Faceoff Factor

Seven Come Eleven

Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 29, 03:26 PM | Hype this story!

If the old adage that history always repeats itself is true, then no one in Washington should be sleeping soundly heading into this Saturday’s duel in Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. These teams met 7 of 11 straight playoff appearances for the Penguins, with the birds going 6-1 over that stretch and outscoring the Capitals 137-121.

I’d imagine that every reader of this site carries his or her own memories of trumping the Capitals in the playoffs. After all, you’ve got 26 different victories to choose from. The Penguins beating the Capitals in the spring was almost as sure of a thing as the flowers blooming.

For history’s sake, let’s talk a walk back down memory lane and revisit all seven of the meetings between these teams.

1990-91 Division Finals (Second Round) – Pittsburgh (1) v. Washington (3)

Game One – Washington 4 – Pittsburgh 2 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two – Washington 6 – Pittsburgh 7 OT – Series Tied 1-1
Game Three – Pittsburgh 3 – Washington 1 – Penguins Lead 2-1
Game Four – Pittsburgh 3 – Washington 1 – Penguins Lead 3-1
Game Five – Washington 1 – Pittsburgh 4 – Penguins Win Series 4-1

1991-92 Division Semi-Finals (First Round) – Washington (2) v. Pittsburgh (3)

Game One – Pittsburgh 1 – Washington 3 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 6 – Capitals Lead 2-0
Game Three – Washington 2 – Pittsburgh 6 – Capitals Lead 2-1
Game Four – Washington 7 – Pittsburgh 2 – Capitals Lead 3-1
Game Five – Pittsburgh 5 – Washington 2– Capitals Lead 3-2
Game Six – Washington 4 – Pittsburgh 6 – Series Tied 3-3
Game Seven – Pittsburgh 3 – Washington 1 – Penguins Win Series 4-3

1993-94 Conference Quarterfinals – Pittsburgh (2) v. Washington (7)

Game One – Washington 5 –Pittsburgh 3 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two – Washington 1 – Pittsburgh 2 – Series Tied 1-1
Game Three – Pittsburgh 0 – Washington 2 – Capitals Lead 2-1
Game Four – Pittsburgh 1 – Washington 4 – Capitals Lead 3-1
Game Five – Washington 2 – Pittsburgh 3 – Capitals Lead 3-2
Game Six – Pittsburgh 4 – Washington 5 – Capitals Win Series 4-2

1994-95 Conference Quarterfinals – Pittsburgh (3) v. Washington (6)

Game One – Washington 5 – Pittsburgh 4 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two Washington 3 – Pittsburgh 5 – Series Tied 1-1
Game Three – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 6 – Capitals Lead 2-1
Game Four – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 6 – Capitals Lead 3-1
Game Five – Washington 5 – Pittsburgh 6 OT – Capitals Lead 3-2
Game Six – Pittsburgh 7 – Washington 1 – Series Tied 3-3
Game Seven – Washington 0 – Pittsburgh 3 – Penguins Win Series 4-3

1995-96 Conference Quarterfinals – Pittsburgh (2) v. Washington (7)

Game One – Washington 6 – Pittsburgh 4 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two – Washignton 5 – Pittsburgh 3 – Capitals Lead 2-0
Game Three – Pittsburgh 4 – Washington 1 – Capitals Lead 2-1
Game Four – Pittsburgh 3 – Washington 2 4OT – Series Tied 2-2
Game Five – Washington 1 – Pittsburgh 4 – Penguins Lead 3-2
Game Six – Pittsburgh 3 – Washington 2 – Penguins Win Series 4-2

1999-00 Conference Quarterfinals – Washington (2) v. Pittsburgh (7)

Series was scheduled in an unusual 1-2-2-1-1 format due to an arena conflict in Pittsburgh.

Game One – Pittsburgh 7 – Washington 0 – Penguins Lead 1-0
Game Two – Washington 1 – Pittsburgh 2 OT – Penguins Lead 2-0
Game Three – Washington 3 – Pittsburgh 4 – Penguins Lead 3-0
Game Four – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 3 – Penguins Lead 3-1
Game Five – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 1 – Penguins Win Series 4-1

2000-01 Conference Quarterfinals – Washington (3) v. Pittsburgh (6)

Game One – Pittsburgh 0 – Washington 1 – Capitals Lead 1-0
Game Two – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 1 – Series Tied 1-1
Game Three – Washington 0 – Pittsburgh 3 – Penguins Lead 2-1
Game Four – Washington 4 – Pittsburgh 3 OT – Series Tied 2-2
Game Five – Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 1 – Penguins Lead 3-2
Game Six – Washington 3 – Penguins 4 OT – Penguins Win Series 4-2

There you have it. Remember, the last time these teams met in the post-season, Martin Straka stripped Sergei Gonchar of the puck in OT to beat Olaf Kolzig and seal the series.

We can only imagine that Gonchar is happy to be on the opposite side of the series this time.