1996–97 Washington Capitals season

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
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
3 4 Florida Panthers 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
4 5 New York Rangers 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
5 9 Washington Capitals 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
6 11 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
7 12 New York Islanders 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
Eastern Conference[1]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 40 30 12 237 208 92
3 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
4 Florida Panthers ATL 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
5 New York Rangers ATL 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
6 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 38 36 8 285 280 84
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 31 36 15 226 234 77
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 31 36 15 249 276 77
9 Washington Capitals ATL 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 32 39 11 226 256 75
11 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
13 Boston Bruins NE 82 26 47 9 234 300 61

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)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 L October 5, 1996 2–5 Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 0–1–0 Recap
2 L October 8, 1996 3–5 @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) 0–2–0 Recap
3 W October 11, 1996 6–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 1–2–0 Recap
4 L October 12, 1996 3–4 Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 1–3–0 Recap
5 L October 18, 1996 1–4 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 1–4–0 Recap
6 L October 19, 1996 1–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 1–5–0 Recap
7 W October 23, 1996 3–2 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 2–5–0 Recap
8 W October 26, 1996 6–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 3–5–0 Recap
9 L October 28, 1996 0–1 @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 3–6–0 Recap
10 W October 30, 1996 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 4–6–0 Recap
November: 9–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–3–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
11 W November 1, 1996 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 5–6–0 Recap
12 L November 2, 1996 1–6 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 5–7–0 Recap
13 W November 6, 1996 2–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 6–7–0 Recap
14 L November 7, 1996 2–4 @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 6–8–0 Recap
15 W November 9, 1996 3–2 New York Rangers (1996–97) 7–8–0 Recap
16 L November 12, 1996 2–3 OT @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 7–9–0 Recap
17 W November 14, 1996 5–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 8–9–0 Recap
18 W November 15, 1996 3–1 Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 9–9–0 Recap
19 W November 18, 1996 4–2 @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 10–9–0 Recap
20 T November 19, 1996 2–2 OT Boston Bruins (1996–97) 10–9–1 Recap
21 W November 22, 1996 5–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 11–9–1 Recap
22 W November 23, 1996 4–3 New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 12–9–1 Recap
23 L November 27, 1996 1–2 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 12–10–1 Recap
24 L November 29, 1996 0–2 New York Islanders (1996–97) 12–11–1 Recap
25 W November 30, 1996 2–0 @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 13–11–1 Recap
December: 2–9–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 1–7–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
26 L December 4, 1996 0–2 Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 13–12–1 Recap
27 L December 6, 1996 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 13–13–1 Recap
28 L December 7, 1996 0–2 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 13–14–1 Recap
29 L December 11, 1996 2–3 @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 13–15–1 Recap
30 L December 13, 1996 4–5 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 13–16–1 Recap
31 T December 14, 1996 4–4 OT @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 13–16–2 Recap
32 L December 17, 1996 3–4 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 13–17–2 Recap
33 W December 20, 1996 3–2 San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 14–17–2 Recap
34 L December 21, 1996 3–4 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 14–18–2 Recap
35 W December 23, 1996 3–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 15–18–2 Recap
36 L December 26, 1996 4–5 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 15–19–2 Recap
37 T December 28, 1996 1–1 OT Florida Panthers (1996–97) 15–19–3 Recap
38 L December 30, 1996 3–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 15–20–3 Recap
January: 5–5–2 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–1–2)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
39 W January 1, 1997 3–2 OT Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 16–20–3 Recap
40 W January 3, 1997 3–0 Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 17–20–3 Recap
41 T January 4, 1997 1–1 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 17–20–4 Recap
42 W January 9, 1997 2–0 New York Rangers (1996–97) 18–20–4 Recap
43 T January 11, 1997 3–3 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 18–20–5 Recap
44 W January 13, 1997 6–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 19–20–5 Recap
45 L January 15, 1997 1–5 @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 19–21–5 Recap
46 W January 20, 1997 3–2 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 20–21–5 Recap
47 L January 22, 1997 3–5 New York Rangers (1996–97) 20–22–5 Recap
48 L January 24, 1997 2–5 Dallas Stars (1996–97) 20–23–5 Recap
49 L January 26, 1997 1–3 Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 20–24–5 Recap
50 L January 29, 1997 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 20–25–5 Recap
February: 4–6–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 3–4–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
51 W February 1, 1997 3–1 @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 21–25–5 Recap
52 T February 2, 1997 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 21–25–6 Recap
53 L February 7, 1997 2–5 @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) 21–26–6 Recap
54 L February 9, 1997 1–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 21–27–6 Recap
55 W February 11, 1997 5–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 22–27–6 Recap
56 W February 14, 1997 5–4 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 23–27–6 Recap
57 L February 15, 1997 1–4 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 23–28–6 Recap
58 L February 18, 1997 1–6 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 23–29–6 Recap
59 L February 22, 1997 0–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 23–30–6 Recap
60 T February 24, 1997 3–3 OT Boston Bruins (1996–97) 23–30–7 Recap
61 W February 26, 1997 3–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 24–30–7 Recap
62 L February 28, 1997 1–4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 24–31–7 Recap
March: 6–7–1 (home: 5–3–1; road: 1–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
63 L March 2, 1997 0–2 New York Islanders (1996–97) 24–32–7 Recap
64 W March 4, 1997 2–1 Calgary Flames (1996–97) 25–32–7 Recap
65 W March 6, 1997 6–3 Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 26–32–7 Recap
66 L March 9, 1997 0–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 26–33–7 Recap
67 W March 11, 1997 4–1 Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 27–33–7 Recap
68 L March 12, 1997 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 27–34–7 Recap
69 L March 15, 1997 2–3 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 27–35–7 Recap
70 W March 16, 1997 5–3 Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 28–35–7 Recap
71 T March 19, 1997 2–2 OT New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 28–35–8 Recap
72 L March 21, 1997 1–4 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 28–36–8 Recap
73 W March 22, 1997 3–1 @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 29–36–8 Recap
74 W March 25, 1997 3–2 St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 30–36–8 Recap
75 L March 26, 1997 3–5 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 30–37–8 Recap
76 L March 29, 1997 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 30–38–8 Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 1–1–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
77 L April 1, 1997 0–1 New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 30–39–8 Recap
78 L April 3, 1997 0–4 @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 30–40–8 Recap
79 T April 6, 1997 3–3 OT Florida Panthers (1996–97) 30–40–9 Recap
80 W April 10, 1997 3–2 Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 31–40–9 Recap
81 W April 12, 1997 6–2 New York Islanders (1996–97) 32–40–9 Recap
82 W April 13, 1997 8–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 33–40–9 Recap
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.
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12 Peter Bondra RW 77 46 31 77 7 72
32 Dale Hunter C 82 14 32 46 −2 125
22 Steve Konowalchuk LW 78 17 25 42 −3 67
90 Joe Juneau C 58 15 27 42 −11 8
96 Phil Housley D 77 11 29 40 −10 24
55 Sergei Gonchar D 57 13 17 30 −11 36
10 Kelly Miller LW 77 10 14 24 4 33
3 Sylvain Cote D 57 6 18 24 11 28
20 Michal Pivonka C 54 7 16 23 −15 22
17 Chris Simon† LW 42 9 13 22 −1 165
41 Jason Allison‡ C 53 5 17 22 −3 25
13[a] Andrei Nikolishin† C 59 7 14 21 5 30
6 Calle Johansson D 65 6 11 17 −2 16
21 Todd Krygier LW 47 5 11 16 −10 37
77 Adam Oates† C 17 4 8 12 −2 4
18 Andrew Brunette LW 23 4 7 11 −3 12
2 Ken Klee D 80 3 8 11 −5 115
34 Jaroslav Svejkovsky RW 19 7 3 10 −1 4
92 Rick Tocchet† RW 13 5 5 10 0 31
29 Joe Reekie D 65 1 8 9 8 107
24 Mark Tinordi D 56 2 6 8 3 118
36 Mike Eagles C/LW 70 1 7 8 −4 42
27 Craig Berube LW 80 4 3 7 −11 218
33[b] Anson Carter‡ RW 19 3 2 5 0 7
19 Brendan Witt D 44 3 2 5 −20 88
26 Keith Jones‡ RW 11 2 3 5 −2 13
44 Richard Zednik RW 11 2 1 3 −5 4
23 Kevin Kaminski C 38 1 2 3 0 130
28 Eric Charron D 25 1 1 2 1 20
30 Bill Ranford† G 18 0 1 1 7
45 Patrick Boileau D 1 0 0 0 0 0
30 Jim Carey‡ G 40 0 0 0 2
37 Olaf Kolzig G 29 0 0 0 4
9 Curtis Leschyshyn†‡ D 2 0 0 0 0 2
4 Stewart Malgunas D 6 0 0 0 2 2
14 Pat Peake C 4 0 0 0 1 4
16 Stefan Ustorf C 6 0 0 0 −3 2

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.
No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
30 Jim Carey‡ 40 17 18 3 984 105 2.75 .893 1 2293
37 Olaf Kolzig 29 8 15 4 758 71 2.59 .906 2 1645
30 Bill Ranford† 18 8 7 2 412 46 2.74 .888 0 1009

Awards and records

Awards

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

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Anson Carter October 5, 1996 [5]
Jaroslav Svejkovsky December 7, 1996
Patrick Boileau January 15, 1997
1,000th game played Phil Housley October 30, 1996 [6]

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[7]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 4 Alexander Volchkov  Russia Barrie Colts (OHL)
1 17 Jaroslav Svejkovsky  Czech Republic Tri-City Americans (WHL)
2 43 Jan Bulis  Czech Republic Barrie Colts (OHL)
3 58 Sergei Zimakov  Russia Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
3 74 David Weninger  Canada Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
3 78 Shawn McNeil  Canada Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
4 85 Justin Davis  Canada Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
5 126 Matt Lahey  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHL)
6 153 A. J. Van Bruggen  United States Northern Michigan University (WCHA)
7 180 Michael Anderson  United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
8 206 Oleg Orekhovsky  Russia Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
9 232 Chad Cavanagh  Canada London 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. ^ "1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "All-Star Game Rosters | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. January 18, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "1996-97 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.