Defenseman Brooks Orpik is back in the Stanley Cup finals during his fourth season with the Capitals. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)Brooks Orpik did not mind being in the background after the Washington Capitals clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday night in Tampa, nor did he mind shepherding the celebration for a few seconds. The 37-year-old has long been considered the rock in Washington’s locker room, but his presence becomes even more important as the Capitals prepare for their first Stanley Cup finals appearance in two decades. In Pittsburgh, he studied veterans Gary Roberts and Bill Guerin, especially during the Stanley Cup run in 2009. There’s no stat — that experience, that leadership, the way he prepares, the way he plays big games,” Washington Coach Barry Trotz said.

Source: Washington Post May 26, 2018 19:18 UTC