Nicklas Backstrom recently did an interview with the DC press, focusing on his long career playing with Alex Ovechkin. When asked about his favorite moment either on or off the ice with Ovechkin, Backstrom went with an obvious pick — winning the Stanley Cup — but shared some insight behind that moment, revealing that the feelings the two felt were more nuanced than what it might have seemed.
“It was a pretty special moment when we won together,” Backstrom said. “We realized that. But back then, that hug was, to people outside, I think it looked like a happy moment. It was more like a relief, I think, for both of us. And just be like, finally we got it done.”
The Capitals’ Stanley Cup championship came after making the playoffs in 9 out of the previous 10 seasons but never advancing past the second round of the postseason despite winning three Presidents’ Trophies — as the best team in the regular season — during that span.
Frustration hit its apex when the Capitals lost to the eventual back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of both the 2016 and 2017 playoffs. The next year, the Capitals finally got the monkey off their back, defeating Pittsburgh in another second-round matchup thanks to an Evgeny Kuznetsov overtime goal in Game 6.
With their demons exorcized, the Capitals went on to become Eastern Conference champions after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. In the Stanley Cup Final, the Caps dispatched the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, thanks to third-period goals from Devante-Smith Pelly and Lars Eller.
Despite a bum finger, Backstrom had 7 points (1g, 6a) in the championship series while Ovechkin added five (3g, 2a) of his own. Ovechkin’s goal in the Cup-clinching Game 5 came after a stunning cross-ice feed by Backstrom from the right circle.
A moment many Capitals fans remember is, prior to receiving the Stanley Cup, Ovechkin came over to Backstrom and the two shared an emotional moment on the ice.
“Finally we f***ing did it,” a mic’d up Ovechkin said, per Monumental Sports Network, as they hugged.
“YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!” Backstrom replied.
“After me, I give it to you, baby,” Ovechkin said. “The Stanley Cup, baby.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” Backstrom replied.
“It was a special moment for both of us,” Ovechkin later said. “Since Day 1 we growing up and became Stanley Cup champions. It’s all about friendship and our respect for each other as a person and as a player as well.”
After receiving the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and taking a lap around the T-Mobile Arena ice, Ovechkin screamed “Backe!” multiple times to get the Swedish center’s attention. The two then hoisted the Cup together before Backstrom began to take a lap with Ovechkin by his side.
Seconds later, Ovechkin grabbed the bowl of the Stanley Cup and they held it together. Many fans and commentators since assumed the Capitals captain was trying to help Backstrom keep the over 30-pound chalice up since his finger was hurt.
“Yeah, in that scenario, I mean, I can hold it,” Backstrom said, “but he just didn’t want to let it go.”
