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8 times the Washington Capitals lost in the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion

The Capitals have a long and tortured history when it comes to playoff loses and heartbreak, but nothing stings more than the fact that the franchise has lost to the eventually Stanley Cup Champion eight times in their playoff history.
ByJohn Murray|
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Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals players celebrate after their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals players celebrate after their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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1998 vs. the Detroit Red Wings

Stevie Y
Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman holds the Stanley Cup in celebration of the Wings' four-game sweep over the Flyers at Joe Louis Arena on June 7, 1997. 635907134212346560 Ust Wings 060797 Yzercu Jpg | Mary Schroeder, Detroit Free Press

The Capitals got almost all of the bounces and calls and made a surprising run all the way to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history. Unfortunately, they had to face the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit and Steve Yzerman brought home the first Stanley Cup Championship to the Motor City in 42 years. It was after that win when a horrible limousine accident ended the career of Red Wings’ great Vladimir Konstantinov, leaving him confined to a wheelchair. Detroit swept the Caps and Washington wouldn’t sniff the finals again until 2018.

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