coaches in the game.

Edge: Even

Prediction

The Capitals will be pushed hard, but they just have too much firepower. Ovechkin finally hoists the Cup after Game 7.