Caps latest Presidents’ Trophy champs to go poof in playoffs

Washington Capitals' Andre Burakovsky (65) and Justin Williams (14) sit on the bench after the Capitals lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 4-3 and advanced to the conference finals. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Washington Capitals' Andre Burakovsky (65) and Justin Williams (14) sit on the bench after the Capitals lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 4-3 and advanced to the conference finals. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

By Associated Press May 11, 2016 3 min read

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals became the latest in a long line of NHL teams to discover regular-season dominance doesn’t translate into playoff prominence.

The Caps went from Presidents’ Trophy winners in April to poof in May after being eliminated in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series to Pittsburgh.

“It’s just kind of setting in right now that it’s over,” Capitals forward Jay Beagle said, following the 4-3 overtime loss on Tuesday night. “We had high expectations. The Cup was our goal all year and unfortunately we didn’t (make it).”

They’re not the only ones.

Since 2000, when the St. Louis Blues went from first in the standings to one-and-done in the playoffs, only four teams that finished the regular season with the best record have gone on to win the Stanley Cup: Chicago in 2013, Detroit in 2008 and ’02, and Colorado in 2001.