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Top 5 highlights, heartbreaks of Caps’ past postseasons

Dave Preston | dpreston@wtop.com

April 14, 2016, 2:59 AM

during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2015 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON — Beauty and awe arrive in the District every spring, then disappear all of the sudden. Cherry blossom season more often than not mirrors the Caps postseason — heavy anticipation, an attention-grabbing quick bloom, and then, after one or two rains, it’s all gone. The Capitals have enjoyed a checkered postseason in their history … unfortunately getting double-jumped by Pittsburgh, the Islanders and Rangers on multiple occasions while having to hear the refrain “King Me” a lot more than they’d prefer. But in the middle of the wreckage of many a-spring on ice, they also have had their moments — it’s just tough to locate the highlights among the heartbreaks. With that in mind, here are the top five highlights and heartbreaks of Capitals’ postseasons past, along with a bonus pair that provide a nice bookend to get started.’= (Getty Images/Rob Carr)
Getty Images/Rob Carr
New York Islanders center Bryan Trottier, left, directs the puck against pursuing Washington Capitals in Uniondale, New York, April 7, 1983. Hot on Trottier's heels are Caps Milan Novy, center, and Bob Carpenter in the third period at Nassau Coliseum. Isles beat the Caps 5-2 with Trottier scoring two for the Isles. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Highlight Honorable Mention: 1983 In Bryan Murray’s first full season as head coach, the previously hapless Caps (8-67-5 in their first year, and it took six seasons to post a winning percentage above .400) actually make the playoffs and lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders. Just like being nominated for best documentary, it was simply an honor to be the first speed bump that season for Mike Bossy, Billy Smith and company. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
AP Photo/Richard Drew
FILE - In this May 13, 2015, file photo, the New York Rangers celebrate the game winning goal by center Derek Stepan (21) against the Washington Capitals as Capitals goalie Braden Holtby looks at the puck in the net in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals during the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The NHL's final four teams are 19-5 at home in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Heartbreak Honorable Mention: 2015 Losing to the Rangers is never fun, and blowing a 3-games-to-1 series lead is even more painful. Thank you, Curtis Glencross, for your contribution to Caps Collapse History. Still, Washington bounced the Islanders (although losing Game 6 meant they couldn’t close out Nassau Coliseum). They won a game the same night the Wizards and Nats prevailed, and it was coach Barry Trotz’s first season. Of course, the key to getting over heartbreak is rationalization. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File
New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter reaches to make a glove save on a shot on goal by the Washington Capitals during third period action on Tuesday, May 3, 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York The Rangers beat the Capitals 5-2 taking a 2-0 lead in their conference playoff series. Caps Steve Konowalchuk, rear, watches the grab. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
Highlight #5: 1994 Sadly, it’s a little bit of a challenge to find roses amongst the playoff thorns for this franchise. But in 1994, they bounced recent nemesis Pittsburgh (who beat the Caps en route to Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992) in six games, outscoring the likes of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr from the get-go. Don Beaupre stood on his head for four games, while Joe Juneau and Michal Pivonka led a balanced attack that more than took advantage of its opportunities. The Caps won the series clincher 6-3 and had other games where they lit the lamp four and five times. What happened to that NHL? (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
AP Photo/Ron Frehm
FILE - In this Dec. 6, 1986, file photo, Montreal Canadiens' Chris Nilan, center, shoves Washington Capitals' Larry Murphy to the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md. Nilan had a far greater fight than one on the ice. He battled herioin and alcohol addiction long after his career as one of the NHL's top brawlers. His life is documented in the upcoming documentary "The Last Gladiators." (AP Photo/Joe Giza, File)
Heartbreak #5: 1986 The ’80s was a fantastic decade to follow the NHL. Their playoffs were front and center on ESPN and the divisional playoff format led to upset-ridden Aprils. The Patrick Division featured three teams in one metropolitan area and three more within manageable drives of one another. An 80-game marathon to determine who’s the best, followed by five- and seven-game sprints to see who survives. The Capitals finished with the third best record in the league that year (107 points), but second in their own division to Philadelphia. When the Flyers were upset in the first round by the Rangers, the path was clear to a Stanley Cup Finals clash with defending champ Edmonton. Only the Rangers — who finished with a pedestrian 78 regular season points — had more in the tank, bouncing Mike Gartner and company in six games. Small consolation: Edmonton lost in the divisional finals as well that year. (AP Photo/Joe Giza, File)
AP Photo/Joe Giza, File
Brad Park of the Detroit Red Wings, left, tries to keep Gaetan Duchesne of the Washington Capitals from getting to a loose puck along the boards by holding him back with his stick. Action took place in the second period of their NHL game at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland Dec. 9, 1984. (AP Photo/Joe Giza)
Highlight #4: 1984 You never forget your first playoff series win. Especially when it’s a sweep. Against the team less than three hours up I-95. And especially when it ends the career of Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke. Long before he was ruining the Flyers on a short-term (as general manager) and long-range (as senior vice president) basis, Clarke was one of the scrappiest (some will say dirtiest) players in the league. He was the face of the franchise in Philadelphia, and to sweep him into retirement by beating the Flyers in the Spectrum was the extra onions on the cheesesteak. Yes, the Caps lost to the Islanders in the next round. But still… (AP Photo/Joe Giza)
AP Photo/Joe Giza
24 Apr 1998: Center Tim Taylor of the Boston Bruins in action against defenseman Mark Tinardi of the Washington Capitals during an NHL playoff game at the MCI Center in Washington, D. C. The Bruins defeated the Capitals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Sh
Heartbreak #4: 1989 Finally, a Patrick Division regular season championship. This would be the team that would finally emerge from the early rounds, only to learn that in the divisional playoff format turnabout isn’t just fair play, it’s often expected. The Caps got bounced by an aging Philadelphia team in six games. These weren’t the Broad Street Bullies, or even the Cup runners-up from 1987. How bad were these Flyers? Their 80 points was the team’s fewest since 1972 and they’d go on to miss the playoffs the next five seasons. Which brings to mind the question about banner protocol. Do you have to return the regular season championship banner if you lose in the first round? (Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)
Getty Images/Ezra Shaw
during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2015 in Washington, DC.
Highlight #3: 2012 A team in turmoil fires its coach early in the season and brings in a legend (Dale Hunter) to put the house in order. After finishing two games over .500, the grittier version went into Boston and won a Game 7 (thank you Joel Ward!) before taking the top team in the conference to seven games in the next round. The foundation was set. And Coach Dale Hunter would be back to take this franchise to the next level. Only he didn’t, choosing to return to his role as president and owner of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League. The team would stagger and then crumble under Adam Oates.  But we’ll always have that spring. (Getty Images/Rob Carr)
Getty Images/Rob Carr
Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang, second from right, celebrates his goal with Evgeni Malkin (71), from Russia, and Miroslav Satan (81), from Slovakia, as Washington Capitals defensemen Mike Green, left, and Shaone Morrisonn (26) skate past during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Washington. The Penguins won 6-2.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Heartbreak #3: 2009 After winning the Southeast Division (let the record show that it was called the SouthLEAST for much of its existence), the Caps trailed the Rangers 3-games-to-1 before taking games 5, 6 and 7 (so it does happen the other way sometimes!). A thrilling conference semifinal showdown against Pittsburgh and Sidney Crosby brought three overtime affairs and a 3-3 series tie heading into a Game 7 at Verizon Center. Sadly, this finish would be more floundering than fantastic and the Penguins won a 6-2 clincher that wasn’t as close as the score looked. That Pittsburgh would go on to win the Stanley Cup would be little consolation this time. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
New York Rangers defenseman Normand Rochefort (5) gains the edge against Washington Capitals defenseman Neil Sheehy (15) as they battle for the puck during the Rangers-Capitals Stanley Cup playoff game in New York, Saturday, April 21, 1990. The Capitals beat the Rangers 6-3 to even the series at one game a piece. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)
Highlight #2: 1990 An underwhelming regular season saw the Caps finish with a losing record for the first time in eight years. Naturally, there was a midseason coaching change. Oddly enough, Coach Bryan Murray was replaced by his brother Terry. Thankfully Bryan didn’t go all Fredo (he remains smart and deserves respect). Despite an 18-14-2 finish under Murray 2.0, little was expected. And with low expectations comes a surprising first round triumph over New Jersey, followed by a shocking defeat of the first place Rangers in five games. Who are these people? (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)
AP Photo/Ed Bailey
Heartbreak #2: 1987 Again, sometimes it’s how the movie ends that enhances everything before it. The seven-game showdown with the Islanders was one for the ages. Another 3-games-to-1 lead with a Game 5 at home. Haven’t we written this script before? Yes, but this time the Game 7 goes down to the wire and beyond. A late one-goal lead disappears with five minutes left in regulation. Four overtimes later, Pat LaFontaine ends the Capitals’ season, and a game that began at 7 p.m. concludes at 1:58 a.m. Easter morning was a groggy one for many families in the area. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)
28 May 1998: Players from the Washington Capitals celebrate during an Eastern Conference Finals playoff game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Capitals defeated the Sabres 4-3.
Highlight #1: 1998 After finishing third in their division, the Caps rode hot goaltender Olaf Kolzig to the finals for the first time in franchise history. Never mind that they got swept by Detroit. And never mind that they took advantage of a busted bracket (upsets of Pittsburgh and New Jersey meant they would have better records than each of their playoff foes in the first three rounds). Even the teal eagle jerseys couldn’t ruin this run. (Getty Images/Craig Melvin)
Getty Images/Craig Melvin
WASHINGTON - APRIL 28: Dominic Moore #42 of the Montreal Canadiens scores the game winning goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center on April 28, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Canadiens defeated the Capitals 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Heartbreak #1:  2010 After winning the President’s Trophy, the highflying offensive juggernaut looked as though it was ready to finally crown Alex Ovechkin (career-high 59 assists), Nicklas Backstrom (career highs in goals and assists) and Mike Green (before the injuries). After taking a 3-1 first round series lead over Montreal, posting 19 goals, they somehow forgot the league changed the format to best-of-seven back in the 1980s. Yes, the Canadiens’ Jaroslav Halak somehow conjured up the spirits of Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy to limit the top offense in the league to one goal in games 5, 6 and 7. But to lose in the first round after 82 games of positive reinforcement? The Bruce Boudreau regime would never be the same — with the coach making his eventual departure less than 20 months later. (Getty Images/Bruce Bennett)
Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
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during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2015 in Washington, DC.
New York Islanders center Bryan Trottier, left, directs the puck against pursuing Washington Capitals in Uniondale, New York, April 7, 1983. Hot on Trottier's heels are Caps Milan Novy, center, and Bob Carpenter in the third period at Nassau Coliseum. Isles beat the Caps 5-2 with Trottier scoring two for the Isles. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
FILE - In this May 13, 2015, file photo, the New York Rangers celebrate the game winning goal by center Derek Stepan (21) against the Washington Capitals as Capitals goalie Braden Holtby looks at the puck in the net in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals during the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The NHL's final four teams are 19-5 at home in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter reaches to make a glove save on a shot on goal by the Washington Capitals during third period action on Tuesday, May 3, 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York The Rangers beat the Capitals 5-2 taking a 2-0 lead in their conference playoff series. Caps Steve Konowalchuk, rear, watches the grab. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
FILE - In this Dec. 6, 1986, file photo, Montreal Canadiens' Chris Nilan, center, shoves Washington Capitals' Larry Murphy to the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md. Nilan had a far greater fight than one on the ice. He battled herioin and alcohol addiction long after his career as one of the NHL's top brawlers. His life is documented in the upcoming documentary "The Last Gladiators." (AP Photo/Joe Giza, File)
Brad Park of the Detroit Red Wings, left, tries to keep Gaetan Duchesne of the Washington Capitals from getting to a loose puck along the boards by holding him back with his stick. Action took place in the second period of their NHL game at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland Dec. 9, 1984. (AP Photo/Joe Giza)
24 Apr 1998: Center Tim Taylor of the Boston Bruins in action against defenseman Mark Tinardi of the Washington Capitals during an NHL playoff game at the MCI Center in Washington, D. C. The Bruins defeated the Capitals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Sh
during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2015 in Washington, DC.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang, second from right, celebrates his goal with Evgeni Malkin (71), from Russia, and Miroslav Satan (81), from Slovakia, as Washington Capitals defensemen Mike Green, left, and Shaone Morrisonn (26) skate past during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Washington. The Penguins won 6-2.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Rangers defenseman Normand Rochefort (5) gains the edge against Washington Capitals defenseman Neil Sheehy (15) as they battle for the puck during the Rangers-Capitals Stanley Cup playoff game in New York, Saturday, April 21, 1990. The Capitals beat the Rangers 6-3 to even the series at one game a piece. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)
28 May 1998: Players from the Washington Capitals celebrate during an Eastern Conference Finals playoff game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Capitals defeated the Sabres 4-3.
WASHINGTON - APRIL 28: Dominic Moore #42 of the Montreal Canadiens scores the game winning goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center on April 28, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Canadiens defeated the Capitals 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Dave Preston

Dave has been in the D.C. area for more than 20 years. In addition to working at WTOP since 2002, he has also been on the air at Westwood One/CBS Radio as well as Red Zebra Broadcasting (Redskins Network).

dpreston@wtop.com

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