THN Archive: In 1974, Capitals Stormed Back to Tie First-Ever NHL Pre-Season Game at Home

The Washington Capitals celebrated the 50th anniversary of choosing their team name on Sunday. This story from THN's Archive chronicled the Caps' first-ever game in Washington – a tilt that would end with Caps fans cheering.

The Washington Capitals marked the 50th anniversary of choosing their team name on Sunday. Team owner Abe Pollin hand-picked “Capitals as the organization’s name, and in this story from THN’s Oct. 18, 1974 edition (Vol. 28, Issue 2), writer Russ White wrote about the Capitals’ very first NHL game – a thrilling pre-season battle with the Montreal Canadiens that ended in a 4-4 tie.

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In front of a Washington crowd of 8,119 at the Capital Center, the Caps burst out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play thanks to goals from Tom Williams and Andre Pellofy. However, the Canadiens took it to them after that, and only a goal from Steve Atkinson with 1:23 left in the third period saved the Capitals from losing that first game.

But in the bigger picture, the focus was on the Washington market getting its first taste of NHL action involving its own team. Habs icon Jean Beliveau told Wright he and Montreal captain Henri Richard were discussing the last time they’d appeared in Washington and how far the Caps organization had come.

“We had a guessing game on the bus ride about who we played that night,” Beliveau said. “Washington, of course, had no team then. Neither of us could think of who we played. Finally, someone remembered that it was the Baltimore Clippers…I do know that where we played before — the old arena in Washington was nothing like this.”

Montreal coach Scotty Bowman was impressed by what he saw from the Capitals’ players.

“Those guys are obviously shooting for a place on the roster,” Bowman said. “That’s the pattern with almost all the new teams. It is amazing how deep some guys can dig.”

Vol. 28, No. 2, Oct. 18, 1974

By Russ White

WASHINGTON – Washington’s newest sports love affair is with its hockey team, the Washington Capitals.

Hucksters are already peddling hockey souvenirs at the same stands that used to have only pro football Redskins material.

“Stick It To ‘Em! Capitals,” stickers are on car bumpers, youngsters are playing street hockey, there’s a move underway by a Falls Church, Va. boy for a Peter Sullivan fan club, and one pee wee hockey outfit already has Washington Capitals uniforms.

The real Capitals played their first hockey game at Capital Centre last week and you can forget the cliche about a tie game is like kissing your sister. Washington’s come from behind 4-4 tie against the Montreal Canadiens drew the overwhelming approval of the 8,119 first night fans.

Steve Atkinson, picked up from the Buffalo Sabres in the expansion pool, scored the tying goal with only 1:23 to play. He took a pass from Denis Dupere and shoveled a 14-foot backhander past goaltender Wayne Thomas.

It was a big night for Atkinson, playing for the first time with the Capitals. A week before he was scheduled to play against his old Buffalo teammates but Atkinson choked on a piece of meat while trying to gulp down a pre-game dinner.

It took the new Capitals only 11 seconds to score their first goal at Capital Centre. Centerman Tom Williams intercepted a Montreal pass in front of the Canadien goal and quickly rifled the puck past startled goalkeeper Ken Dryden.

“I believe it hit off one of our defenseman’s skates,” Dryden said. “I never got a decent look at it.”

Another goal with 30 seconds left in the period, this one by Andre Peloffy, gave the Capitals a surprising 2-0 first period lead. As they left the ice they received their first standing ovation.

Scotty Bowman, the Montreal coach, was impressed but not too surprised by the Capitals. “Those guys are obviously shooting for a place on the roster,” he said. “That’s the pattern with almost all the new teams. It is amazing how deep some guys can dig.”

Obviously the Canadiens didn’t skate as well as they could early in the game but the third period of this exhibition produced excellent hockey by both teams. Washington’s Yvon Labré not only scored a goal but aroused several of the Canadiens with his hitting.

Labré and Montreal’s Larry Robinson were still fueding after the game was over and the hostility promises to spill over when the two clubs meet in regulation play shortly. Washington is in the same division with Montreal this year.

Among the Canadian officials who came to Washington were general manager Sam Pollock and former Canadiens’ captain and Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau. Pollock said that he was tremendously impressed with the Capital Centre hockey operation.

Beliveau and the present Canadiens captain Henri Richard talked about a trip to Washington the club took 10 years ago.

“We had a guessing game on the bus ride about who we played that night,” Beliveau said. “Washington, of course, had no team then. Neither of us could think of who we played. Finally, someone remembered that it was the Baltimore Clippers.

“I do know that where we played before — the old arena in Washington was nothing like this,” Beliveau said.

Goaltender Dryden was concerned about the method that penalty minutes are shown on the elaborate telescreen at Capital Centre. Most arenas have a digital clock to keep count but Washington’s is kept over the pictures on telescreen.

Fortunately for Dryden, who allowed two first period goals, there were no replays on opening night and he was spared seeing the Capitals make their scores.

The Hockey News Archive is a vault of 2,640 issues and more than 156,000 articles exclusively for subscribers, chronicling the complete history of The Hockey News from 1947 until today. Visit the archives at THN.com/archive and subscribe today at subscribe.thehockeynews.com