Representing the nation’s capital is an important role for National Hockey League team The Washington Capitals. Based out of Washington, D.C., the Capitals are members of the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. Beginning as an expansion team in 1974, Washington debuted with a disappointing 8-67-5 season showing little promise at becoming an elite team. The next year showed little improvement as the team went 11-59-10. The lackluster seasons continued throughout much of the 1970s and 80s. 1983 marked their first playoff berth, however despite making it into the playoffs for the following 14 years in a row, they failed to move past the first or second round. Many of those years were heartbreaking for players and fans as the Capitals had been favored to go to the Stanley Cup Championships many of those years. From 1991-1994, the eventual Stanley Cup Champions were the teams who ultimately ended the Washington Capitals season. But just four years later in 1998, the Capitals finally capitalized on their great talent and hockey great Peter Bondra led his team to their one and only Stanley Cup appearance where they faced the Detroit Red Wings. Although they lost to the defending champions in a four game sweep, it was still a major feat for this team and the city. Since 1998, the Washington Capitals have yet to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The early 2000s proved to be a little disappointing for the Washington Capitals. Although they had signed former Art Roff Trophy winner and superstar Jaromir Jagr to the, at the time, largest contract ever in NHL history, he did not perform as well as had been expected and the team failed to make it to the Championship game. 2004 was very rough for Washington as they tied for the second worst record in the league and sold their star player Jagr. But the poor performance did lead to the team winning the draft lottery in the NFL Entry Draft of 2004 where they were able to secure Alexander Ovechkin who would prove to be the star Washington D.C. needed. In his first year, he led the NHL rookies in points, power-play goals, shots and goals good enough for third overall in the NHL in scoring and tying for third in goals. His 425 shots led the league and set a league record for a rookie. Over the past several years, Ovechkin has become a great team leader as well as player and is the first player in league history to win all four hockey awards including the Art Ross Trophy, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, the Hart Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award. In 2008, the Capitals won the Southeast Division title for the first time since the 2000-01 season. Washington saw playoff time in 2009 but ended in the conference semifinals, just a few games shy of the Stanley Cup Finals game.

The team currently plays in the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. and is led by head coach Bruce Boudreau. Chris Clark is the team captain and leads the Caps week to week. Team colors are red, white, and blue keeping true to their theme of representing the nation’s capital.