Washington Capitals
Back from the Dead to the Stanley Cup Finals!

Two things Darrell and I will always agree on: we both like the Washington Capitals and we both DESPISE the Pittsburgh Penguins. Unfortunately, despite a late season blockbuster trade (arguably the biggest trade of the season), the Caps didn't quite make the playoffs after the 1996-1997 season. David Poile got the blame, as well as the axe after 15 years as the team's GM. Jim Schoenfeld, the Caps' coach, was next to go, as he was fired on June 3, 1997. The new GM and coach were George McPhee and Ron Wilson, respectively.

Although the Caps lost Rick Toccett to free agency, they re-signed Adam Oates to a three-year contract. The Caps also picked up some youngsters, including former Renegade Jan Benda, who had 4G, 1A in training camp (hey, Jan, Capitals blue looks really good on you!). Unfortunately, Jan was sent down to the Portland Pirates on 10/27 after getting just two assists in the regular season (Jan is now an unrestricted free agent). Peter Bondra finally ended his holdout and reported in time to score two goals in his first game of teh 1997-98 season.

The Caps got off to an amazing 7-1 start (tied for a franchise record), and finished with a record of 40-30-12 in third place in the tough Atlantic Division, and fourth overall in the Eastern Conference. Olie "Godzilla" Kozig not only had his first winning season as a Capital, but he finished 33-18-10 with a save percentage of .920 (third in the league) and a GAA of 2.20. Olie stole the starting goaltender's job from Bill Ranford, who suffered many and various injuries. Olie was named the NHL's Player of the Week twice, on 3/23/98 and 4/20/98, made the NHL All-Star Team, and played for team Germany in the 1998 Olympics. The Capitals made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history, only to be swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings. Who'da thunk ALL THAT??

The Caps and Flyers played an exhibition game here in Richmond at the "Freezer" (a/k/a the Richmond Coliseum) on September 26. Jan Benda scored a PP goal and the OT GW as the Caps won 3-2 before a crowd of 9,028.

In the 1998-1999 season, the Caps played in the new Southeast (a/k/a/ "Southleast") Division of the Eastern Conference. The Caps lost traditional rivals Philadelphia. The new division consisted of the Caps, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals struggled all season and again failed to make the playoffs. The Atlanta Thrashers will join the conference for the 1999-2000 season. The Capitals also begin the new season with new ownership: Abe Pollin sold the team to a group headed by Ted Leonsis.

1998-1999 Regular Season Schedule from NHL or from Washington Post (w/results)
1999-2000 Season Schedule from Washington Post

Photos
Jim Carey, former Caps goalie, making a save against the Blackhawks in the Capitals' 1996-97 season opener (10/6/96).
Eddie Belfour making a save on Peter Bondra in the same game.
Jim Carey and Olaf Kolzig, Washington's masked men at a an exhibition game in 1996
Olie Kolzig getting a much-deserved drink of water. Olie really likes his water, doesn't he?
A bit of nastiness in front of the net during an exhibition game against the Flyers 9/26/97.
The Capitals score a goal during the same game.
Jan Benda as a Capital
The Caps during warmups
Former captain (and Renegades assistant coach) Rod Langway's jersey was finally retired at the Caps' last game at US Air Arena on November 26. Langway is the second Caps player (the only other is Yvon Labre) to have his jersey retired. Appropriately, it was retired just prior to a game against the Montreal Canadiens, the only other NHL team for which Langway played. The game was not televised, but it was a sellout crowd as the crowd honored Langway and said good-bye to the old, dark US Air Arena to move to the MCI Center (a/k/a "The Phone Booth") in D.C.

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