The Capitals center revealed in an exclusive 1-on-1 that he played through the Stanley Cup-clinching Game 5 with a migraine.

ARLINGTON, V.A. -- It was June 7, 2018. The puck would drop on the most important game of Nicklas Backstrom's life, the showdown in which the Washington Capitals could clinch the Stanley Cup with a Game 5 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Then, it hit.

Backstrom was taken over by the force of a raging migraine, one that he didn't see coming. Usually, it would force him out of the lineup, but he wasn't about to miss out on the storied moment.

So, through 19:28 minutes of ice time en route to an intense 4-3 win, through the screaming with captain Alex Ovechkin and through the post-game celebration drenched in beer, Backstrom let his head throb and the night rage on.

"That's the only time I've played through one," Backstrom told The Hockey News, then grinned, "That scenario, I wasn't gonna get off."

The Swede has dealt with migraine attacks over the course of his storied career. He and his brother both struggle with them. Fortunately for Backstrom, the attacks are few and far between, but when they take place, they take a toll that's hard to put into words.

"It's hard to see coming," he said. "If that happens, it's game over."

For Backstrom, the headache starts with an aura. His vision will blur, and after that, half of his body will go numb. That's when a debilitating headache then takes over, leaving Backstrom with no solution except to take ibuprofen and retreat to a quiet and dark room to wait it out.

"If I start feeling it, that's it," Backstrom said.

As someone who deals with the same type of migraine -- and gets them almost daily -- it can be challenging to function. Playing a sport with one is a whole different beat to overcome.

Headaches are something that a number of pros have also dealt with, including Capitals prospect Hendrix Lapierre, who experienced them following a head and neck injury while he was playing in the QMJHL. 

Top prospect and 2017 No. 2 pick Nolan Patrick's migraine issues also set him back in his career. Kris Letang has also dealt with migraines over the course of his career and mistook one of his strokes for a migraine attack.

"They can be pretty scary," Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "There's probably a different severity of how you can get them, but they can be pretty debilitating if you don't know that one's coming... anytime it's something with your head, you always kind of overthink it."

While Backstrom explained that they don't happen often, his teammates applauded his determination to battle and selflessness that they've seen over the years with regard to migraines, his hip and other ailments.

"Backy is definitely more old-school, I would say, when it comes to things he's dealing with or things that are bothering him," teammate T.J. Oshie said. "You're not going to hear him complaining about anything, so he just comes in and does his work. And you know, if he's battling things, a lot of the times he doesn't show it, and he's so good on the ice you just don't know it."