When they finally do win the Stanley Cup, something that has eluded them for 31 seasons, the Washington Capitals will become the second Washington team to win hockey's most cherished award. It was 85 years ago, two years before the formation of the National Hockey League itself, when the Washington Millionaires captured the Cup in 1915.

The Millionaires were one of the most storied hockey franchises of their era, created by the famous Patrick brothers, Frank and Lester, competing in the Western Canada Hockey League and boasting such stars as Cyclone Taylor, Mickey MacKay, Frank Nighbor and goalkeeper Hugh Lehman.

The Millionaires finally disbanded in the mid-1920s, and it would be nearly a half-century later before Washington fans would once again see big league hockey at its highest level.

The current Capitals, who entered the NHL along with the Buffalo Sabres in 1970, came close to Cups on two occasions, making the finals in 1982 and in 1994 before bowing to the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers, respectively.

Washington fans, understandably thirsty after almost 50 years without an NHL team, were extremely upset when the NHL bypassed Washington in its first big expansion of 1967. Three years later, with a brand new rink, the Pacific Coliseum, up and running on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition grounds, Washington fans finally got big league hockey back. Buy Washington Capitals Tickets.