<P> The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team is a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Capitals played at the Capital Centre from their inaugural season in 1974 to 1997, when they moved to the MCI Center, now known as the Capital One Arena . In 42 completed seasons, the Capitals have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs 27 times, making two Stanley Cup Finals appearances during the 1997--98 and 2017--18 seasons, winning the latter . </P> <P> The Capitals were founded in 1974 as an expansion team in the Prince of Wales Conference . The team had an 8--67--5 record and lost 37 straight road games in their inaugural season . The Capitals made their first playoffs in the 1982--83 season and qualified for the playoffs for the following 13 seasons in a row . The Capitals won the Eastern Conference during their 1997--98 season but were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals . </P>

When was the last time the capitals were in the eastern conference finals