The

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

are a professional American

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

team based in Washington, D.C.; in the 1985–86 season, the team finished with 107 points and won 50 games for the first time in franchise history, good enough for the third-best record in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). However, they were bounced out of the playoffs in the second round by the

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

. The 107 points scored by the Capitals in this season would not be surpassed until the 2008–09 season, when the team scored 108 points in the regular season.

Offseason

The

picked up Yvon Corriveau in the first round (19th overall) of the 1985 NHL entry draft.

Regular season

The fifty wins which the

won during the regular season placed them second in the

Patrick Division The National Hockey League's Patrick Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of ...

, after the

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 (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

, and earned them a berth in the

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

, which was the fourth consecutive time it had made the playoffs since the

1982–83 NHL season The 1982–83 NHL season was the 66th season of the National Hockey League. The Colorado Rockies relocated to East Rutherford, New Jersey, becoming the New Jersey Devils. The New York Islanders won their fourth Stanley Cup in a row with their s ...

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 10, 1985, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 12, 1985, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1985–86) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 13, 1985, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 0–3–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 16, 1985, , 6–5 OT, , 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. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1985–86) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 18, 1985, , 4–1 , , 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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1985–86) , , 2–3–0 , - , 6, , T, , October 19, 1985, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 2–3–1 , - , 7, , L, , October 23, 1985, , 2–4 , , 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. The ...

( 1985–86) , , 2–4–1 , - , 8, , T, , October 25, 1985, , 7–7 OT, , align="left", @

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1985–86) , , 2–4–2 , - , 9, , W, , October 27, 1985, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1985–86) , , 3–4–2 , - , 10, , W, , October 29, 1985, , 6–3 , , 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 (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1985–86) , , 4–4–2 , - , - , 11, , W, , November 1, 1985, , 5–3 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1985–86) , , 5–4–2 , - , 12, , L, , November 2, 1985, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 5–5–2 , - , 13, , W, , November 5, 1985, , 8–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 6–5–2 , - , 14, , W, , November 6, 1985, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

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

( 1985–86) , , 7–5–2 , - , 15, , L, , November 9, 1985, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 7–6–2 , - , 16, , W, , November 12, 1985, , 5–2 , , 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 (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1985–86) , , 8–6–2 , - , 17, , W, , November 15, 1985, , 5–3 , , align="left",

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

( 1985–86) , , 9–6–2 , - , 18, , T, , November 16, 1985, , 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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1985–86) , , 9–6–3 , - , 19, , W, , November 19, 1985, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 10–6–3 , - , 20, , W, , November 20, 1985, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 11–6–3 , - , 21, , W, , November 23, 1985, , 3–0 , , align="left",

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1985–86) , , 12–6–3 , - , 22, , W, , November 27, 1985, , 5–3 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1985–86) , , 13–6–3 , - , 23, , L, , November 29, 1985, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 13–7–3 , - , 24, , W, , November 30, 1985, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 14–7–3 , - , - , 25, , W, , December 5, 1985, , 3–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 15–7–3 , - , 26, , W, , December 7, 1985, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 16–7–3 , - , 27, , W, , December 10, 1985, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 17–7–3 , - , 28, , W, , December 14, 1985, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

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

( 1985–86) , , 18–7–3 , - , 29, , T, , December 17, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 18–7–4 , - , 30, , W, , December 18, 1985, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 19–7–4 , - , 31, , L, , December 20, 1985, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 19–8–4 , - , 32, , W, , December 22, 1985, , 7–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 20–8–4 , - , 33, , W, , December 26, 1985, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 21–8–4 , - , 34, , L, , December 28, 1985, , 4–7 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 21–9–4 , - , 35, , L, , December 29, 1985, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 21–10–4 , - , - , 36, , W, , January 1, 1986, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 22–10–4 , - , 37, , W, , January 3, 1986, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 23–10–4 , - , 38, , W, , January 4, 1986, , 9–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 24–10–4 , - , 39, , W, , January 7, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left",

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1985–86) , , 25–10–4 , - , 40, , L, , January 9, 1986, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 25–11–4 , - , 41, , L, , January 11, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1985–86) , , 25–12–4 , - , 42, , L, , January 14, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 25–13–4 , - , 43, , W, , January 17, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 26–13–4 , - , 44, , W, , January 18, 1986, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 27–13–4 , - , 45, , W, , January 21, 1986, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 28–13–4 , - , 46, , L, , January 24, 1986, , 5–7 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 28–14–4 , - , 47, , W, , January 25, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 29–14–4 , - , 48, , L, , January 28, 1986, , 0–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 29–15–4 , - , 49, , L, , January 29, 1986, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 29–16–4 , - , - , 50, , W, , February 1, 1986, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 30–16–4 , - , 51, , W, , February 2, 1986, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year 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 1 ...

( 1985–86) , , 31–16–4 , - , 52, , W, , February 7, 1986, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 32–16–4 , - , 53, , W, , February 8, 1986, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 33–16–4 , - , 54, , L, , February 12, 1986, , 1–8 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 33–17–4 , - , 55, , W, , February 15, 1986, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 34–17–4 , - , 56, , W, , February 18, 1986, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 35–17–4 , - , 57, , T, , February 19, 1986, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 35–17–5 , - , 58, , L, , February 22, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 35–18–5 , - , 59, , L, , February 23, 1986, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 35–19–5 , - , 60, , W, , February 25, 1986, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 36–19–5 , - , 61, , W, , February 27, 1986, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 37–19–5 , - , - , 62, , W, , March 1, 1986, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 38–19–5 , - , 63, , W, , March 2, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 39–19–5 , - , 64, , W, , March 4, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 40–19–5 , - , 65, , W, , March 8, 1986, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 41–19–5 , - , 66, , W, , March 9, 1986, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 42–19–5 , - , 67, , W, , March 11, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 43–19–5 , - , 68, , L, , March 13, 1986, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 43–20–5 , - , 69, , W, , March 15, 1986, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 44–20–5 , - , 70, , W, , March 17, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 45–20–5 , - , 71, , L, , March 18, 1986, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 45–21–5 , - , 72, , W, , March 21, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 46–21–5 , - , 73, , W, , March 23, 1986, , 6–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 47–21–5 , - , 74, , W, , March 25, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 48–21–5 , - , 75, , L, , March 28, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 48–22–5 , - , 76, , T, , March 29, 1986, , 6–6 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 48–22–6 , - , - , 77, , W, , April 1, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 49–22–6 , - , 78, , W, , April 3, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 50–22–6 , - , 79, , T, , April 5, 1986, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 50–22–7 , - , 80, , L, , April 6, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 50–23–7 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The

1985–86 NHL season The 1985–86 NHL season was the 69th season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the league's Board of Governors introduce the Presidents' Trophy, which would go to the team with the best overall record in the NHL regular season. The ...

was the fourth time the

had made the playoffs, and finally defeated the

in a playoff series three games to none. However, the Capitals were eliminated by the

four games to two in a best of seven series.

Patrick Division Semi-finals

New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals

Patrick Divisional Finals

New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

* The 107 points scored by the

in this season would not be surpassed until the

2008–09 Washington Capitals season The 2008–09 Washington Capitals season was the team's 35th in the National Hockey League. The Capitals finished the regular season with a record of 50–24–8 and a team-record 108 points, and they won their second consecutive Southeast Divi ...

, when the team scored 108 points in the regular season. * Alan Haworth scored a goal in nine consecutive games, setting Washington record.

Transactions

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the

Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre (originally and still colloquially Metro Convention Centre, and sometimes MTCC), is a convention complex located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada along Front Street (Toronto), Front Street West in the former Railway Lan ...

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Washington Capitals season Washington Capitals seasons

Wash Wash or the Wash may refer to: Industry and sanitation * WASH or WaSH, "water, sanitation and hygiene", three related public health issues * Wash (distilling), the liquid produced by the fermentation step in the production of distilled beverages ...

Washing Washing is a method of cleaning, usually with water and soap or detergent. Regularly washing and then rinsing both body and clothing is an essential part of good hygiene and health. Often people use soaps and detergents to assist in the emulsific ...

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Patrick Division Semi-finals

Patrick Divisional Finals

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

References