[3] After years of quiet matchups throughout 1990s and early 2000s, the rivalry was renewed in the mid 2000s and continued to grow all throughout the 2010s and 2020s with both teams being equally competitive resulting in two playoff matches in 2008 and 2016.

Due to the proximity of each team (124 miles from Philadelphia to Washington via Interstate 95), the Flyers and Capitals are natural rivals.

The Capitals, then led by Mike Gartner and Rod Langway, got their first playoff series win in franchise history by defeating the Flyers in the 1984 Patrick Division semifinals 3–0 in a best-of-five.

This stunning sweep also marked the end of two legendary Flyers careers, Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber.

Hextall became the first NHL goaltender to score a goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs, by actually shooting the puck into the empty net.

Capitals forward Dale Hunter laid a vicious elbow to the face of Flyers defenseman Gord Murphy, which sent Flyers head coach Paul Holmgren into a frenzy, as he banged a stick against the plexiglass that separates the team benches and got in a shouting match with Capital head coach Terry Murray and enforcer Alan May.

The Flyers later responded with enforcer Craig Berube crushing Capitals goalie Don Beaupre behind the net.

The rivalry grew dormant throughout the rest of the decade, as the two teams did not meet in the playoffs in the newly constructed Atlantic Division.

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin made an impact early, as he scored the game-winning goal in game one.

Flyers goaltender Ray Emery joined in and fought Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who was an unwitting combatant.

[7] Despite the controversy surrounding the brawl, the Flyers cited the game as a rally cry, and made the playoffs, despite the slow start to the season.