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 The Capital Centre (later USAir Arena and US Airways Arena) was an indoor arena in the eastern United States, located in Landover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, D.C. Opened in late 1973, it closed in 1999, and was demolished in 2 ...

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

, - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1, , L, , October 5, 1996, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–1–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2, , L, , October 8, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and were founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minne ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–2–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 3, , W, , October 11, 1996, , 6–2 , , align="left",

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–2–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 4, , L, , October 12, 1996, , 3–4 , , align="left",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–3–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 5, , L, , October 18, 1996, , 1–4 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–4–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 6, , L, , October 19, 1996, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 7, , W, , October 23, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...

( 1996–97) , , 2–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 8, , W, , October 26, 1996, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–5–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 9, , L, , October 28, 1996, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–6–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 10, , W, , October 30, 1996, , 4–2 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...

( 1996–97) , , 4–6–0 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 11, , W, , November 1, 1996, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 5–6–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 12, , L, , November 2, 1996, , 1–6 , , align="left", @ New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 5–7–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 13, , W, , November 6, 1996, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 6–7–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 14, , L, , November 7, 1996, , 2–4 , , align="left", @ Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 6–8–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 15, , W, , November 9, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 7–8–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 16, , L, , November 12, 1996, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @ New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 7–9–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 17, , W, , November 14, 1996, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 8–9–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 18, , W, , November 15, 1996, , 3–1 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

( 1996–97) , , 9–9–0 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 19, , W, , November 18, 1996, , 4–2 , , align="left", @ Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 10–9–0 , , , - align="center" , 20, , T, , November 19, 1996, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

( 1996–97) , , 10–9–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 21, , W, , November 22, 1996, , 5–1 , , align="left", @ New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 11–9–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 22, , W, , November 23, 1996, , 4–3 , , align="left", New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 12–9–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 23, , L, , November 27, 1996, , 1–2 , , align="left",

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

( 1996–97) , , 12–10–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 24, , L, , November 29, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left", New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 12–11–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 25, , W, , November 30, 1996, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–11–1 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 26, , L, , December 4, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left", Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 13–12–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 27, , L, , December 6, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 13–13–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 28, , L, , December 7, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left", @ New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 13–14–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 29, , L, , December 11, 1996, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–15–1 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 30, , L, , December 13, 1996, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: * ''Mighty'' (The Planet Smashers album) * ''Mighty'' (Kristene DiMarco album) * ''The Mighty'' (1929 film), a 1929 American action film *'' The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy-drama film * ''The Mighty'' (comics), a DC Comics title * ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–16–1 , , , - align="center" , 31, , T, , December 14, 1996, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–16–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 32, , L, , December 17, 1996, , 3–4 , , align="left", @ Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 13–17–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 33, , W, , December 20, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 14–17–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 34, , L, , December 21, 1996, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 14–18–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 35, , W, , December 23, 1996, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–18–2 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 36, , L, , December 26, 1996, , 4–5 OT, , align="left", @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1996–97) , , 15–19–2 , , , - align="center" , 37, , T, , December 28, 1996, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 15–19–3 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 38, , L, , December 30, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–20–3 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 39, , W, , January 1, 1997, , 3–2 OT, , align="left",

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to ...

( 1996–97) , , 16–20–3 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 40, , W, , January 3, 1997, , 3–0 , , align="left", Phoenix Coyotes ( 1996–97) , , 17–20–3 , , , - align="center" , 41, , T, , January 4, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 17–20–4 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 42, , W, , January 9, 1997, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 18–20–4 , , , - align="center" , 43, , T, , January 11, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 18–20–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 44, , W, , January 13, 1997, , 6–3 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

( 1996–97) , , 19–20–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 45, , L, , January 15, 1997, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 19–21–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 46, , W, , January 20, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 20–21–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 47, , L, , January 22, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–22–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 48, , L, , January 24, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–23–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 49, , L, , January 26, 1997, , 1–3 , , align="left",

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

( 1996–97) , , 20–24–5 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 50, , L, , January 29, 1997, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–25–5 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 51, , W, , February 1, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", @ Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 21–25–5 , , , - align="center" , 52, , T, , February 2, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–25–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 53, , L, , February 7, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

( 1996–97) , , 21–26–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 54, , L, , February 9, 1997, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–27–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 55, , W, , February 11, 1997, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

( 1996–97) , , 22–27–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 56, , W, , February 14, 1997, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 23–27–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 57, , L, , February 15, 1997, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 23–28–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 58, , L, , February 18, 1997, , 1–6 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 23–29–6 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 59, , L, , February 22, 1997, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 23–30–6 , , , - align="center" , 60, , T, , February 24, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 23–30–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 61, , W, , February 26, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 24–30–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 62, , L, , February 28, 1997, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 24–31–7 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 63, , L, , March 2, 1997, , 0–2 , , align="left", New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 24–32–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 64, , W, , March 4, 1997, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–32–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 65, , W, , March 6, 1997, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 26–32–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 66, , L, , March 9, 1997, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 26–33–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 67, , W, , March 11, 1997, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 27–33–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 68, , L, , March 12, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 27–34–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 69, , L, , March 15, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left", @ New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 27–35–7 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 70, , W, , March 16, 1997, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 28–35–7 , , , - align="center" , 71, , T, , March 19, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 28–35–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 72, , L, , March 21, 1997, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 28–36–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 73, , W, , March 22, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 29–36–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 74, , W, , March 25, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 30–36–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 75, , L, , March 26, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 30–37–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 76, , L, , March 29, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 30–38–8 , , , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 77, , L, , April 1, 1997, , 0–1 , , align="left", New Jersey Devils ( 1996–97) , , 30–39–8 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 78, , L, , April 3, 1997, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 30–40–8 , , , - align="center" , 79, , T, , April 6, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", Florida Panthers ( 1996–97) , , 30–40–9 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 80, , W, , April 10, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 31–40–9 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 81, , W, , April 12, 1997, , 6–2 , , align="left", New York Islanders ( 1996–97) , , 32–40–9 , , , - align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 82, , W, , April 13, 1997, , 8–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 33–40–9 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

; D = Defense; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...

; LW = Left wing; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics describes the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this pos ...

'' * '' = 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.''

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.''

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the

1996 NHL Entry Draft The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was the 34th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996. The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Zdeno Chára, who retired after the 2021–22 season. ...

held at the

Kiel Center Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland pe ...

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Washington Capitals Season W W Washington Capitals seasons

Cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...