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.  

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.