Question: when's the last time the washington capitals were in the stanley cup finals
Answer: Through these times , the Capitals won three Presidents ' Trophies in the 2009 -- 10 , 2015 -- 16 and 2016 -- 17 seasons , before finally winning their first Stanley Cup in the 2017 -- 18 season , after 42 seasons ( not counting the cancelled 2004 -- 05 season ) .