TAMPA -- In the end, Washington just proved too strong. 

  • Washington tops Tampa Bay 4-0 to win Game 7
  • Capitals win series 4-3 to advance to Stanley Cup finals 
  • Tampa Bay Lightning

Outscoring the Lightning 7-0 over the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Capitals closed out Tampa Bay Wednesday night to advance to the Stanley Cups Finals. 

After a 3-0 win Monday night, Washington shutout the Lightning again, winning 4-0 at Amalie Arena to advance. The Caps are heading to the finals for the first time since 1998 while the Lightning try to figure out what happened as it was in such a favorable position in the series a few days ago. 

Last night, Alex Ovechkin scored early and Andre Burakovsky added two second-period goals as the Caps cruised to the win in Game 7.

Braden Holtby stopped 29 shots for his second straight shutout and the Lightning, who led the NHL in goals during the regular season, failed to score in the last 159 minutes and 27 seconds, a stretch of nearly eight periods.

Tampa Bay also played Game 7 in the Eastern Conference final in 2015, when they blanked the New York Rangers, and again two years ago, when they lost 2-1 to Pittsburgh. Both of those deciding games were on the road. The Lightning had never lost a Game 7 at home before Wednesday night. 

After winning the Atlantic Division and being the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Lightning finish the season again short of the Stanley Cup finals. 

Tampa Bay, which won three straight games, watched its 3-2 series lead slip away. 

"It's just a very disappointing,"  said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. "Gut-wrenching feeling knowing how special this group was and not ending the way we wanted it to."

Washington will face the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup finals.