With the Capitals celebrating their 50th season, the Post is hoping to tell the story of the franchise through its biggest games and best moments. That’s where you come in.
No Capitals retrospective would be complete without mentioning the Easter Epic and Stanley Cup title, but we’re also interested in featuring some games from the team’s history that might only be significant to you.
Maybe it’s a random regular season game that sparked your lifelong love of the team or a first date with your future spouse in the cheap seats at Capital Centre. Whether you were there in person, watched on TV, listened on the radio or read about it in The Post, we want to hear about it now. Bonus points if you kept your ticket stubs, programs, pictures or other memorabilia.
Caps v. Canadiens – 1/31/2008. My first Caps game when I was 12. Was/am a military brat with no family background of hockey but my mom got free tickets through GMU at the time so we said why not. Ovie had four goals and an overtime winner AFTER breaking his nose. Been hooked ever since.
captain_catman_
2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs… when Sergei Fedorov scored that goal with minutes left in regulation to beat the Rangers in Game 7. I’ll never forget how Verizon Center erupted when that goal went in. Still gives me chills thinking about it. I know we didn’t go far that year but man what a good time that was
SSM1228
Carolina Florida in 07/08. I live in NC. Huge caps fan before Carolina was here. Seeing the canes run playoff adds. Need to beat Carolina for caps to be in in last day. Florida does and had like 8 penalties against. None for.
Not really a Caps game. But the Caps Panthers game before that was Epic too.
hb710
My first game ever also happened to be Kolzig’s first career shutout. Bondra also scored so I was a pretty happy kid. Went with my dad, grandfather and a few friends for my birthday.
I was also at game 4 of the finals against Detroit. It was cool to see the cup in person even though they lost. I’ll never forgive Esa for missing that empty net…
Ambling_Rambler
May 7th 2018, “The Demons Have Been Exorcized.”
When the elephant’s off your back, you’re invincible.
Garak_The_Tailor_
Game two of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Hasek seemed like he was going to carry Buffalo to the finals after taking game 1. POS Matthew Barnaby scores to tie game late and Todd Kryiger of all people wins in OT.
My dad and I thought that the team had gone as far as it could. Winning that one changed the entire feeling of the series.
caps2013
May 7, 2018.
Kuzy pots the goal and suddenly it felt like they were gonna win the whole thing. I had goosebumps.
Runner up is the NYR game with a four goal comeback late in the third. Very definition of cardiac caps. While not necessarily super meaningful, it was ridiculously fun
phunie92
Game 6 vs Tampa in 2018 was a thing of beauty. Facing elimination, those dudes strolled in cool calm and collected, quietly but intensely confident and focused, and showed the Bolts who’s boss in maybe the most physical game from that cup run. All my remaining doubts were quashed after that performance; they would not be denied the cup. That’s my favorite game from that cup run.
chunt75
Caps eliminating the Pens during the Cup run. Felt like it might finally be the time that Charlie Brown kicks the football
md_dc
I went to Game 5 in Vegas for the final
phoenixglow82
Dec 5th 2016, Christmas gift for my now hubby, myself, with SIL and now BIL against Buffalo Sabres. 1st Hockey game, wearing the jerseys I bought for my hubby the previous year (I had issues with online ordering that year), and been hooked ever since. Was a casual fan until the Cup run, then really started to get into it, but for me this game started it all.
wikipuff
April 5th, 2008. After a tumultuous start to the season, bringing in Bruce and Bruce let the team loose. Made hockey so wild in DC. Going from basement dwellers to all of a sudden, be fighting for a playoff spot. The last 3 games of the season, the Caps needed to win all 3, and get some help, and then they would win the South Eastern division. Florida won the game before and made it a win and clinch game. The game started with a light “thank you Florida” chant. But boy, the energy was electric that night. You could charge your BlackBerry with it! When the final horn sounded, we went crazy. It felt like we won the Cup! The celebrations in the stands felt absolutely amazing. It felt like a “where here, get used to it”. For me personally, I just started 7th grade in a new school and there was only 1 other kid that I knew who was excited about the Caps season starting in October. By playoff time, there were so many more people that were excited. sigh. Good times.
MaddAddamOneZ
Snovechkin. That game was pure magic. Making it through snow-clogged DC, Caps coming from behind to win thanks to Ovie’s hat trick (which includes breaking a camera on a breakaway). Place just exploded when Ovi tied the game with his hat trick. Very special game.
In terms of games of yesteryear, I believe it was 1994, Caps played the Flyers and Pivonka (I think, might have been Dave Poulin) tied the game with 20 seconds left.
wtf703
The one 25 year old me watched from a huge crowd outside of capital one arena on May 7, 2018. The countdown to the end. The celebration. The spray of beers and drinks all over the crowd. People climbing trees, lampposts, and the Friendship arch. The energy on the streets that night was something I’ll never forget.
Joe_Szymansking
Everyone says May 7 2018, but let me tell you about May 1 2018.
That was the game I knew we would finally beat the Penguins.
Just would not die that game. Ovechkin with a 1:07 left to win the game. Incredible
easycheesay
My birthday is towards the end of November. My wife, sisters and I try go to the game the Wednesday before thanksgiving. There was a stretch where we went four years in a row. Hard now with kids of our own. So not necessarily a game in particular but it’s nice spending time with family and usually seeing the caps win.
BarrowsBOY
January 11th, 2003. Caps score 12 against the Panthers.
I will never forget the Panthers pulling their goalie only to bring the starter back in later. The crowd was electric. Chanting “one more goal” in the dying minutes after the jumbotron showed the franchise record had been tied.
18 Comments
With the Capitals celebrating their 50th season, the Post is hoping to tell the story of the franchise through its biggest games and best moments. That’s where you come in.
No Capitals retrospective would be complete without mentioning the Easter Epic and Stanley Cup title, but we’re also interested in featuring some games from the team’s history that might only be significant to you.
Maybe it’s a random regular season game that sparked your lifelong love of the team or a first date with your future spouse in the cheap seats at Capital Centre. Whether you were there in person, watched on TV, listened on the radio or read about it in The Post, we want to hear about it now. Bonus points if you kept your ticket stubs, programs, pictures or other memorabilia.
Share your recommendations and experiences with us here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/10/07/submissions-caps-50-games-project/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/10/07/submissions-caps-50-games-project/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
Caps v. Canadiens – 1/31/2008. My first Caps game when I was 12. Was/am a military brat with no family background of hockey but my mom got free tickets through GMU at the time so we said why not. Ovie had four goals and an overtime winner AFTER breaking his nose. Been hooked ever since.
2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs… when Sergei Fedorov scored that goal with minutes left in regulation to beat the Rangers in Game 7. I’ll never forget how Verizon Center erupted when that goal went in. Still gives me chills thinking about it. I know we didn’t go far that year but man what a good time that was
Carolina Florida in 07/08. I live in NC. Huge caps fan before Carolina was here. Seeing the canes run playoff adds. Need to beat Carolina for caps to be in in last day. Florida does and had like 8 penalties against. None for.
Not really a Caps game. But the Caps Panthers game before that was Epic too.
My first game ever also happened to be Kolzig’s first career shutout. Bondra also scored so I was a pretty happy kid. Went with my dad, grandfather and a few friends for my birthday.
I was also at game 4 of the finals against Detroit. It was cool to see the cup in person even though they lost. I’ll never forgive Esa for missing that empty net…
May 7th 2018, “The Demons Have Been Exorcized.”
When the elephant’s off your back, you’re invincible.
Game two of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Hasek seemed like he was going to carry Buffalo to the finals after taking game 1. POS Matthew Barnaby scores to tie game late and Todd Kryiger of all people wins in OT.
My dad and I thought that the team had gone as far as it could. Winning that one changed the entire feeling of the series.
May 7, 2018.
Kuzy pots the goal and suddenly it felt like they were gonna win the whole thing. I had goosebumps.
Runner up is the NYR game with a four goal comeback late in the third. Very definition of cardiac caps. While not necessarily super meaningful, it was ridiculously fun
Game 6 vs Tampa in 2018 was a thing of beauty. Facing elimination, those dudes strolled in cool calm and collected, quietly but intensely confident and focused, and showed the Bolts who’s boss in maybe the most physical game from that cup run. All my remaining doubts were quashed after that performance; they would not be denied the cup. That’s my favorite game from that cup run.
Caps eliminating the Pens during the Cup run. Felt like it might finally be the time that Charlie Brown kicks the football
I went to Game 5 in Vegas for the final
Dec 5th 2016, Christmas gift for my now hubby, myself, with SIL and now BIL against Buffalo Sabres. 1st Hockey game, wearing the jerseys I bought for my hubby the previous year (I had issues with online ordering that year), and been hooked ever since. Was a casual fan until the Cup run, then really started to get into it, but for me this game started it all.
April 5th, 2008. After a tumultuous start to the season, bringing in Bruce and Bruce let the team loose. Made hockey so wild in DC. Going from basement dwellers to all of a sudden, be fighting for a playoff spot. The last 3 games of the season, the Caps needed to win all 3, and get some help, and then they would win the South Eastern division. Florida won the game before and made it a win and clinch game. The game started with a light “thank you Florida” chant. But boy, the energy was electric that night. You could charge your BlackBerry with it! When the final horn sounded, we went crazy. It felt like we won the Cup! The celebrations in the stands felt absolutely amazing. It felt like a “where here, get used to it”. For me personally, I just started 7th grade in a new school and there was only 1 other kid that I knew who was excited about the Caps season starting in October. By playoff time, there were so many more people that were excited. sigh. Good times.
Snovechkin. That game was pure magic. Making it through snow-clogged DC, Caps coming from behind to win thanks to Ovie’s hat trick (which includes breaking a camera on a breakaway). Place just exploded when Ovi tied the game with his hat trick. Very special game.
In terms of games of yesteryear, I believe it was 1994, Caps played the Flyers and Pivonka (I think, might have been Dave Poulin) tied the game with 20 seconds left.
The one 25 year old me watched from a huge crowd outside of capital one arena on May 7, 2018. The countdown to the end. The celebration. The spray of beers and drinks all over the crowd. People climbing trees, lampposts, and the Friendship arch. The energy on the streets that night was something I’ll never forget.
Everyone says May 7 2018, but let me tell you about May 1 2018.
That was the game I knew we would finally beat the Penguins.
Just would not die that game. Ovechkin with a 1:07 left to win the game. Incredible
My birthday is towards the end of November. My wife, sisters and I try go to the game the Wednesday before thanksgiving. There was a stretch where we went four years in a row. Hard now with kids of our own. So not necessarily a game in particular but it’s nice spending time with family and usually seeing the caps win.
January 11th, 2003. Caps score 12 against the Panthers.
I will never forget the Panthers pulling their goalie only to bring the starter back in later. The crowd was electric. Chanting “one more goal” in the dying minutes after the jumbotron showed the franchise record had been tied.