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Washington Capitals: Top 10 worst seasons in team history

By Michael Marzzacco

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Kelly Miller, Washington Capitals
Kelly Miller, Washington Capitals /

#8 1998-99

The year after the Caps made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history, the team fell flat. They finished 31-45-6 with 68 points. Peter Bondra led the Caps with 31 goals and 24 assists for 55 points. Adam Oates added 12 goals and 42 assists for 54 points.

The Caps started the season strong raising the banner of Eastern Conference Champions and shutting out the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1-0 behind 29 saves from Olaf Kolzig.

That season also included a highlight of Peter Bondra scoring four goals in a 10-1 route of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In March that season the Caps traded their captain Dale Hunter, Joe Juneau (the hero who scored the overtime goal that took the Caps to the Stanley Cup Final the previous year) and Craig Berube.

A month after the season ended Abe Pollin announced that he sold the Capitals to Ted Leonsis.

The Caps got shut out a league high 11 times that season. They also tied the St. Louis Blues for the fewest power play opportunities with 301. They also led the NHL in man games lost to injury with 511.

Leonsis didn’t quite inherit a mess. But the Caps were bad the season before he took over due to those injuries.

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