Two elite members of the Washington Capitals now have a shot at winning championship rings in two professional hockey leagues this season.
In North America, the Caps — led offensively by Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom — are enjoying an NHL-best eight-game winning streak and appear destined to secure the Southeast Division crown.
The Russian-Swedish duo received good news from across seas Wednesday, as their lockout alma mater, Moscow Dynamo, clinched its second consecutive Gagarin Cup with a 3-2 overtime victory over Traktor Chelyabinsk in Game 6 of the seven-game Kontinental Hockey League championship series.
Despite leaving his adopted KHL club when the NHL lockout ended in January, Ovechkin — the NHL’s current leading goal scorer — led the 2012-13 Dynamo in scoring with 40 points in 31 games.
Backstrom, who joined his Washington teammate overseas later in the season, finished with 25 points in 19 games played in the KHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Leo Komarov also played for Moscow this season prior to joining the AHL’s Marlies.
In 13 games for the Dynamo, Komarov recorded two goals and eight assists.
Runner-up Traktor Chelyabinsk, who is backstopped by Canadian Michael Garnett, made headlines in February when the team’s rink was damaged by a meteor shower.