Trotz and the Capitals begin discussing a contract extension after Washington wins the Cup by
defeating the Vegas Golden Knights
in Game 5 of the Final. He becomes the first active coach since Mike Keenan with the New York Rangers in 1994 to not return to the team he guided to the Stanley Cup in the previous season.
The Capitals are 205-89-34 (.677 point percentage) in four seasons under Trotz, the best mark in the NHL. Washington wins the
Presidents' Trophy
in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and finishes first in the Metropolitan Division in 2017-18. He joins a team that ends the season 35-17-10 and misses the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season, finishing 17 points behind the New Jersey Devils for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
In their first season under Trotz, the
during the regular season and sweep the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference First Round. The Capitals lose in the first round to the Carolina Hurricanes, who then sweep the Islanders in the second round.
MORE MOMENTS
1999:The NHL announces some major changes to regular-season overtime. Under the new rules, each team will get a point in the standings in any game that's tied after 60 minutes; a team that scores during the five-minute overtime period will receive an additional point. Also, overtime periods will be 4-on-4 (plus goalies), rather than 5-on-5 (though the change does not apply to the Stanley Cup Playoffs).
2000:The Pittsburgh Penguins name Ivan Hlinka as their coach, replacing Herb Brooks. Hlinka, a native of the Czech Republic, becomes the second coach in NHL history who's born and trained in Europe (following Alpo Suhonen). He coaches the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Final in 2001 but is fired four games into the following season.