Capitals will play Lightning in Eastern Conference Final

The Washington Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Final and will play the Tampa Bay Lightning. Game 1 is Friday at Amalie Arena (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS).
The Capitals defeated the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in overtime in Game 6 on Monday to win that best-of-7 series.

"We're going to celebrate when it's over," Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said. "I hope we're going to win the Stanley] Cup and then we're going to be celebrating. But right now, it's just satisfaction we beat the Stanley Cup champions finally and we move forward and now we're going to play against a very good team, against very good goaltending and solid players over there."
Tampa Bay defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 in Game 5 on Sunday to end that second round Stanley Cup Playoff series.
***[RELATED: [Complete Lightning vs. Capitals series coverage]*
"We'll take [the rest] if we got it here; we've got to learn a lesson too, where we started out a little slow in this series [against Boston] and it cost us a game," Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "I'm sure we'll work on things and try to utilize whatever rest we can, but at the same time be ready right from the start of Game 1 because it could be a difference here in this next one."
It is the first time since 1998 that the Capitals have advanced to the conference final. That season, they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games before being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Capitals will make their third appearance in the conference final; they also made it in 1990, losing to the Bruins in four games.
"We got a lot of demons out of the way, or what have you," Washington coach Barry Trotz said. "And the way we did it, with the types of people that we had out, it showed a lot of resiliency, which I've said all year. Right after the game, we talked a couple minutes about a team win. And we talked about we're only halfway. We've got to the next round and we're going to play a real good opponent in Tampa [Bay].
"Just keep a level head and get the work boots and get ready to strap the helmets on, go to Tampa and go nose-to-nose with them."

Tampa Bay is in the conference final for the third time in four seasons. It defeated the New York Rangers in 2015 and lost to the Penguins in 2016, each in seven games.
"There is an obvious excitement about being here again, but it's kind of a different excitement; it's more of a 'We're on a mission' excitement," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It's a little different than it was three years ago with this same group. There is a confidence about them in the way we are playing, how we've arrived at where we are right now. A lot of that has to do because they have been there before.
"Now you get the chance to take a step back and what has worked for us before and what hasn't. If there was a panic button in 2015, there doesn't seem to be one in 2018."
Washington lost two of three games against Tampa Bay this season (1-1-1). Alex Ovechkin scored two goals in the three games, and Nicklas Backstrom led the Capitals with four points (one goal, three assists). Braden Holtby played one game, taking a 4-2 loss Feb. 20.
"We have to stay focused. We have to regroup quickly," Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov said. "It's going to be different hockey, different team and a different style of hockey. If we want to do something special, we have to play right away. [From] the first puck drop, we have to be focused, because if those guys get a couple goals, it's pretty hard to score on them back."
Nikita Kucherov (two goals, two assists) and Brayden Point (three goals, one assists) led the Lightning with four points each. Andrei Vasilevskiy played all three games with a 2.33 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
Washington lost two previous series against Tampa Bay (2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in six games, 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals in four games).