From Underdogs to Champions: The History of the Washington Capitals

The Beginning

 

The Washington Capitals were founded in 1974, and they have had a storied journey with many ups and downs in their 50 years as a franchise. The downs began early, with the Capitals posting an 8-67-5 record in their inaugural season, which set an NHL record for the fewest worst regular season record, which still stands to this day. The franchise struggled to make its mark in the NHL for several years, but through the '80s and '90s, the team slowly began to get better and better, establishing a dedicated fan base in the nation's capital.

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By 1998, the Capitals had finally built a roster strong enough to make it to their first Stanley Cup Finals, but their opponents were going to be quite the challenge. The Detroit Red Wings, one of the biggest franchises in the NHL and a dynasty of the late ‘90s and 2000’s, were the only thing standing in the way of the Capitals’ first Stanley Cup. The Red Wings proved to be too powerful for the Capitals, sweeping the series and denying them of their first championship. Despite this setback, the Capitals continued to grow, gaining respect as a formidable opponent in the league.

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The Turning Point

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The Capitals franchise flipped on its head in 2004 when the Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft. Known for his fierce competitiveness and goal-scoring ability, Ovechkin quickly became the face of the franchise, with 52 goals and 54 assists for 106 points in his first season in the league. His arrival marked a new era of success for the Capitals, with "Ovi" consistently ranking as one of the NHL's top players and electrifying fans with his iconic celebrations and powerful shots. Under Ovechkin's leadership, the Capitals became regular playoff contenders, but year after year, the elusive Stanley Cup slipped through their fingers.

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Newfound Success

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In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Washington Capitals won the President’s Trophy, the award for the best regular season record, but with no playoff succes. 2018 is where everything changed for the Washington Capitals franchise. In 2018, the Capitals had another strong regular season finishing with the third best record in the NHL. In the first round, they played the Columbus Blue Jackets, a franchise that had never won a playoff series in their history. After losing the first two games in overtime at home, the Capitals won four consecutive games to defeat the Blue Jackets in six games. In the second round the Capitals played back-to-back Stanley Cup champions the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins had defeated the Capitals on route to their Stanley Cup successes in the last two years. In overtime of game 6, Alex Ovechkin sent forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on a breakway, where he slotted the puck in between the legs of the Penguins goaltender to defeat them in the series and move on to the Stanley Cup Finals, an accomplishment that an Alex Ovechkin Capitals team had never accomplished. In the third round, the Capitals played the Tampa Bay Lightning. After winning the frst two games, the Capitals lost three straight games to be down 2-3 in the series. The Capitals won the last two games to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals. In hopes of winning the Stanley Cup, the Capitals had to get through the Vegas Golden Knights, a team almost completely opposite of the Capitals. This was the Golden Knights first season in the NHL. Similarly to the Capitals, the Golden Knights had completed an expansion draft, where they take one player that every other team is willing to part ways with from each team. Unlike the Capitals, this resulted in a team that had an incredible regular season and playoff run to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. The Golden Knights were able to win game won, but the Capitals were able to win the next four games. After more than four decades of challenges and close calls, the Capitals finally captured their first Stanley Cup title, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. The victory not only cemented Ovechkin's legacy as one of the greatest players in NHL history but also fulfilled the dreams of generations of Capitals fans. The sight of Ovechkin lifting the Cup, his lifelong goal, became one of the most memorable moments in recent sports history.

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The Future

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Today, the Capitals remain a competitive force in the NHL, with a focus on building a lasting legacy of excellence and keeping the team as competitive as possible with the aging Alex Ovechkin, with the hopes on winning another Stanley Cup. The team is celebrated not only for its success on the ice but also for its community involvement and commitment to growing the sport of hockey in the D.C. area. With a passionate fan base and a core of skilled players, the Capitals’ story is a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the unbreakable bond between a city and its team. In the next blog posts, I will be going over the Capitals’ season as it is coming along. They are currently 5-1-0, a much stronger start to the season than anticipated. If you enjoyed this post make sure to tune in every Friday for new posts about the Nation’s hockey team. Enjoy everyone!