After every series, the best tradition in sports comes. As hard as it is for the loser to do, they shake hands and congratulate the winner, who pays their respect unless your name is Claude Lemieux or  Sean Avery. The latest installment between the Rangers and Capitals was as expected. Hard fought and went the distance. Even if Game Seven was a surprising result to a very competitive series, it was a battle. In the end, Henrik Lundqvist and shutdown tandem Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi were left standing along with a gritty bunch of Blueshirts.

For almost certain Hart winner Alex Ovechkin, it’s little consolation. The defeated look on the Caps superstar captain summed it up. Anyone who thinks he didn’t give it all he had doesn’t know hockey. He delivered a thunderous check that crushed McDonagh cutting him. Like the warrior he is, he returned after only missing a shift and continued to blanket the Great 8. This is what separates hockey from the other sports. To think our team only made it through one round. They still have three more to go and 12 more victories to reach 16 W. The Bruins are up next beginning Thursday. Another epic battle awaits in one of the oldest rivalries left. Boston versus New York. Get your popcorn ready.