Nationals, Capitals Lead Respective Divisions On Same Day For First Time Ever

Everything's coming up roses -- or Milhouse, if you prefer -- for Washington's baseball and hockey teams right now.

The Nationals are the only undefeated team in baseball after a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, allowing just one run in those three games, the second-fewest in post-1900 MLB history. Only the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals held their opponents scoreless through their first three games.

Meanwhile, the Capitals are in the NHL's postseason picture for the first time this season after a 2-1 shootout victory over the Islanders Thursday. Once the league's worst team at 2-8-1, the Capitals are 16-9-1 since.

So, division-wise, you have two first-place teams in D.C. right now. This is the first time since baseball returned to Washington that the Nationals and Capitals lead their respective divisions at the same time. (You could go further; the Senators left in 1971, while the Capitals began play in 1974).

In 2008, the Nationals were in first place in the NL East on April 4, but the Capitals did not jump into first place in the Southeast Division until the day after, when they won it on the last day of the season to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2002-03.

It's no championship, but it's certainly impressive.

(H/T Ben Raby)


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