5. 2008: Flyers 3, Capitals 2 » After rebounding from a 3-1 opening round deficit, the Caps tied the game at 2-2 on Alex Ovechkin‘s second-period goal. Flyers right wing Joffrey Lupul netted a rebound 6:06 into overtime to eliminate Washington.
4. 1988: Devils 3, Capitals 2 » In the conference semifinals, the Caps trailed, 3-2, in the series before blasting the Devils, 7-2, in New Jersey to set up Game 7. In a tightly contested finale, Devils right wing John MacLean tallied the game-winner to end Washington’s season.
3. 2009: Capitals 2, Rangers 1 » Again, the Caps trailed 3-1 in the opening-round series before storming back to force a seventh game. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was tremendous, but Sergei Fedorov scored late in the third period to send Washington into the conference semifinals.
2. 1987: Islanders 3, Capitals 2 » This game — dubbed the “Easter Epic” because it began Saturday night and did not end until the early hours of Easter Sunday — featured four overtimes and 132 shots on goal. In the fourth OT, Pat LaFontaine slammed the puck past Caps goalie Bob Mason, ending one of the longest games in Washington history.
1. 1988: Capitals 5, Flyers 4 » The Caps trailed 3-1 in the series before forcing Game 7 and trailed by three goals late in regulation before rallying to force OT. In the extra frame, Dale Hunter received a pass from Larry Murphy, streaked up the ice on a breakaway and beat Flyers goalie Ron Hextall to send the Caps into the second round.
