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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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2017 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins

ovi vs. sid no. 3
Nov 7, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) talk with referee Wes McCauley (4) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Once again, Pittsburgh against Washington, Ovi vs. Sid, and Pittsburgh won the series again with a 2-0 win in Game 7. The Penguins advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year, where they beat San Jose to win their second consecutive Cup. It was the fifth Stanley Cup for Pittsburgh, and again they had to get past the Capitals to do it.

This was the last playoff series the Washington Capitals would lose as a non-Cup winning franchise. They would win their next four playoff series on route to winning their first Stanley Cup the following June.

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