series 135–119–23–16 and also leads the playoff record 27–17. New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals The rivalry takes place in the Metropolitan Division. The two have been rivals since the Capitals joined the Patrick Division in 1979. The rivalry got particularly heated during the 1990s with these teams facing off in the playoffs three times in five seasons. The rivalry intensified even further in the late 2000s through to the mid-2010s, during which time the teams played one another in five playoff series over a period of seven years. Overall, the Rangers have won five of the teams' nine playoff matchups, including the last three. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals The Flyers and Capitals have been rivals through the 1980s, dating back to their days in the Patrick Division. In 1984, Mike Gartner lead the Capitals to a three-game sweep of the Flyers in the 1984 Patrick Division Semifinals for the Capitals' first ever playoff series victory, and in the process ending the careers of Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber, the last two players of the Broad Street Bullies era. The Capitals then trailed the Flyers three games to one in 1988 Patrick Division Semifinals. Washington would rally to win the next three games to take the series in seven games capped off by Dale Hunter's overtime goal in game seven. The following year, Tim Kerr and Ron Hextall helped the Flyers take down the division champion Capitals in the 1989 Patrick Division Semifinals, exacting revenge for their 1988 defeat. In the 2000s, the rivalry was reignited by the rebirth of the Alexander Ovechkin-led Capitals, whom the Flyers eliminated in the 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in overtime on a power play goal by Joffrey Lupul in the seventh game, and avoid squandering a 3–1 series advantage like in 1988. Since the league-wide realignment in 2013, the rivalry between the teams has started to intensify. During a regular season game in 2013, there was an all-out line-brawl between the two teams. Washington would win the game 7–0. Both teams met in the 2016 Eastern Conference First Round, with the Capitals winning the series four games to two after winning the first three games. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals These two teams played in the Patrick Division together from 1981 to 1993, and have been part of the Metro Division since 2013. In total, the two teams have met 11 times in