<Li> Stanley Cup Finals </Li> <P> The 2018 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2017--18 season, and the culmination of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs . The Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals defeated the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights four games to one to win their first championship in their 44th season . The Vegas Golden Knights made the Finals in their first season, while this was the second Finals appearance for the Capitals . This was the first Finals series since 2007 where neither team had previously won the Stanley Cup and the third consecutive year in which a Western Conference team made their Finals debut . This was the first Finals since 2014 to require less than six games . Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs . </P> <P> The series began on May 28 and ended on June 7 . The Vegas Golden Knights had home ice advantage in the series since the Golden Knights won the Pacific Division with 109 points during the regular season, while the Capitals won the Metropolitan Division with 105 points . </P> <P> This was Washington's second Finals appearance; the Capitals were swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998 . </P>

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