Capitals–Penguins rivalry
Eleven playoff series, a 250-mile drive and Crosby against Ovechkin: Pittsburgh's rivalry with Washington.
The Capitals–Penguins rivalry is the NHL rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, Metropolitan Division opponents since 2013. The clubs have met in 11 playoff series, the second-most between expansion teams after the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh won every one except the 1994 Eastern Conference quarterfinals and the 2018 second round. The two cities are about a 250-mile drive apart, so fans of both teams can follow them on the road.
Quick Facts
- First meeting
- November 16, 1974
- Latest meeting
- April 12, 2026
- Total meetings
- 322
- Regular season
- 126–105–16–7 (PIT)
- Postseason
- 40–28 (PIT)
- Largest victory
- PIT 12–1 WSH; March 15, 1975
- Longest win streak
- WSH W9
- Current win streak
- WSH W2
Facts from the source article.
Background
The teams were rarely good at the same time in the 1980s and did not both reach the playoffs until 1989. The rivalry is usually dated to 1990–91, when the Penguins beat the Capitals in five games in the Patrick Division finals on the way to their first Stanley Cup. It grew again once both clubs drafted generational stars: Alexander Ovechkin went first overall to Washington in 2004 and Sidney Crosby first overall to Pittsburgh in 2005, and the two first met on November 22, 2005. In 2016 and 2017 the Penguins beat Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals teams on the way to the Cup, and in 2018 Washington eliminated the two-time champions in the second round and went on to win its first title.
Did You Know?
- All six Stanley Cups won by the two clubs required beating the other in the playoffs that year.
- In game two of their 2009 series Crosby and Ovechkin both scored hat-tricks.
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