During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for May 30th, featuring the 2017-18 Washington Capitals.
Today in Hockey History
2017-18 Washington Capitals Win First Stanley Cup Game
2018: Brooks Orpik scores the eventual game-winner as the Caps win their first Stanley Cup Final game in franchise history. Lars Eller and Alex Ovechkin score goals in the 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2. Goalie Braden Holtby made a spectacular save on Alex Tuch with 1:59 left to preserve the win.
Washington ties the best-of-seven series at one game each. The Capitals were swept in their previous Stanley Cup Final appearance. Washington lost four straight games to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 Stanley Cup Final.
Other Notable Events
1968: St. Louis Blues head coach Scotty Bowman is given the additional title of general manager. The 34-year-old replaces Lynn Patrick in that role.
1979: Former Boston Bruins head coach Don Cherry is named to the same position with the Colorado Rockies. Boston fired him just a week earlier.
1985: Jari Kurri scores his 19th post-season goal of the season for the Edmonton Oilers. Kurri ties Reggie Leach‘s record as the Oilers down the Philadelphia Flyers, 8-3, in Game 5. The win helps Edmonton win its second straight Stanley Cup and Wayne Gretzky gets the Conn Smythe.
1998: Craig Berube scores his first post-season goal in his 12-year career. Berube helps Washington beat the Buffalo Sabres, 2-0, in Game 4 of the Eastern final. It’s the 59th career playoff game for Berube.
1999: Chris Drury ties a rookie playoff record with his fourth game-winning goal as the Colorado Avalanche win Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. Drury helps Colorado beat the Dallas Stars, 7-5, and Patrick Roy is the first goalie to win 40 games with two teams.
2000: Ken Daneyko scores his first playoff goal since 1995 in the New Jersey Devils 7-3 Game 1 win over Dallas. The defenceman played in all 126 post-season games in team history.
2012: Anze Kopitar scores on a breakaway to give the Los Angeles Kings a 2-1 Game 1 win in overtime over New Jersey. It’s the ninth straight win on the road for the Kings.
2016: Nick Bonino scores with 2:33 left in regulation as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks. Bonino’s goal helps the Pens take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, 3-2, over the Sharks.
Happy Birthday to You
1940: Gilles Villemure
1952: Kerry Fraser
1971: Jiri Slegr
1994: Scott Laughton
