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+====== Washington Capitals ======
+===== Foundation Year =====
+The Washington Capitals were established in 1974 as an expansion team, joining the National Hockey League alongside the Kansas City Scouts [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Capitals|Britannica]])]
+===== The Name Contest =====
+The team’s nickname was chosen through a fan contest that received over 12,000 entries, including suggestions like "Pandas," "Cheetahs," and "Comets" [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/the-name-game|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Inaugural Game =====
+The Capitals played their first NHL game on October 9, 1974, suffering a 6-3 defeat against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/culture-club|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Difficult Debut Season =====
+In their 1974–75 inaugural season, the Capitals recorded only 8 wins in 80 games, resulting in a .131 winning percentage that remains the worst in NHL history [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Capitals|Britannica]])]
+===== The First Home Venue =====
+From 1974 to 1997, the Capitals played their home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, known for its unique saddle-shaped roof [([[https://www.ballparks.com/nhl/washingtoncapitals/index.htm|Ballparks.com]])]
+===== First Franchise Win =====
+The team’s first victory came on October 17, 1974, when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 at the Capital Centre [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1975_games.html|Hockey Reference]])]
+===== First Goal Scorer =====
+Jim Hrycuik scored the first goal in franchise history during the team's opening night game against the New York Rangers [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/197410090NYR.html|Hockey Reference]])]
+===== The Save the Caps Campaign =====
+In 1982, owner Abe Pollin nearly sold or moved the team until the "Save the Caps" campaign successfully rallied local fans to buy season tickets [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/culture-club|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Rod Langway’s Impact =====
+The 1982 trade for Rod Langway is credited with saving the team; Langway won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 1983 and 1984 [([[https://thehockeywriters.com/rod-langway-the-trade-that-saved-the-capitals/|The Hockey Writers]])]
+===== First Playoff Berth =====
+Following the arrival of Rod Langway, the Capitals qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in the 1982-83 season [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Washington-Capitals|Britannica]])]
+===== The Easter Epic =====
+In 1987, the Capitals and Islanders played the longest Game 7 in NHL history, a four-overtime thriller that didn't end until nearly 2:00 AM on Easter Sunday [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-capitals-easter-epic-30-years-later-288863688|NHL.com]])]
+===== 1998 Stanley Cup Final =====
+The Capitals reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 1998, led by star goaltender Olaf Kolzig, though they were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings [([[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/sports/capitals-roster/|The Washington Post]])]
+===== Arena Move to D.C. =====
+In December 1997, the team moved from Maryland to downtown Washington, D.C., opening the MCI Center, now known as Capital One Arena [([[https://www.ballparks.com/nhl/washingtoncapitals/index.htm|Ballparks.com]])]
+===== The Ovechkin Draft =====
+The Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, a move that revitalized the franchise’s global popularity [([[https://thehockeywriters.com/washington-capitals-draft-lottery-history-alex-ovechkin/|The Hockey Writers]])]
+===== Ovechkin’s Rookie Debut =====
+In his first NHL game in 2005, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets, immediately living up to his "Great Eight" hype [([[https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/251005024/blue-jackets-capitals|ESPN]])]
+===== The 2010 Presidents' Trophy =====
+The Capitals won their first Presidents' Trophy in 2010, finishing the regular season with a franchise-record 121 points [([[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/sports/capitals-roster/|The Washington Post]])]
+===== 2018 Stanley Cup Championship =====
+The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in 2018 by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games [([[https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/capitals-win-stanley-cup|History.com]])]
+===== Ovechkin’s Conn Smythe =====
+Alex Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 playoffs after scoring 15 postseason goals [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-wins-conn-smythe-trophy-as-playoff-mvp-298991206|NHL.com]])]
+===== Passing Gordie Howe =====
+On December 23, 2022, Alex Ovechkin scored his 802nd career goal to pass Gordie Howe for second place on the NHL’s all-time goals list [([[https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1145391993/alex-ovechkin-gordie-howe-802-goals-nhl|NPR]])]
+===== 895 Goals Record =====
+In early 2025, Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/expecting-to-fly|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Retired Number 5 =====
+The Capitals retired Rod Langway’s number 5 jersey in 1997, honoring the "Secretary of Defense" for his leadership in the 1980s [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/history/jersey-numbers|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Retired Number 7 =====
+Yvon Labre’s number 7 was retired in 1981; he was an original member of the 1974 team and a former captain [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/history/jersey-numbers|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Retired Number 11 =====
+The franchise retired Mike Gartner’s number 11 in 2008, recognizing one of the most consistent goal scorers in hockey history [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/history/jersey-numbers|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Retired Number 32 =====
+Gritty center Dale Hunter’s number 32 was retired in 2000, commemorating his grit and his iconic 1988 Game 7 overtime winner [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/history/jersey-numbers|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Slapshot the Mascot =====
+Slapshot, a large bald eagle wearing number 00, has been the official mascot of the Capitals since his debut on November 17, 1995 [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/slapshot/|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== 2015 Winter Classic Host =====
+Washington hosted the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park, where Troy Brouwer scored with 12.9 seconds left to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks [([[https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-wsh/2015/01/01/2014020556|NHL.com]])]
+===== Braden Holtby’s "The Save" =====
+In Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, Braden Holtby made a miraculous stick save on Alex Tuch that is considered the most iconic save in team history [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/braden-holtby-the-save-in-stanley-cup-final-game-2/c-298858348|NHL.com]])]
+===== Most Wins in a Season =====
+The 2015-16 Capitals set the franchise record for the most wins in a single season with 56 victories [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/history.html|Hockey Reference]])]
+===== The Weagle Logo =====
+The team’s secondary "Weagle" logo features an eagle spread to form a 'W' with the silhouette of the U.S. Capitol building at the bottom [([[https://thehockeywriters.com/washington-capitals-logo-history/|The Hockey Writers]])]
+===== Training at the Mall =====
+The Capitals practice at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia, which is uniquely located on the top floor of a public parking garage [([[https://www.medstarcapitalsiceplex.com/page/show/855476-about-us|MedStar Capitals Iceplex]])]
+===== T.J. Oshie’s Shootout Legend =====
+In the 2014 Winter Olympics, Capitals star T.J. Oshie gained international fame by scoring four times in a single shootout against Russia [([[https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter/2014/hockey/story/_/id/10461877/2014-sochi-olympics-tj-oshie-leads-usa-past-russia-shootout|ESPN]])]
+===== Back-to-Back Presidents' Trophies =====
+The Capitals are one of the few teams to win consecutive Presidents' Trophies, doing so in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-clinch-presidents-trophy/c-288461766|NHL.com]])]
+===== Nicklas Backstrom’s 1,000 Points =====
+In 2022, Nicklas Backstrom became the first player in franchise history to record 1,000 career points entirely as a member of the Capitals [([[https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33464525/washington-capitals-nicklas-backstrom-reaches-1000-point-milestone|ESPN]])]
+===== Monumental Sports Ownership =====
+The Capitals are part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA) [([[https://www.monumentalsports.com/our-story/|Monumental Sports]])]
+===== Peter Bondra's Five-Goal Game =====
+On February 5, 1994, Peter Bondra scored five goals in a single game against Tampa Bay, setting a franchise record for goals in a game [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/this-day-in-history-february-5/c-286431940|NHL.com]])]
+===== The Stadium Series at Navy =====
+In 2018, the Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in an outdoor game held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis [([[https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-maple-leafs-in-2018-stadium-series/c-296582536|NHL.com]])]
+===== First Goal in 2018 Final =====
+Devante Smith-Pelly scored three goals in the final three games of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, becoming an unlikely hero in the championship run [([[https://www.si.com/nhl/2018/06/08/devante-smith-pelly-capitals-stanley-cup-goals|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== John Carlson’s Iron Man Role =====
+John Carlson became the franchise's all-time leader in points by a defenseman in 2023, surpassing longtime star Calle Johansson [([[https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/most-points-by-a-defenseman-for-the-washington-capitals|StatMuse]])]
+===== The "Rock the Red" Era =====
+The team popularized the "Rock the Red" slogan starting in the late 2000s to encourage fans to wear red home jerseys, creating a distinct home-ice atmosphere [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/history/jersey-timeline|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Most Shorthanded Goals =====
+Peter Bondra holds the Capitals' franchise record for the most career shorthanded goals with 32 [([[https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/most-shorthanded-goals-for-the-washington-capitals|StatMuse]])]
+===== 2026 Olympic Selection =====
+In early 2026, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was officially named to the roster for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, his fifth selection [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/expecting-to-fly|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== Mike Sullivan’s Connections =====
+Current NHL coaches like Mike Sullivan and Jon Cooper have frequently cited the Capitals' organizational stability as a model for the league [([[https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/culture-club|NHL.com/Capitals]])]
+===== The Screaming Eagle Rebrand =====
+In 1995, the team underwent a radical rebranding, switching from their original red, white, and blue to a "Screaming Eagle" logo in blue and bronze [([[https://thehockeywriters.com/washington-capitals-logo-history/|The Hockey Writers]])]
+===== Capitals Charities =====
+The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation has raised millions for local D.C. charities, focusing on social justice and youth hockey accessibility [([[https://www.monumentalsports.com/foundation/|Monumental Sports]])]
+===== Highest Scorer in 1974-75 =====
+Tommy Williams led the original 1974-75 Capitals in scoring with 58 points, a bright spot in their historically difficult inaugural season [([[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1975.html|Hockey Reference]])]

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