President Donald Trump welcomed Alex Ovechkin and the reigning NHL champion Washington Capitals to the Oval Office on Monday to congratulate them for winning the Stanley Cup in June.

Trump said it was an honor to host the team because he is a hockey fan and a Capitals fan. The president called the Capitals "winners" and said there is "an awfully good chance" they will repeat this season.

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President Donald Trump, center, hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Some of the team attending are Alex Ovechkin, third from left, John Carlson, fourth from left, T.J. Oshie, sixth from left, and team owner Ted Leonsis, third from right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump welcomed Alex Ovechkin and the reigning NHL champion Washington Capitals to the Oval Office on Monday to congratulate them for winning the Stanley Cup in June.
President Donald Trump, second from right, points to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, fourth from left, as they are surrounded by members of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Players, coaches and staff members took a private 45-minute tour of the White House and met with Trump in what was a last chance to be around hockey's sacred trophy as defending champions.
President Donald Trump, seated center, listens as Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, fourth from left, speaks during the teams visit to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019, to honor the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, right, and NHL Commissioner Gery Bettman, left, and other members of the team listen. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

"It's huge honor for us to be here and meet you personally," said Ovechkin, the Capitals' Russian-born captain and playoff MVP. "We're going to try to (win) again. We have same team, experienced team, very good group of guys and we're going to try to do it again."
President Donald Trump, front right, shakes hands with John Carlson of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Teammate T.J. Oshie watches at right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)
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President Donald Trump, center, hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Some of the team attending are Alex Ovechkin, third from left, John Carlson, fourth from left, T.J. Oshie, sixth from left, and team owner Ted Leonsis, third from right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump welcomed Alex Ovechkin and the reigning NHL champion Washington Capitals to the Oval Office on Monday to congratulate them for winning the Stanley Cup in June.

President Donald Trump, second from right, points to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, fourth from left, as they are surrounded by members of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Players, coaches and staff members took a private 45-minute tour of the White House and met with Trump in what was a last chance to be around hockey's sacred trophy as defending champions.

President Donald Trump, seated center, listens as Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, fourth from left, speaks during the teams visit to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019, to honor the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, right, and NHL Commissioner Gery Bettman, left, and other members of the team listen. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

"It's huge honor for us to be here and meet you personally," said Ovechkin, the Capitals' Russian-born captain and playoff MVP. "We're going to try to (win) again. We have same team, experienced team, very good group of guys and we're going to try to do it again."

President Donald Trump, front right, shakes hands with John Carlson of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Teammate T.J. Oshie watches at right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

"You brought the Stanley Cup home," Trump said. "Thousands of adoring fans greeted you. They were all over the place. And I have a feeling you're going to be doing it again. You're champions. You have a champion's heart."

President Donald Trump, center, hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Some of the team attending are Alex Ovechkin, third from left, John Carlson, fourth from left, T.J. Oshie, sixth from left, and team owner Ted Leonsis, third from right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center, hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Some of the team attending are Alex Ovechkin, third from left, John Carlson, fourth from left, T.J. Oshie, sixth from left, and team owner Ted Leonsis, third from right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Players, coaches and staff members took a private 45-minute tour of the White House and met with Trump in what was a last chance to be around hockey's sacred trophy as defending champions.

Trump singled out owner Ted Leonsis, Ovechkin and American defenseman John Carlson during his remarks.

Two players on the current roster, Canadians Braden Holtby and Brett Connolly, and Devante Smith-Pelly, who is in the minors, did not attend. The rest of the team was in attendance, along with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

President Donald Trump, second from right, points to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, fourth from left, as they are surrounded by members of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, second from right, points to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, fourth from left, as they are surrounded by members of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

"It's huge honor for us to be here and meet you personally," said Ovechkin, the Capitals' Russian-born captain and playoff MVP. "We're going to try to (win) again. We have same team, experienced team, very good group of guys and we're going to try to do it again."

The Capitals' White House visit came nine-plus months after their first title in franchise history and with six games left in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Washington is in first place and again is a top contender.

"I think you're going to be successful," Trump said. "Very proud of you guys. Good luck. We're going to be watching."

President Donald Trump, seated center, listens as Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, fourth from left, speaks during the teams visit to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019, to honor the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, right, and NHL Commissioner Gery Bettman, left, and other members of the team listen. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, seated center, listens as Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, fourth from left, speaks during the teams visit to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019, to honor the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, right, and NHL Commissioner Gery Bettman, left, and other members of the team listen. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

President Donald Trump, front right, shakes hands with John Carlson of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Teammate T.J. Oshie watches at right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, front right, shakes hands with John Carlson of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. Teammate T.J. Oshie watches at right. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

 President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)

President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photo as he hosts the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey team in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoSusan Walsh)