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June 12 (UPI) -- Thousands of fans lined the streets of Washington, D.C. Tuesday to celebrate the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup victory. Capitals supporters turned Constitution Ave. and the surrounding areas into a pulsating sea of red while cheering on the team, which rode on double-decker busses.
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F-16 jets flew overhead and marching bands provided percussion.
The last vehicle in the caravan included Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, president Dick Patrick, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Brooks Orpik and the Stanley Cup.
Ovechkin -- who has had a tight handle on the trophy since claiming it on June 7 -- hoisted the cup in between sips of his beer. T.J. Oshie flipped his jersey over his head and chugged his beer through it, before pouring the rest of the bottle over his head.
Several players spoke to the crowd at the rally, before the team sang We Are the Champions.
Metro reported that ridership on the Metrorail as of noon was up more than 78,000 from the same time on Monday.
The Capitals offered fans a fill-in-the-blank doctor's note to help fans get out of work in order to see the parade.
Ovechkin began his speech by asking the crowd: "What's up babes?"
"You thought it was going to be crazy, but it's basically nuts," he added. "You guys are killing it. It is great for us. For our families, moms, dads, brothers, wives, kids ... they support as much as you are."
"We're not going to be [expletive] suck this year! We're Stanley Cup champions," he added.
Ovechkin scored 15 goals and had 12 assists in the Stanley Cup playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The Capitals' 4-1 Stanley Cup series victory against the Vegas Golden Knights handed the franchise its first championship in its 44-year existence.
