Washington Capitals Claim Stanley Cup In Game 5

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Washington Capitals were one game away from being Stanley Cup champions heading into Game 5 in Las Vegas and the team finally snagged the trophy for the first time in team history. The Capitals beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Thursday.

For the Capitals, Thursday's game was No. 3,701 in franchise history, including regular season and postseason contests. "There is a lot on the line," says Caps defenseman Matt Niskanen before the start of the game. "I think everybody recognizes the opportunity we have, that we earned. The destination is in sight, but we have to stay focused on how we get there."

"To be honest with you, I think most of us have never been in this position," team captain Alex Ovechkin said on the team website. "For me personally, I don't try to think about it too much, what's going on. I'm just trying to focus on different things, but it's hard. Obviously, it's hard."

Ovechkin scored an early power-play goal and was the playoff MVP. He and his teammates are members of the city's first championship hockey team and Washington's first national champion in a major professional sport since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1992.

Fans went wild when Ovechkin hoisted Lord Stanley's cup on the ice.

A Capitals viewing party drew tens of thousands to downtown D.C. Here's highlights of a live feed below.

7:46 p.m.:

They’re doing the wave pic.twitter.com/plOyKtpeLD
— DanTaylorPatch (@DanTaylorPatch) June 7, 2018

7:32 p.m.: The arena is packed. So is the area outside the arena. Fans ready to go.

D.C.’s hottest club is the 400 level of Capital One Arena. It has everything: Roaming beer vendors, new Mystics fans, an entire wall of people taking photos of the crowd below pic.twitter.com/rDr4yFCQta
— Noah Frank (@NoahFrankWTOP) June 7, 2018

6:35 p.m.: Still more than an hour and a half before puck drop.

And grows... pic.twitter.com/qdTt7bkrgX
— WAMU 88.5 (@wamu885) June 7, 2018

6:10 p.m.: The scene outside:

Filling up. #GoCaps ! pic.twitter.com/Dvtfl1bapm
— Tim Barber (@ABC7TimBarber) June 7, 2018

5:58 p.m.: Gettin’ rowdy:

pic.twitter.com/D3hJR9DA6f
— DanTaylorPatch (@DanTaylorPatch) June 7, 2018

5:50 p.m.:

5:43 p.m.: Still more than 2 hours until puck drop but time is quickly running out to grab a seat … outside.

Choicest seats outside Capital One Arena already spoken for. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/S3ULa3kB7L
— WAMU 88.5 (@wamu885) June 7, 2018

5:15 p.m.: More from outside:

Caps fans are getting creative in celebration of the game! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/cauv1Y5s9z
— WUSA9 (@wusa9) June 7, 2018

4:42 p.m.: Already plenty of Caps fans at the Mystics game:

4:34 p.m.: Here’s the scene at around 4 p.m. at Capital One Arena: https://youtu.be/fjwGlU8C0aA

2:57 p.m.: The line started forming at Capital One Arena a couple hours ago -- even though the Mystics game doesn't start until 4 and the Caps game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The line is beginning to form at Capital One Arena! #StanleyCupFinals #LetsGoCaps #CapsYear @PoPville @wamu885 @ABC7News @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/MZ8OLkX9C7
— Mackenzie (@Mackenzie_OC2DC) June 7, 2018

Anticipation is building as fans begin to enter Capital One Arena! Go Caps! #ALLCAPS #STANLEYCUP #Washington Capitals pic.twitter.com/ccdWko1zed
— Mark Madden (@MarkEMadden) June 7, 2018

Top photo: LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals carries the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 30: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on May 30, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)