The 2020–21 Washington Capitals season was the 47th season for 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 ...

franchise that was established on June 11, 1974. This was the first season for

Peter Laviolette Peter Philip Laviolette Jr. (born December 7, 1964) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by t ...

as head coach of the Capitals after their former head coach

Todd Reirden Todd R. Reirden (born June 25, 1971) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was most recently the associate coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He previously held head coaching positions for ...

was fired from the team on August 23, 2020. On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

and the ongoing closure of the

Canada–United States border The international border between Canada and the United States is the longest in the world by total length. The boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Canada' ...

. As a result of this realignment, the Capitals would play this season in the East Division and would play against only the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs. On April 29, the Capitals clinched a playoff berth after a 5–4 overtime loss to the

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 ...

. As a result of the Capitals winning in overtime against 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 ...

while the Penguins won in regulation against the

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 ...

on May 8, the Penguins won the East division title, and the Capitals failed to win the division for the first time since the 2014–15 season. They were eliminated from the playoffs in the First Round with a 3–1 loss to the

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 ...

in game five on May 23.

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020. , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1 , , January 14 , , @ Buffalo , , 6–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2 , , January 15 , , @ Buffalo , , 2–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 2–0–0 , , 4 , , , - style="background:#fff;" , 3 , , January 17 , , @

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, , 3–4 , , SO , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 2–0–1 , , 5 , , , - style="background:#fff;" , 4 , , January 19 , , @ Pittsburgh , , 4–5 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 2–0–2 , , 6 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 5 , , January 22 , , Buffalo , , 4–3 , , SO , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 3–0–2 , , 8 , , , - style="background:#fff;" , 6 , , January 24 , , Buffalo , , 3–4 , , SO , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 3–0–3 , , 9 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 7 , , January 26 , , NY Islanders , , 3–2 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 4–0–3 , , 11 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 8 , , January 28 , , NY Islanders , , 6–3 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 5–0–3 , , 13 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 9 , , January 30 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, , 4–3 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 6–0–3 , , 15 , , , - , - style="background:#fcc;" , 10 , , February 1 , ,

, , 3–5 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 6–1–3 , , 15 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 11 , , February 4 , , @ NY Rangers , , 2–4 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 6–2–3 , , 15 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 12 , , February 7 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, , 4–7 , , , , Anderson , , 0 , , 6–3–3 , , 15 , , , - style="background:#ccc;" , – , , February 9 , , Philadelphia , , – , , colspan="6", Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 13. , - style="background:#ccc;" , – , , February 11 , , @ Buffalo , , – , , colspan="6", Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for March 15. , - style="background:#ccc;" , – , , February 13 , , @ Buffalo , , – , , colspan="6", Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 9. , - style="background:#fcc;" , 13 , , February 14 , , @

, , 3–6 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 6–4–3 , , 15 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 14 , , February 16 , , @ Pittsburgh , , 3–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 7–4–3 , , 17 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 15 , , February 18 , , Buffalo , , 3–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 8–4–3 , , 19 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 16 , , February 20 , , NY Rangers , , 1–4 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 8–5–3 , , 19 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 17 , , February 21 , , New Jersey , , 4–3 , , , , Anderson , , 0 , , 9–5–3 , , 21 , , , - style="background:#fff;" , 18 , , February 23 , , Pittsburgh , , 2–3 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 9–5–4 , , 22 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 19 , , February 25 , , Pittsburgh , , 5–2 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 10–5–4 , , 24 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 20 , , February 27 , , @

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, , 5–2 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 11–5–4 , , 26 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 21 , , February 28 , , @ New Jersey , , 3–2 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 12–5–4 , , 28 , , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 22 , , March 3 , , @

, , 2–1 , , SO , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 13–5–4 , , 30 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 23 , , March 5 , , @ Boston , , 1–5 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 13–6–4 , , 30 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 24 , , March 7 , , @

, , 3–1 , , , , Samsonov , , 3,023 , , 14–6–4 , , 32 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 25 , , March 9 , ,

, , 5–4 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 15–6–4 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 26 , , March 11 , , @ Philadelphia , , 5–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 2,807 , , 16–6–4 , , 36 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 27 , , March 13 , , @ Philadelphia , , 5–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 3,083 , , 17–6–4 , , 38 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 28 , , March 15 , , @ Buffalo , , 6–0 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 18–6–4 , , 40 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 29 , , March 16 , , NY Islanders , , 3–1 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 19–6–4 , , 42 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 30 , , March 19 , , NY Rangers , , 2–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 20–6–4 , , 44 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 31 , , March 20 , , NY Rangers , , 1–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 20–7–4 , , 44 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 32 , , March 25 , , New Jersey , , 4–3 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 21–7–4 , , 46 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 33 , , March 26 , , New Jersey , , 4–0 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 22–7–4 , , 48 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 34 , , March 28 , , NY Rangers , , 5–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 23–7–4 , , 50 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 35 , , March 30 , , @ NY Rangers , , 2–5 , , , , Vanecek , , 1,761 , , 23–8–4 , , 50 , , , - , - style="background:#fcc;" , 36 , , April 1 , , @ NY Islanders , , 4–8 , , , , Samsonov , , 1,400 , , 23–9–4 , , 50 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 37 , , April 2 , , @

, , 2–1 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 3,600 , , 24–9–4 , , 52 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 38 , , April 4 , , @ New Jersey , , 5–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 3,600 , , 25–9–4 , , 54 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 39 , , April 6 , , @ NY Islanders , , 0–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 1,400 , , 25–10–4 , , 54 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 40 , , April 8 , ,

, , 2–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 25–11–4 , , 54 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 41 , , April 9 , , @ Buffalo , , 4–3 , , , , Vanecek , , — , , 26–11–4 , , 56 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 42 , , April 11 , , @ Boston , , 8–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 2,191 , , 27–11–4 , , 58 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 43 , , April 13 , ,

, , 6–1 , , , , Samsonov , , 0 , , 28–11–4 , , 60 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 44 , , April 15 , , Buffalo , , 2–5 , , , , Vanecek , , 0 , , 28–12–4 , , 60 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 45 , , April 17 , , @ Philadelphia , , 6–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 3,430 , , 29–12–4 , , 62 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 46 , , April 18 , , @ Boston , , 3–6 , , , , Vanecek , , 2,191 , , 29–13–4 , , 62 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 47 , , April 22 , , @ NY Islanders , , 1–0 , , SO , , Samsonov , , 1,400 , , 30–13–4 , , 64 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 48 , , April 24 , , @ NY Islanders , , 6–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 1,400 , , 31–13–4 , , 66 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 49 , , April 27 , , NY Islanders , , 1–0 , , , , Vanecek , , 2,133 , , 32–13–4 , , 68 , , , - style="background:#fff;" , 50 , , April 29 , ,

, , 4–5 , , OT , , Vanecek , , 2,133 , , 32–13–5 , , 69 , , , - , - style="background:#fcc;" , 51 , , May 1 , ,

, , 0–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 2,133 , , 32–14–5 , , 69 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 52 , , May 3 , , @ NY Rangers , , 6–3 , , , , Vanecek , , 1,800 , , 33–14–5 , , 71 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 53 , , May 5 , , @ NY Rangers , , 4–2 , , , , Vanecek , , 1,800 , , 34–14–5 , , 73 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 54 , , May 7 , ,

, , 2–4 , , , , Vanecek , , 2,133 , , 34–15–5 , , 73 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 55 , , May 8 , , Philadelphia , , 2–1 , , OT , , Anderson , , 2,133 , , 35–15–5 , , 75 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 56 , , May 11 , ,

, , 2–1 , , , , Vanecek , , 2,133 , , 36–15–5 , , 77 , , , - , - ,

Playoffs

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 1 , , May 15 , , Boston , , 3–2 , , OT , , Anderson , , 5,333 , , 1–0 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 2 , , May 17 , , Boston , , 3–4 , , OT , , Anderson , , 5,333 , , 1–1 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 3 , , May 19 , , @ Boston , , 2–3 , , 2OT , , Samsonov , , 4,565 , , 1–2 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 4 , , May 21 , , @ Boston , , 1–4 , , , , Samsonov , , 4,565 , , 1–3 , , , - style="background:#fcc;" , 5 , , May 23 , , Boston , , 1–3 , , , , Samsonov , , 5,333 , , 1–4 , , , - , - ,

Player statistics

Skaters

Goaltenders

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Draft picks

Below are the Washington Capitals' selections at the 2020 NHL entry draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the

. On October 6–7, 2020 the draft was held virtually via

Video conference call Videotelephony (also known as videoconferencing or video calling) is the use of audio signal, audio and video for simultaneous two-way communication. Today, videotelephony is widespread. There are many terms to refer to videotelephony. ''Vide ...

from the NHL Network studio in

Secaucus, New Jersey Secaucus ( ) is a Town (New Jersey), town in Hudson County, New Jersey, Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 22,181, an increase of 5,917 (+36.4%) from the 2010 United St ...

References

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 Washington Capitals season Washington Capitals seasons

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

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 ...