PHOTOS: A look back at the Capitals’ historic season

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals won the 2017-18 NHL season title, bringing the Stanley Cup to the District for the first time.

But the season was not without its injuries, difficulties and milestones. We take a look back on the season that culminated with the Capitals lifting the Cup in Las Vegas and parading it in D.C. a short time later.

The moment everyone was waiting for: Alex Ovechkin raises the Stanley Cup on the rally stage in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Fans cheer for the Capitals during a rally in celebration of winning the Stanley Cup, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Ovechkin holds up the Stanley Cup after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

AP Photo/John Locher

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates on the ice after the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) — Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin celebrates on the ice after the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 to win the Stanley Cup on Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly, left, celebrates his goal, in front of center Chandler Stephenson during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. Smith-Pelly scored seven goals during the playoffs. (AP Photo/John Locher)

AP Photo/John Locher

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, right, makes a stick save on shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, in Las Vegas. The save became known as one of the most important plays in Capitals history. (AP Photo/John Locher)

AP Photo/John Locher

Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz does not have a contract for the 2018-19 season, but led the Capitals to the NHL title. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

AP Photo/Nick Wass

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, right, poses with members of the Washington Capitals and the Prince of Wales trophy after the Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 during Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov skates back to his bench after the Washington Capitals scored a goal during the third period of Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Nicklas Backstrom missed four games with an upper-body injury during the playoffs, mostly during the conference finals against Tampa Bay, but the Capitals managed to advance. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (8) shakes hands with Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) after the Capitals’ 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won the series, four games to two. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Washington Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) gets the game-winning goal between the pads of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (30) during the overtime period in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won 2-1 to win the series, four games to two. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Chad Ruhwedel (2) collides with Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson (43) during the first period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Wilson was suspended for three games during the series, but the Capitals still won. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Seth Jones of Columbus reacts to losing to the Capitals in Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Monday, April 23, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Washington Capitals' Devante Smith-Pelly, left to right, Brett Connolly, and Lars Eller, of Denmark, celebrate their goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Monday, April 23, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) — The Capitals went down 2-0 to Columbus before winning the opening series of the playoffs. Here, Devante Smith-Pelly, Brett Connolly, and Lars Eller, of Denmark, celebrate their goal during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Monday, April 23, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ovechkin celebrates his goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington. It was Ovechkin’s 600th career goal. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP Photo/Alex Brandon