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. The seating capacity was 18,756 for basketball and 18,130 for ice ho ...

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , 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 (N ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–1–0 , , , - , 2, , October 8, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars 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 Stars ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–2–0 , , , - , 3, , 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. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–2–0 , , , - , 4, , 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 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. ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–3–0 , , , - , 5, , 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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–4–0 , , , - , 6, , 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. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

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

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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 2–5–0 , , , - , 8, , 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 (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–5–0 , , , - , 9, , 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. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–6–0 , , , - , 10, , 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 (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1996–97) , , 4–6–0 , , , - , - , 11, , November 1, 1996, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 5–6–0 , , , - , 12, , November 2, 1996, , 1–6 , , 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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 5–7–0 , , , - , 13, , November 6, 1996, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 6–7–0 , , , - , 14, , November 7, 1996, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

( 1996–97) , , 6–8–0 , , , - , 15, , November 9, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 7–8–0 , , , - , 16, , November 12, 1996, , 2–3 OT, , 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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 7–9–0 , , , - , 17, , November 14, 1996, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 8–9–0 , , , - , 18, , November 15, 1996, , 3–1 , , 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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 9–9–0 , , , - , 19, , November 18, 1996, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 10–9–0 , , , - , 20, , 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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1996–97) , , 10–9–1 , , , - , 21, , November 22, 1996, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 11–9–1 , , , - , 22, , November 23, 1996, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 12–9–1 , , , - , 23, , November 27, 1996, , 1–2 , , align="left",

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

( 1996–97) , , 12–10–1 , , , - , 24, , November 29, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 12–11–1 , , , - , 25, , November 30, 1996, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–11–1 , , , - , - , 26, , December 4, 1996, , 0–2 , , 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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–12–1 , , , - , 27, , December 6, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 13–13–1 , , , - , 28, , December 7, 1996, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–14–1 , , , - , 29, , 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. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–15–1 , , , - , 30, , December 13, 1996, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

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

( 1996–97) , , 13–16–2 , , , - , 32, , December 17, 1996, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–17–2 , , , - , 33, , December 20, 1996, , 3–2 , , align="left",

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 15–18–2 , , , - , 36, , December 26, 1996, , 4–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–19–2 , , , - , 37, , December 28, 1996, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 15–19–3 , , , - , 38, , December 30, 1996, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–20–3 , , , - , - , 39, , January 1, 1997, , 3–2 OT, , 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 ...

( 1996–97) , , 16–20–3 , , , - , 40, , January 3, 1997, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 17–20–3 , , , - , 41, , January 4, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 18–20–5 , , , - , 44, , 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. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 20–21–5 , , , - , 47, , January 22, 1997, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–22–5 , , , - , 48, , January 24, 1997, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 20–23–5 , , , - , 49, , 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 (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

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

( 1996–97) , , 20–25–5 , , , - , - , 51, , February 1, 1997, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–25–5 , , , - , 52, , February 2, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–25–6 , , , - , 53, , 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. The ...

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

( 1996–97) , , 21–27–6 , , , - , 55, , February 11, 1997, , 5–2 , , 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 ...

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 23–28–6 , , , - , 58, , February 18, 1997, , 1–6 , , align="left",

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

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

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 24–31–7 , , , - , - , 63, , March 2, 1997, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 24–32–7 , , , - , 64, , March 4, 1997, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 25–32–7 , , , - , 65, , March 6, 1997, , 6–3 , , align="left",

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

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 27–34–7 , , , - , 69, , March 15, 1997, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 27–35–7 , , , - , 70, , March 16, 1997, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 28–35–7 , , , - , 71, , March 19, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 28–35–8 , , , - , 72, , March 21, 1997, , 1–4 , , align="left",

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

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

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

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

( 1996–97) , , 30–38–8 , , , - , - , 77, , April 1, 1997, , 0–1 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 30–39–8 , , , - , 78, , April 3, 1997, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1996–97) , , 30–40–8 , , , - , 79, , April 6, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 30–40–9 , , , - , 80, , April 10, 1997, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 31–40–9 , , , - , 81, , April 12, 1997, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1996–97) , , 32–40–9 , , , - , 82, , 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 Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW =

Left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is 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 position b ...

'' * '' = 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 held at the

Kiel Center The Enterprise Center is an 18,096-seat arena located in Downtown St. Louis, downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Its primary tenant is the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, but it is also used for other functions, such as ...

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Washington Capitals Season 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. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...