Get ready for the Stanley Cup Final with theScore's comprehensive preview package.

How to watch

Analysis

• Stanley Cup roster breakdown: Which team is better?
• Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights vs. Capitals playoffs breakdown
• Keys to the Cup: 3 things the Capitals need to do to win it all
• Keys to the Cup: Golden Knights must do these 3 things to lift Stanley

• Why the Golden Knights are primed to become a perennial juggernaut
• Knights' and Capitals' top lines take very different routes to dominance
• McPhee's fingerprints remain all over the Capitals

Rankings

• Conn Smythe Power Rankings: Kuznetsov, Ovechkin contend for Fleury's top spot
• NHL Playoff Power Rankings: Vegas rolls into Cup Final
• Ranking every player in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final

By the numbers

What they're saying

The House Always Wins: Golden Knights open as favorites over Caps in Stanley Cup Final

Alex Ovechkin on heading to Sin City: "We're going there to play hockey, not to pool party and play in (the) casino."

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The Acadie-Bathurst Titan defeated the host Regina Pats 3-0 on Sunday to win the 100th edition of the Memorial Cup, their first-ever title.

The Titan got goals from Adam Howell and Samuel Asselin before Ethan Crossman sealed the deal with an empty-netter. Goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick made 28 saves in the shutout effort.

Acadie-Bathurst finished second in the QMJHL standings in the regular season with a record of 43-15-8-2, and made some Canadian history with Sunday's win.

It's worth noting Pats captain and 2016 first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, Sam Steel, earned tournament MVP honors after recording 13 points in five games.

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Valeri Nichushkin sees the NHL in his future.

The former 10th overall pick of the Dallas Stars, who has spent the past two seasons in his native Russia, hopes to spend the coming campaign in the NHL.

"Val very much wants to come back," Mark Gandler, who represents Nichushkin, told Sean Shapiro of The Athletic. "Dallas wants him back and we are just very hopeful we'll be able to take care of this very soon."

Nichushkin made the immediate jump to the NHL after the Stars used a high pick for his selection in the 2013 draft. That season, he finished with 34 points, tied with fellow freshmen Sean Monahan and Mark Scheifele.

In all, Nichushkin lasted just three seasons in Dallas, counting 166 games plus a stint with the Stars' AHL affiliate, before taking his game to the KHL. Reports indicated that a rift with bench boss Lindy Ruff were among the reasons why Nichushkin headed home.

But Ruff is long gone from the Stars, and first-year coach Jim Montgomery is set to manage the bench in the coming campaign.

As for Nichushkin, he scored 27 points in 50 games with CSKA Moscow last season, a level of production that has both he and his agent feeling satisfied.

"Goals and points is very difficult to find on the big ice surface. Particularly in that league, and it's a very tight-checking league," Gandler added. "So points and goals are difficult to come by, but considering all that, I think it was a very good season."

Should Nichushkin return to Texas, he'll first need to put pen to paper, as he remains property of the Stars as an unsigned, restricted free agent.

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Bob Hartley is back in the professional coaching ranks.

The former NHL bench boss was named head coach of the KHL's Avangard Omsk on Sunday, just days after he led Team Latvia to a 3-1-2-2 showing at the World Championship.

Hartley coached Latvia at the last two worlds, and he also served as a consultant for the country's entry at the 2016-17 world juniors.

Hartley hasn't coached in the NHL since 2015-16, when he wrapped up a four-year run with the Calgary Flames. But there's no denying his credentials. The 57-year-old has won wherever he's coached, collecting championships in the QMJHL, AHL, Swiss League, and a Stanley Cup win with the Colorado Avalanche.

Hartley was also given the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year following the 2014-15 campaign. He owns a 463-361-120 record across 944 NHL games.

While it's unknown if Hartley is aiming for a return to an NHL bench, his path through Russia isn't unorthodox. Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice led the KHL's Magnitogorsk Metallurg in 2012-13 before heading to Manitoba the following season.

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Few things go better together than the Stanley Cup Playoffs and beards.

Whether superstition or simply a break from taking out the razor, the postseason offers an opportunity for some of the NHL's best to show off their beard game. And it hasn't gone unnoticed:

Ryan Ellis

It wasn't the banner year for the Nashville Predators like many pundits predicted, but there was still plenty to appreciate. Like Ryan Ellis' facial follicles. The bearded blue-liner had an injury-shortened season, but didn't miss a moment of playoff action, as he appeared in all 13 of Nashville's playoff games.

Nikita Kucherov

Call him a complete player. When Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov isn't challenging the likes of superstar Connor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead, he's rocking the stubble look around the clock. And not only did he up his offensive game in the playoffs, he also let the face flow run wild.

Patrik Laine

Simply magnificent. It's difficult to find better words to describe the beard game of Winnipeg Jets superstar Patrik Laine. As fans in the Manitoba capital dressed for their iconic white out during the Jets' playoff run, one final touch was deemed necessary: some fake facial hair that mimicked Laine's look.

James Neal

First a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, and now a spot on the "5 best beards" list. After making the trip a year ago while with the Predators, the veteran winger is set to make his second straight Finals appearance, and he's bringing a familiar look: The NHL's best ginger beard. Too bad another redhead rules Sin City.

Alex Ovechkin

If the Capitals captain is superstitious, all doubt was removed when he readily embraced the Prince of Wales Trophy. The award recognizes Washington as the Eastern Conference champions, just as Ovi's burly, brown beard means that his age is only starting to show up top.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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The 2018 NHL season will finish with a first-time winner hoisting the Stanley Cup.

The expansion-club phenoms out of Vegas are in one corner, having defied all odds during a historic march to the Stanley Cup Final. In the other corner are the Washington Capitals, a team that's punched its ticket to the final for the first time since 1998 after years of heartbreak.

The Golden Knights have opened as favorites. But, as this roster breakdown shows, the matchup may be a little tighter than it appears.

Forwards

During the Western Conference Final, the Golden Knights took out a Winnipeg Jets offense that was ranked second in the regular season.

Now they'll have to match the firepower of a Capitals' forward group that's been far more dangerous during the playoffs.

Each team is led by a first line that has done some heavy lifting. For the Capitals, their top trio of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson have combined for 58 playoff points. Meanwhile, Vegas has been spearheaded by Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith, who have piled up 47 points. Those two top lines are nearly a wash considering the difference in games played (a combined 54 by the Capitals' top three, and 45 by Vegas' lead unit).

Related: Knights' and Capitals' top lines take very different routes to dominance

However, overall, the Capitals have outscored Vegas forwards 59-35, potting 24 more goals in just four more games, and averaging 3.11 goals per game compared to the Golden Knights' 2.33.

Edge: Capitals - The Golden Knights forwards have done exactly what they've needed, but the Capitals stars have been more lethal in their pursuit of glory.

Defense

The Golden Knights' defense has accumulated 23 playoff points, while John Carlson alone has put up 16 points for the Capitals, that says all you need to know about the matchup on defense.

Overall, Washington's blue-liners have scored one fewer goal than the Golden Knights' backend (7), but 16 more points. They've also fired 192 shots at the opposition, much more than Vegas' 115.

On the opposite side of the puck, the Capitals have averaged 28.2 shots against per game, the second-fewest in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have given up the fifth-most at 33.7 per game and are also averaging 9.87 high-danger scoring chances against per game at five-on-five in the playoffs compared to the Capitals' 8.84.

Edge: Capitals - Whether it be on the scoreboard or in their own end, the Capitals' defense has been more effective than that of the Golden Knights.

Goalies

After starting the postseason on the bench behind Philipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby has come alive.

He's returned to his Vezina-winning form after a regular season that was a career-worst statistically. Riding back-to-back shutouts as he enters the Stanley Cup Final, Holtby has posted a .923 save percentage (third in the playoffs among goalies with five appearances) and a 2.04 goals-against average (second).

There's just one problem: The man who occupies the top spot in both those categories will be staring him down from the opposite end of the rink.

Marc-Andre Fleury leads the postseason with a .947 save percentage and a 1.68 goals against average, putting up four shutouts along the way. His save percentage sits as the seventh-best postseason mark among any goalie to play at least six games during a single playoff run.

Edge: Golden Knights - Holtby has been great, but it's impossible not to give the edge to Fleury and the Golden Knights here.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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