March 11, 2006... 22-34-7, had just lost to New Jersey to start an eight-game losing streak; they finished 29-41-12
March 11, 2007... 24-33-8, in the midst of an eight-game losing streak (that would reach nine); they finished 28-40-14
March 11, 2008... 32-30-8, lost to Pittsburgh in the last game (made famous by the Nicklas Backstrom own goal that broke a 2-2 tie with 28 seconds left); the Caps would lose only once more the rest of the way in finishing 43-31-8
March 11, 2009... 41-21-6, beat Nashville in overtime the previous night, finished up 9-3-2 to end the season with a franchise record standings points total while going 50-24-8
March 11, 2010... 45-13-9, clinched the Southeast Division for the third consecutive year.
"I don't think anyone came in rejoicing. It's nice to know we're not gonna finish lower than third [in the conference], but other than that, we have bigger goals."
-- Brooks Laich, on clinching the division
But don't forget how far the Caps have come, either.
Appreciate the perspective peerless... its easy to become brutally nitpicky with the team but looking back its really amazing the team has come so far!
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