The Washington Capitals proved all the doubters wrong in 2018 with their historic Stanley Cup win. For the first time in franchise history they were crowned the greatest hockey team in the NHL. Many believed they just didn’t have what it takes to go all the way. Countless years they would fall short. Not only in the in the finals but early in the playoffs.
Before 2018 the last time the Caps had even a glimmer of the Stanley Cup in their view was winning the conference final in 1998. This would count only as one of two finals appearances.
Historically, the Capitals post-season was often end early due to the Pittsburgh Penguins. With offensive firepower in the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin there wasn’t much standing in the Penguins way. That would include the capitals.
The Capitals have met the Penguins in a total of 11 different series’. This compiles to 68 different playoff games played between the two. The Penguins own the hedge to this post season with a record of 40-28 over the 2018 Champions.
Meeting 11 times in the playoffs is stranger to lots of teams as the Caps-Pens rivalry ranks 2nd all time in post season meetings. This of course excluding the original 6 teams to start the league.
But it was in 2018 that the Capitals got the last laugh. Defeating the 2017 Stanley cup Champions on home ice to lift them to play the Tampa Bay lightning in the conference finals. Uncharted territory for the Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin.
Finally, the caps would get their chance at world champions and they would certainly make the most of it defeating the Vegas Golden Knight’s in a series that only required 5 games.
Life of Patrick 