WASHINGTON (WUSA9)--20 years ago there were a lot of interesting things happening in the world.
The male drug Viagra was approved by the FDA, president Bill Clinton went through impeachment following his scandal with Monica Lewinsky, and the Kentucky Derby Winner was a horse named “Real Quiet”.
Quiet is not what Washington Capitals fans are these days.
Where were you that last time the Capitals made the Stanley Cup 20 years ago?
What was going on in D.C. in 1998?
For starters Capital One Arena where the Capitals play their home games didn’t have that name 20 years ago.
It wasn’t called the Verizon Center either.
It was named the MCI Center, and December 2nd,1998 was the one year anniversary of the MCI Center opening.
As far as other major D.C. sports teams go, the Washington Nationals didn’t exist.
That didn’t happen until 2005.
In 1998 the Nationals were the Montreal Expos and a 23-year-old Vlad Guerrero was the big time slugger.
The Nationals current star, Bryce Harper, was just 5-years-old.
In June of 98’ the Washington Mystics debuted at the MCI center as a WNBA expansion team.
A record crowd of over 20,000 Washington basketball fans was there to see it.
There were other notable things happening in the city like the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl on 1213 U Street.
They were celebrating their 40th anniversary.
The Washington Monument had concrete barriers around it in response to possible terrorist threats from Sudan and Afghanistan following a U.S. missile strike.
There even 25 cent bus rides-at least for one day. The Metro Bus celebrated 25 years on February 20th with 25 cent bus rides.
Speaking of the Metro, the Glenmont station in Montgomery County opened in 98’.
When it comes to the home team in this year’s Stanley Cup Final, former Capitals skater and head coach Adam Oates was a captain on the team two decades ago.
His former player Alex Oveckin is the team’s captain today.
Lastly, this year’s Stanley Cup Final could be a full circle moment for Capitals head coach Barry Trotz.
In 1998 he earned his first win as a NHL head coach with the Nashville Predators.
Now he’s in a position to win his first Stanley Cup for the Capitals 20 years later.
