Washington Capitals (1974-Present)

Historical Moments:
1974/75: Owner Abe Poliun who owned the NBA's Baltimore Bullets had desired an NHL franchise for eth beltway. After being granted an expansion franchise he chose to build a new arena in the DC suburb of Landover, which would play host to both the Bullets as well as his expansion NHL team that was set to begin play in 1974. The arena known as the Capital Centre was one of the first to feature luxury boxes and boasted that no seat was further than 200 feet from the ice. However, when the team named the Capitals finally took the ice on October 9th Poluin probably wished no one could see his team. With the WHA stealing talent form the NHL the expansion Capitals took the ice with a team that probably could not compete in any league as they posted the worst season in NHL history, setting record for fewest wins, most losses, most consecutive losses and most goals against. A record of 8-67-5 with an embarrassing 446 goals allowed, finishing 20 points worse then the NHL's other expansion team that season the Kansas City Scouts. Along the way the Capitals post an embarrassing 1-39 road record.

1975/76: In their second season the Capitals were not much better finishing dead last again with a hideous record of 11-59-10, as they allowed a NHL worst 394 goals.

1976/77: After 2 historically awful seasons the Capitals find themselves in the thick of the race for the NHL's final playoff spot all season falling 1 point short with a 24-42-14 record, which was still less then stellar but it was more points at 62 then the first 2 seasons combined.

1977/78: After challenging for a playoff spot the Capitals take a step backwards, and are a non-factor in the race for the playoffs, finishing last in the Norris Division with a terrible record of 17-49-14.

1978/79: The Capitals would once again challenge for the playoffs losing out on the final spot by a tiebreaker to the Vancouver Canucks while posting a record of 24-41-15.

1979/80: With the 4 last WHA's teams joining the NHL the Capitals are moved into the Patrick Division, where they would quickly settle to the bottom of posting an awful record f 27-40-13. Despite the poor record and last place finish the Caps came up just 2 points short of the final playoff spot in an era in which the top 16 teams made the playoffs no matter which conference or division they were in.

1980/81: In their 7th season the Capitals continued to struggle finishing in last place again with a record of 26-36-18 that kept them 1 point away from their first playoff berth in franchise history.

1981/82: The Cap Centre plays host to the All-Star Game as the Capitals continue to sit in last place posting a record of 26-41-13. Under a new playoff format the top 4 teams in each division made the playoffs, had it been like the previous year where the top 16 teams made it no matter what conference they were in the Capitals would have made it into the postseason.

1982/83: Prior to the start of the season the Capitals make the biggest trade in franchise history sending Gary Green and Ryan Walter to the Montreal Canadiens for Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin, Brian Engblom, and Rod Langway. The key player in the deal was Langway as he captured the Norris trophy while helping the Capitals end 8 years of frustration by making the playoffs for the first time ever with a solid 39-25-16 record. However, in the playoffs the inexperienced Capitals would find themselves matched up against the New York Islanders who were set to embark on their 4th straight Stanley Cup Championship beating the Caps in 4 games.

1983/84: The Capitals would take another step forward as Rod Langway won his 2nd straight Norris Trophy as the Caps surpassed the 100-point mark for the first time in franchise history while finishing in 2nd place with a record of 48-27-5. In the playoffs the Capitals would earn their first series victory sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers in 3 straight games. However, in the Patrick Division Finals the Caps would be knocked off by the New York Islanders in 5 games, losing 4 straight after stealing Game 1 in New York.

1984/85: The Capitals repeat their 100-point effort finishing in 2nd place again with a solid record of 46-25-9. In the playoffs the Capitals would be done in by the New York Islanders again losing a hard fought 5th game at the Cap Centre 2-1.

1985/86: The Capitals reach 50 wins for the first time in franchise history finishing in 2nd place with a solid record of 50-23-7. In the playoffs the Capitals would face the New York Islanders for the 4th straight season. However, this time it would be the Capitals who would emerge victorious sweeping the Isles in convincing fashion winning all 3 games by a combined score of 11-4. However, in the Patrick Division Final the Caps would be stunned by New York's other team the Rangers in 6 games.

1986/87: The Capitals would continue to be a solid playoff contender in the Patrick Division finishing in 2nd place again with a 38-32-10 record. In the playoffs the Capitals would face the New York Islanders again jumping out to a 3-1 series lead. However, the Islanders would bounce back to win the next 2 games to force a 7th game at the Cap Centre. The game would go to overtime tied at 2 and would become an instant classic the game would go deep into the early morning hours of Easter as the Capitals who were not shut out all season were shut out in 3 overtime periods. The game would finally end 8 minutes into a 4th overtime when the Islanders eliminated the Caps for the 4th time in 5 years.

1987/88: In a highly competitive Patrick Division where all 6 teams finished with winning records, with just 7 points separating first place from last place the Capitals finish in 2nd place with a record of 38-33-9. In the playoffs the Capitals would get off to a slow start falling behind the Philadelphia Flyers 3 games to 1. However, the Capitals would not give up winning the next 2 games to force a 7th game at the Cap Centre. In Game 7 it looked as if the Capitals would exit with another 1st round loss as they fell behind quickly 3-0. However, the Caps would rally briefly taking a 4-3 lead in the 3rd period before the Flyers tied and sent the game into overtime, where Dale Hunter's whose assist ignited the rally sent Caps fans home happy with a dramatic overtime goal. In the Patrick Division Finals the Capitals would face the New Jersey Devils, in a high scoring series in which each team took turns with blow out wins. Facing elimination on the road the Capitals took Game 6 with 7 goals and appeared to have all the momentum heading home for Game 7. However, the Capitals season would end with a 3-2 loss at the Cap Centre in Game 7.

1988/89: The Capitals would finally break through in the regular season winning their first ever division title with a record of 41-29-10. However, in the playoffs the Capitals would erase all good feelings of finishing in first place as they are stunned by the Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games dropping the final 3 games of the series.

1989/90: The Capitals would get off to a slow start as Coach Bryan Murray was replaced by his brother Terry behind the bench. Under Terry Murray the Capitals would still suffer their first losing season in 8 years with a 36-38-6 record. However, they would make it into the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place. After years of failure in the playoffs the Capitals finally put together a solid run stunning the New Jersey Devils in 6 games before beating the New York Rangers in the Patrick Division Finals in 5 games. Leading the charge for the Cps was John Druce an obscure minor league call up who scored 12 goals in the first 2 rounds including the overtime winner in Game 5 which sent the Capitals on to the Wales Conference Finals. However, in the conference finals the Capitals would run out of gas as they were swept by the Boston Bruins in 4 straight games, as John Druce was held to 2 goals in 4 games after scoring 12 in 11.

1990/91: The Capitals skate into the playoffs again despite a mediocre 37-36-7 record. In the playoffs the Capitals would once again spoil the New York Rangers season beating them in 6 games taking the final 3 games after a 6-0 loss at home in Game 3. In the Patrick Division Finals the Capitals would take Game 1 from the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road 4-2. In Game 22 the Caps and Pens would go into overtime tied at 6 in a classic shootout. However, the Pens would win and would go on to take the series in 5 games.

1991/92: After missing the playoffs in each of their first 8 seasons the Capitals make the playoffs for the 10th straight season finishing in 2nd place with a respectable 45-27-8 record. In the playoffs the Capitals would get off to a flying start jumping out to a 3-1 series lead over the defending Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. However, after the Caps seemed to have control of the series with a dominant 7-2 road victory in Game 4, the Pens rallied to force a 7th game. The Penguins would complete the comeback with a 3-1 win at the Cap Centre in Game 7, they would go n to win the Stanley Cup again.

1992/93: The Capitals were once again a strong contender finishing in 2nd place with a solid record of 43-34-7. However, in the playoffs the Capitals would unravel losing 3 straight games n overtime after taking Game against the New York Islanders. After keeping their hopes alive with a win at the Cap Centre in Game the Capitals season ended in disgrace with a 5-3 loss in Game on the road. However, the loss would be more remembered for Dale Hunter's blind-sided cheap shot on Islanders star Pierre Turgeon, after he scored to put the Isles ahead 5-1. Hunter would be suspended a record 20 games for his indefensible actions.

1993/94: With Dale Hunter sitting out the first quarter of the season the Capitals get off to a slow start as Coach Terry Murray is replaced in the middle of the season by Jim Schoenfeld. Under Schonefeld the Caps would get into the playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 39-35-10 record finishing the season on a strong note. In the playoffs the Capitals would stun the Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games winning all 3 games at home, which had been renamed US Air Arena. However, in the 2nd round the Capitals would run into a locomotive as the Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead on the way to taking the series in 5 games.

1994/95: In a season shortened to 48 games by a 4-month lockout the Capitals again make the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place with a 22-18-8 record. In the playoffs the Capitals would jump out to a fast start taking a 3-1 series lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, with a chance to close the series out in Game 5 the Caps lost in overtime 6-5. In Game 6 at home the Capitals were never in the game being blown out 7-1 as the series went to a 7th game where the Capitals barely gave any effort at all becoming the first team ever to blow a 3-1 series lead 3 times losing 3-0.

1995/96: The Capitals entered the season in new duds featuring a swooping Eagle as their logo, on blue uniforms. With the new look the Capitals would again make it into the playoffs finishing in 3rd place with a 39-32-11 record as goalie Jim Carey captured the Vezina Trophy in his first full NHL season. However, in the playoffs the Capitals would have their season end in disappointment again as they are beaten by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games losing 4 straight after taking the first 2 games in Pittsburgh. Which included another heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 4 at home which would end in a 4th overtime as the 3rd longest game ever.

1996/97: Coming off his Vezina Trophy goalie Jim Carey would struggle all season before being traded to the Boston Bruins with Anson Carter and Jason Allison for Adam Oates, Rick Tocchet and goalie Bill Ranford. The move would not help the Capitals get back into the playoffs as their string of 14 straight playoff appearances came to an end with a record of 33-40-9.

1997/98: A new era began for the Capitals as they starter the season with a new coach Ron Wilson and began play at a brand new arena in downtown Washington known as the MCI Center in December. In their new surrounding the Capitals would rebound off their lost season finishing in 3rd place with a record of 40-30-12, Olaf Kolzig established himself as a star goalie with a 2.20 GAA. In the playoff the Capitals would get off to a solid start as they dispatched the Boston Bruins in 6 games. In a battle of capital cities in the 2nd round the Capitals would reach their 2nd conference finals by taking out the Ottawa Senators in 5 games. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Capitals would drop Game 1 to the Buffalo Sabres at home 2-0. However, they would recover to win the next 3 games taking Game 2 and 3 in overtime to grab a 3-1 series lead. After losing Game 5 at home playoff collapses of the past had to be in the minds of the Capitals as Game 6 in Buffalo went into overtime. However, in overtime Joe Juneau would beat Dominik Hasek on a rebound to send the Capitals on to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. However, in finals the Caps would be overmatched by the Detroit Red Wings who easily swept them in 4 straight games.

1998/99: Coming off their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals the Capitals are moved into the newly formed Southeast Division as the NHL realigned to 3 divisions in each conference. On the ice it appeared as if the Capitals were suffering from a hangover as they struggled all season missing the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place with a disappointing record of 31-45-6.

1999/00: After a disappointing season in which the Capitals missed the playoffs the Capitals rebounded winning the Southeast Division with a solid record of 44-26-12-2 as Goalie Olaf Kolizig captures the Vezina Trophy. However, in the playoffs the Capitals would be haunted by old ghosts from the past as they are stunned by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 5 games.

2000/01: The Capitals remained at the top of the Southeast Division capturing their 2nd straight division title with a record of 41-27-10-4. However in the playoffs the Capitals would be done in again by the Pittsburgh Penguins falling in 6 games. Following the season the Capitals and Penguins would get together in one of the biggest blockbuster trades in Caps history as they acquired Jaromir Jagr without giving up much talent.

2001/02: Washington was all-abuzz with the acquisition of Jaromir Jagr who was perennially at the top of the NHL in scoring. However, Jagr would struggle at first to get acclimated to the Capitals system as the Capitals struggled all through out the first half of the season. Jagr and the Caps would play better down the stretch but they would not be able to get into the playoffs finishing with a record of 36-33-11-2 which had 2 points of the final playoff spot. Following the season the Caps would fire Coach Ron Wilson and replace him with Bruce Cassidy as they tried to put together a team and system that could utilize Jagr's skills better.

2002/03: Coming off a bitterly disappointing season the Capitals returned to the playoffs finishing in 2nd Place with a solid record of 39-29-8-6, falling 1 point short of beating out the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Southeast Division, despite Jarmoir Jagr falling to post 80 points. In the playoffs the Caps would be matched up against the Lightning and seemed on the road to get revenge for the regular season after taking the first 2 games in Tampa by a combined score of 9-3. However, the Lightning would steal Game 3 at the MCI Center in overtime and would go on to win the next 4 games to stun the Capitals in 6 games.

2003/04: After a solid 6-1 win on opening day the Capitals went into an early tail spin as they won just 4 of their next 15 games. Along the way with a lockout looming and the Capitals well over budget and in last place again a decision was made to scrap the team and start from scratch. Over the next few months the Caps would deal away Captain Steve Konawalchuk, Peter Bondra, Sergei Gonchar, and Jaromir Jagr who came to Washington amidst heavy anticipation was leaving as a major disappointment. Considerably younger at the end of the season the Caps often took their lumps finishing in last place with a terrible 23-46-10-3 record.

2004/05: Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out

2005/06: With the lock out Capitals fans would have to wait a year to see 2004 first overall draft pick Alexander Ovechkin, but with the new rules limiting clutching and grabbing, and shoot outs at the end 5-minute overtimes, the Russian Winger had a chance to shine ever brighter. Ovechkin stole the show everywhere the Capitals went with dazzling moves and blazing speed, he established himself at the age of 20 as the most exciting young star in the NHL. No goal highlighted Alexander Ovechkin's outstanding rookie season then a goal he made falling down to the ice in a 6-1 win in Phoenix, which left Coyotes Coach Wayne Gretzky awestruck. Ovechkin would go on to lead all rookies in scoring with 52 goals and 54 assists as he claimed the Calder Trophy. Unfortunately the rest of the Capitals were not nearly as exciting as the team was never in the playoff race while finishing in last place in the Southeast Division with a dreadful record of 29-41-12.

2006/07: The young Capitals entered the season hoping to take a significant step forward; as Alexander Ovechkin gave them the type of star franchise player they could build around. In his second year, Ovechkin continued to thrill Capital fans with another solid 46 goal 46 assist season to lead the team in all scoring categories. Another young Russian Alexander Semin also impressed with a breakout season scoring 38 goals. However, the Capitals continued their status as also-rans finishing in last place yet again with a record of 28-40-14.

2007/08: With the NHL making a league wide change in the way jerseys are made with the new "swift jerseys' the Capitals took an opportunity to go back to the past with a modernized version of their original star spangled red white and blue jerseys, with the famous Capitals script that was worn form the franchises first 20 years. The Capitals decked in red, white and blue splendor got off to a fast start, winning their first three games, but it would not last as the Capitals won just 6 of the first 21 games, when Coach Glenn Hanlon was fired on Thanksgiving Day. In their first game with Bruce Boudreau the Capitals would end a five game losing streak with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, as rookie Nicklas Backstrom scored the game winner.