Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights vs. Capitals breakdown

It's time for the Stanley Cup Final, and to get you ready for the showdown between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals, we've prepared a statistical breakdown to set the table. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)

Golden Knights 1P vs. Capitals 1M

It all comes down to this: The Golden Knights will either finish their fairytale year as champions in their first-ever season, or the Capitals secure a first Stanley Cup after 42 years of frustration.

Entering the NHL in 1974, the Capitals' first-year finish of just eight wins and 21 points still stands as the league's worst inaugural showing. But the Golden Knights rewrote the record books for different reasons this year, after a 109-point season.

The two sides will now meet in the Stanley Cup Final after knocking out a pair of formidable opponents in the third round. Vegas trounced the high-flying Winnipeg Jets in five games, while the Tampa Bay Lightning - a team many pundits pegged to win the Cup this year - had their season cut short after a Game 7 loss at home to Washington.

But how do the Golden Knights and Capitals match up for the final round? There is little historical reference to draw from, being that they faced off against each other just twice this season. Vegas, however, took both contests - including a 3-0 shutout victory. Will things be different in the postseason? We'll know soon enough, as the puck drops Monday for Game 1.

Schedule

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