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Presently led by head coach Spencer Carbery and captain Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals are one of the teams that compete in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The is based in Washington, D.C. and plays its home games at the Capital One Arena. Prior to that, the tean used to play at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland after which they moved to thier present home. In addition to their long-storied presence in the NHL, the team has been able to bring our notable players like Mike Gardner, Bob Carpenter, Scott Stevens, Brad Church, Jakub Vrana and Filip Forsberg. These players have significantly contributed to their division titles, conference championships, Presidents' Trophy and their only Stanley Cup triumph in 2018.
Washington Capitals NHL Playoff History and Appearances
The Washington Capitals were established in 1974 as an expansion team and have competed in 49 seasons while making the playoffs 33 times till date. They initially faced struggles but improved during the 1980s after Mike Gartner and Peter Bondra came together and contributed significantly to the team's success. They managed to appear in their first playoffs in 1982 but could not make it to the finals. However, in 1998, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals but were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings.
Their breakthrough came in 2018 under the leadership of Alexander Ovechkin, leading the team to their first Stanley Cup victory against the Vegas Golden Knights. The below table explores Washington Capitals' playoff history alongside their total number of appearances:
Year | Result |
2023 | Missed Playoffs |
2022 | Lost First Round |
2021 | Lost First Round |
2020 | Lost First Round |
2019 | Lost First Round |
2018 | Won Stanley Cup Final |
2017 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2016 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2015 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2014 | Missed Playoffs |
2013 | Lost First Round |
2012 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2011 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2010 | Lost First Round |
2009 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2008 | Lost First Round |
2007 | Missed Playoffs |
2006 | Missed Playoffs |
2004 | Missed Playoffs |
2003 | Lost First Round |
2002 | Missed Playoffs |
2001 | Lost First Round |
2000 | Lost First Round |
1999 | Missed Playoffs |
1998 | Lost Stanley Cup Final |
1997 | Missed Playoffs |
1996 | Lost First Round |
1995 | Lost First Round |
1994 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1993 | Lost First Round |
1992 | Lost First Round |
1991 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1990 | Lost Conference Finals |
1989 | Lost First Round |
1988 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1987 | Lost First Round |
1986 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1985 | Lost First Round |
1984 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
1983 | Lost First Round |
1982 | Missed Playoffs |
1981 | Missed Playoffs |
1980 | Missed Playoffs |
1979 | Missed Playoffs |
1978 | Missed Playoffs |
1977 | Missed Playoffs |
1976 | Missed Playoffs |
1975 | Missed Playoffs |
Washington Capitals Conference History
The Washington Capitals play under the Eastern Conference and have reached the Eastern Conference Finals (formerly known as the Wales Conference Finals) three times in their franchise history. Looking deeply, in 1990, they made it to the Finals for the first time but lost against the Boston Bruins in a four-game sweep. Next, in 1997, they again reached the Eastern Conference Finals, this time by beating the Buffalo Sabres in the conference finals before falling short against the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep. Notably, in 2018, they returned to the Eastern Conference Finals and defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they won their first championship by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights.
The below table explores Washington Capitals' Conference History alongside their finals' performances:
NHL Season | Conference | Result |
2022–23 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2021–22 | Eastern | Lost First round to Florida Panthers, 2–4 |
2020–21 | — | Lost First round to Boston Bruins, 1–4 |
2019–20 | Eastern | Lost First round to New York Islanders, 1–4 |
2018–19 | Eastern | Lost First round to Carolina Hurricanes, 3–4 |
2017–18 | Eastern | Won Stanley Cup Finals vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 4–1 |
2016–17 | Eastern | Lost Second Round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
2015–16 | Eastern | Lost Second Round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
2014–15 | Eastern | Lost Second Round to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
2013–14 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2012–13 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
2011–12 | Eastern | Lost Conference semifinals to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
2010–11 | Eastern | Lost Conference semifinals to Tampa Bay Lightning, 0–4 |
2009–10 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Montreal Canadiens, 3–4 |
2008–09 | Eastern | Lost Conference semifinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
2007–08 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 3–4 |
2006–07 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2005–06 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2003–04 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2002–03 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Tampa Bay Lightning, 2–4 |
2001–02 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
2000–01 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
1999–2000 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 |
1998–99 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
1997–98 | Eastern | Lost Stanley Cup Finals to Detroit Red Wings, 0–4 |
1996–97 | Eastern | Did not qualify |
1995–96 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
1994–95 | Eastern | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
1993–94 | Eastern | Lost Conference semifinals to New York Rangers, 1–4 |
1992–93 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to New York Islanders, 2–4 |
1991–92 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
1990–91 | Wales | Lost Division finals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 |
1989–90 | Wales | Lost Conference finals to Boston Bruins, 0–4 |
1988–89 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 2–4 |
1987–88 | Wales | Lost Division finals to New Jersey Devils, 3–4 |
1986–87 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to New York Islanders, 3–4 |
1985–86 | Wales | Lost Division finals to New York Rangers, 2–4 |
1984–85 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to New York Islanders, 2–3 |
1983–84 | Wales | Lost Division finals to New York Islanders, 1–4 |
1982–83 | Wales | Lost Division semifinals to New York Islanders, 1–3 |
1981–82 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1980–81 | Campbell | Did not qualify |
1979–80 | Campbell | Did not qualify |
1978–79 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1977–78 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1976–77 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1975–76 | Wales | Did not qualify |
1974–75 | Wales | Did not qualify |
Washington Capitals Division History
The Washington Capitals have won 13 division championships throughout their existence. However, it was not until the 1988-89, nearly 15 years of their existence that they had won a division title to their name. However, this first division title was followed by a 11-year wait to secured their second division title. Moreover, since the turn of the century, the Caps have been successful in addiding 11 more division titles to their name. This also inclues a historic five season run where they won it five-years in a row (2012-13 to 2019-2020). Remarkably, they have been part of varous divisions across their time in the National Hockey League.
The below table explores Washington Capitals' division history throughout the years with their regular season results:
NHL Season | Division | Regular Season Record |
2022–23 | Metropolitan | 35-37-10 |
2021–22 | Metropolitan | 44-26-12 |
2020–21 | East | 36-15-5 |
2019–20 | Metropolitan | 41-20-8 |
2018–19 | Metropolitan | 48-26-8 |
2017–18 | Metropolitan | 49-26-7 |
2016–17 | Metropolitan | 55-19-8 |
2015–16 | Metropolitan | 56-18-8 |
2014–15 | Metropolitan | 45-26-11 |
2013–14 | Metropolitan | 38-30-14 |
2012–13 | Southeast | 27-18-3 |
2011–12 | Southeast | 42-32-8 |
2010–11 | Southeast | 48-23-11 |
2009–10 | Southeast | 54-15-13 |
2008–09 | Southeast | 50-24-8 |
2007–08 | Southeast | 43-31-8 |
2006–07 | Southeast | 28-40-14 |
2005–06 | Southeast | 29-41-12 |
2003–04 | Southeast | 23-46-10-3 |
2002–03 | Southeast | 39-29-8-6 |
2001–02 | Southeast | 36-33-11-2 |
2000–01 | Southeast | 41-27-10-4 |
1999–2000 | Southeast | 44-24-12-2 |
1998–99 | Southeast | 31-45-6 |
1997–98 | Atlantic | 40-30-12 |
1996–97 | Atlantic | 33-40-9 |
1995–96 | Atlantic | 39-32-11 |
1994–95 | Atlantic | 22-18-8 |
1993–94 | Atlantic | 39-35-10 |
1992–93 | Patrick | 43-34-7 |
1991–92 | Patrick | 45-27-8 |
1990–91 | Patrick | 37-36-7 |
1989–90 | Patrick | 36-38-6 |
1988–89 | Patrick | 41-29-10 |
1987–88 | Patrick | 38-33-9 |
1986–87 | Patrick | 38-32-10 |
1985–86 | Patrick | 50-23-7 |
1984–85 | Patrick | 46-25-9 |
1983–84 | Patrick | 48-27-5 |
1982–83 | Patrick | 39-25-16 |
1981–82 | Patrick | 26-41-13 |
1980–81 | Patrick | 26-36-18 |
1979–80 | Patrick | 27-40-13 |
1978–79 | Norris | 24-41-15 |
1977–78 | Norris | 17-49-14 |
1976–77 | Norris | 24-42-14 |
1975–76 | Norris | 11-59-10 |
1974–75 | Norris | 8-67-5 |
Note: The 2004-05 season was not played due to NHL lockout.
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