The Great 8: Alex Ovechkin crowned playoff MVP

Washington Capitals wing AlexOvechkinmade the most of his first appearance in theNHLtitle series when the Russian scoring machine lifted the playoffsMVPConnSmytheTrophy after leading his team to a maiden Stanley Cup triumph on Thursday.

The two glittering trophies marked the greatest haul ofOvechkin'scareer, a player considered the finest goal-scorer of his generation but also one, who until this year, had never won the National Hockey League's most prestigious prizes.

The 32-year-old amassed 27 points in 24 post-season games, including a franchise-record15thgoal of the playoffs in the series-clinching 4-3 road win over Vegas Golden Knights.

• At long last, Ovechkin and Capitals are Stanley Cup champs
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But it was not just the offensive fireworks that earned the Russian the Conn Smythe Trophy, as Ovechkin also carried out the dirty work such as sacrificing his body to block shots.

"He really stepped up," Capitals forward Jay Beagle told reporters after Washington won the best-of-seven series 4-1.

"He's always played unreal in the playoffs but he was unreal this year. Defensive side of the puck, doing all the right things, huge blocked shot here in the third, he was just sacrificing everything to win this."

Game Wrap: Ovechkin, Capitals win franchise's 1st Stanley Cup

6 years ago

Duration 2:39

Washington edges Vegas 4-3 to win the series in 5 games. Alex Ovechkin earns Conn Smythe trophy as MVP of the playoffs.

Ovechkin recorded a point in each game of the championship series three goals and two assists and joins Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin (2009) as the only Russian-born players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Until this year, Ovechkin had never made it past the halfway mark of the Stanley Cup playoffs and bore the brunt of the blame for the team's past shortcomings even though he was never truly at fault.

But with time running out on a career that will usher Ovechkin into the Hall of Fame, he played with a greater sense of urgency.

Hip Check: Ovi and the Caps have finally done it

6 years ago

Duration 1:05

32-year-old Alex Ovechkin hoists the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy on the same night

The ultimate goal of a journey that began 14 years ago when he was selected first overall by Washington may have taken longer than many had originally expected but is no less sweet.

"He's been amazing for us," Capitals goalie Braden Holtby added. "We follow him because he knows one player doesn't make a team. If we were going to win this year, we needed every single person, and it started with him."

Alex Ovechkin presented the Stanley Cup after Game 5 win

6 years ago

Duration 1:35

Washington Capitals captain receives the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.