1996–97 Washington Capitals
Division5th Atlantic
Conference9th Eastern
1996–97 record33–40–9
Home record19–17–5
Road record14–23–4
Goals for214
Goals against231
Team information
General managerDavid Poile
CoachJim Schoenfeld
CaptainDale Hunter
ArenaUS Airways Arena
Average attendance15,761
Minor league affiliate(s)Portland Pirates
Hampton Roads Admirals
Team leaders
GoalsPeter Bondra (46)
AssistsDale Hunter (32)
PointsPeter Bondra (77)
Penalty minutesCraig Berube (218)
Plus/minusSylvain Cote (+11)
WinsJim Carey (17)
Goals against averageOlaf Kolzig (2.59)

The 1996–97 Washington Capitals season was the team's 23rd season of play. The Capitals finished fifth in the division, and ninth in the conference, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. It was their last full season playing at USAir Arena.

Regular season

Final standings

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11New Jersey Devils82452314231182104
23Philadelphia Flyers82452413274217103
34Florida Panthers8235281922120189
45New York Rangers8238341025823186
59Washington Capitals823340921423175
611Tampa Bay Lightning8232401021724774
712New York Islanders8229411224025070
Eastern Conference[1]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82452314231182104
2Buffalo SabresNE8240301223720892
3Philadelphia FlyersATL82452413274217103
4Florida PanthersATL8235281922120189
5New York RangersATL8238341025823186
6Pittsburgh PenguinsNE823836828528084
7Ottawa SenatorsNE8231361522623477
8Montreal CanadiensNE8231361524927677
9Washington CapitalsATL823340921423175
10Hartford WhalersNE8232391122625675
11Tampa Bay LightningATL8232401021724774
12New York IslandersATL8229411224025070
13Boston BruinsNE822647923430061

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1996–97 regular season[2]
October: 4–6–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 5, 19962–5Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 8, 19963–5@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)0–2–0Recap
3WOctober 11, 19966–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 12, 19963–4Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)1–3–0Recap
5LOctober 18, 19961–4Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)1–4–0Recap
6LOctober 19, 19961–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)1–5–0Recap
7WOctober 23, 19963–2@ New York Rangers (1996–97)2–5–0Recap
8WOctober 26, 19966–4@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)3–5–0Recap
9LOctober 28, 19960–1@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)3–6–0Recap
10WOctober 30, 19964–2Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)4–6–0Recap
November: 9–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11WNovember 1, 19964–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)5–6–0Recap
12LNovember 2, 19961–6@ New York Islanders (1996–97)5–7–0Recap
13WNovember 6, 19962–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)6–7–0Recap
14LNovember 7, 19962–4@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)6–8–0Recap
15WNovember 9, 19963–2New York Rangers (1996–97)7–8–0Recap
16LNovember 12, 19962–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)7–9–0Recap
17WNovember 14, 19965–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)8–9–0Recap
18WNovember 15, 19963–1Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)9–9–0Recap
19WNovember 18, 19964–2@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)10–9–0Recap
20TNovember 19, 19962–2 OTBoston Bruins (1996–97)10–9–1Recap
21WNovember 22, 19965–1@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)11–9–1Recap
22WNovember 23, 19964–3New Jersey Devils (1996–97)12–9–1Recap
23LNovember 27, 19961–2Ottawa Senators (1996–97)12–10–1Recap
24LNovember 29, 19960–2New York Islanders (1996–97)12–11–1Recap
25WNovember 30, 19962–0@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)13–11–1Recap
December: 2–9–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 1–7–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 4, 19960–2Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)13–12–1Recap
27LDecember 6, 19963–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)13–13–1Recap
28LDecember 7, 19960–2@ New York Islanders (1996–97)13–14–1Recap
29LDecember 11, 19962–3@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)13–15–1Recap
30LDecember 13, 19964–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)13–16–1Recap
31TDecember 14, 19964–4 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)13–16–2Recap
32LDecember 17, 19963–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)13–17–2Recap
33WDecember 20, 19963–2San Jose Sharks (1996–97)14–17–2Recap
34LDecember 21, 19963–4@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)14–18–2Recap
35WDecember 23, 19963–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)15–18–2Recap
36LDecember 26, 19964–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)15–19–2Recap
37TDecember 28, 19961–1 OTFlorida Panthers (1996–97)15–19–3Recap
38LDecember 30, 19963–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)15–20–3Recap
January: 5–5–2 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39WJanuary 1, 19973–2 OTHartford Whalers (1996–97)16–20–3Recap
40WJanuary 3, 19973–0Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)17–20–3Recap
41TJanuary 4, 19971–1 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)17–20–4Recap
42WJanuary 9, 19972–0New York Rangers (1996–97)18–20–4Recap
43TJanuary 11, 19973–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)18–20–5Recap
44WJanuary 13, 19976–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)19–20–5Recap
45LJanuary 15, 19971–5@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)19–21–5Recap
46WJanuary 20, 19973–2@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)20–21–5Recap
47LJanuary 22, 19973–5New York Rangers (1996–97)20–22–5Recap
48LJanuary 24, 19972–5Dallas Stars (1996–97)20–23–5Recap
49LJanuary 26, 19971–3Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)20–24–5Recap
50LJanuary 29, 19971–2Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)20–25–5Recap
February: 4–6–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51WFebruary 1, 19973–1@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)21–25–5Recap
52TFebruary 2, 19972–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)21–25–6Recap
53LFebruary 7, 19972–5@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)21–26–6Recap
54LFebruary 9, 19971–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)21–27–6Recap
55WFebruary 11, 19975–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)22–27–6Recap
56WFebruary 14, 19975–4 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)23–27–6Recap
57LFebruary 15, 19971–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)23–28–6Recap
58LFebruary 18, 19971–6Ottawa Senators (1996–97)23–29–6Recap
59LFebruary 22, 19970–2@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)23–30–6Recap
60TFebruary 24, 19973–3 OTBoston Bruins (1996–97)23–30–7Recap
61WFebruary 26, 19973–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)24–30–7Recap
62LFebruary 28, 19971–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)24–31–7Recap
March: 6–7–1 (home: 5–3–1; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63LMarch 2, 19970–2New York Islanders (1996–97)24–32–7Recap
64WMarch 4, 19972–1Calgary Flames (1996–97)25–32–7Recap
65WMarch 6, 19976–3Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)26–32–7Recap
66LMarch 9, 19970–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)26–33–7Recap
67WMarch 11, 19974–1Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)27–33–7Recap
68LMarch 12, 19972–3@ New York Rangers (1996–97)27–34–7Recap
69LMarch 15, 19972–3@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)27–35–7Recap
70WMarch 16, 19975–3Hartford Whalers (1996–97)28–35–7Recap
71TMarch 19, 19972–2 OTNew Jersey Devils (1996–97)28–35–8Recap
72LMarch 21, 19971–4Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)28–36–8Recap
73WMarch 22, 19973–1@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)29–36–8Recap
74WMarch 25, 19973–2St. Louis Blues (1996–97)30–36–8Recap
75LMarch 26, 19973–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)30–37–8Recap
76LMarch 29, 19973–5Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)30–38–8Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77LApril 1, 19970–1New Jersey Devils (1996–97)30–39–8Recap
78LApril 3, 19970–4@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)30–40–8Recap
79TApril 6, 19973–3 OTFlorida Panthers (1996–97)30–40–9Recap
80WApril 10, 19973–2Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)31–40–9Recap
81WApril 12, 19976–2New York Islanders (1996–97)32–40–9Recap
82WApril 13, 19978–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)33–40–9Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
Regular season
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12Peter BondraRW77463177772
32Dale HunterC82143246−2125
22Steve KonowalchukLW78172542−367
90Joe JuneauC58152742−118
96Phil HousleyD77112940−1024
55Sergei GoncharD57131730−1136
10Kelly MillerLW77101424433
3Sylvain CoteD57618241128
20Michal PivonkaC5471623−1522
17Chris Simon†LW4291322−1165
41Jason Allison‡C5351722−325
13[lower-alpha 1]Andrei Nikolishin†C5971421530
6Calle JohanssonD6561117−216
21Todd KrygierLW4751116−1037
77Adam Oates†C174812−24
18Andrew BrunetteLW234711−312
2Ken KleeD803811−5115
34Jaroslav SvejkovskyRW197310−14
92Rick Tocchet†RW135510031
29Joe ReekieD651898107
24Mark TinordiD562683118
36Mike EaglesC/LW70178−442
27Craig BerubeLW80437−11218
33[lower-alpha 2]Anson Carter‡RW1932507
19Brendan WittD44325−2088
26Keith Jones‡RW11235−213
44Richard ZednikRW11213−54
23Kevin KaminskiC381230130
28Eric CharronD25112120
30Bill Ranford†G180117
45Patrick BoileauD100000
30Jim Carey‡G400002
37Olaf KolzigG290004
9Curtis Leschyshyn†‡D200002
4Stewart MalgunasD600022
14Pat PeakeC400014
16Stefan UstorfC6000−32

Goaltending

  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
Regular season
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
30Jim Carey‡40171839841052.75.89312293
37Olaf Kolzig298154758712.59.90621645
30Bill Ranford†18872412462.74.88801009

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Bondra [3]
Dale Hunter[lower-alpha 3]

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
1,000th game played Phil Housley October 30, 1996 [5]

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[6]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
14Alexander Volchkov RussiaBarrie Colts (OHL)
117Jaroslav Svejkovsky Czech RepublicTri-City Americans (WHL)
243Jan Bulis Czech RepublicBarrie Colts (OHL)
358Sergei Zimakov RussiaKrylya Sovetov (Russia)
374David Weninger CanadaMichigan Technological University (WCHA)
378Shawn McNeil CanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)
485Justin Davis CanadaKingston Frontenacs (OHL)
5126Matt Lahey CanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)
6153A. J. Van Bruggen United StatesNorthern Michigan University (WCHA)
7180Michael Anderson United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)
8206Oleg Orekhovsky RussiaDynamo Moscow (Russia)
9232Chad Cavanagh CanadaLondon Knights (OHL)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Nikolishin wore number 11 in his first game.
  2. ↑ Carter wore number 45 in his first ten games.
  3. ↑ Hunter was selected by the commissioner.[4]

References

  • "Washington Capitals 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  • "1996-97 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  1. ↑ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  2. ↑ "1996-97 Washington Capitals Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "All-Star Game Rosters | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. January 18, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Phil Housley". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023. Played in his 1,000th career NHL game for Washington on Oct. 30, 1996, vs. Philadelphia.
  6. ↑ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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