1987–88 Washington Capitals season

Washington Capitals in 1987–88 March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1987–88 1987 Washington Capitals 38–33–9 22–14–4 16–19–5 Wales 4th Patrick 2nd 281 249 David Poile Bryan Murray Rod Langway Capital Centre Mike Gartner (48) Scott Stevens (60) Mike Gartner (81) Dale Hunter (240) Mike Gartner (+20) Clint Malarchuk (24) Pete Peeters (2.79) The 1987–88 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 14th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). 2 Regular season The Capitals had the most shutouts in the league with sixhttps://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988_games.html 1987-88 NHL Schedule and Results and were the least penalized team in the league, being short-handed only 394 times.https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html 1987-88 NHL Summary Final standings WAS Record vs. opponents WSH Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 5px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 5px solid; 1987–88 game log1987-88 Washington Capitals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1988_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 22, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; October: 6–4–1 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 1 || October 8, 1987 || Washington || 3–4 || Boston) || || Malarchuk || Boston Garden || 13,104 || 0–1–0 || 0 || 1987020001 L1 |- | 2 || October 10, 1987 || Chicago || 4–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 1–1–0 || 2 || 1987020018 W1 |- | 3 || October 11, 1987 || Washington || 5–6 || Buffalo || || Peeters || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || || 1–2–0 || 2 || 1987020022 L1 |- | 4 || October 16, 1987 || Hartford || 2–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 2–2–0 || 4 || 1987020037 W1 |- | 5 || October 17, 1987 || NY Rangers || 3–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 3–2–0 || 6 || 1987020047 W2 |- | 6 || October 19, 1987 || Washington || 4–2 || NY Rangers || || Malarchuk || Madison Square Garden || || 4–2–0 || 8 || 1987020056 W3 |- | 7 || October 22, 1987 || Washington || 4–1 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 5–2–0 || 10 || 1987020067 W4 |- | 8 || October 24, 1987 || Montreal || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 5–3–0 || 10 || 1987020077 L1 |- | 9 || October 27, 1987 || Washington || 3–2 || Vancouver || || Peeters || Pacific Coliseum || || 6–3–0 || 12 || 1987020090 W1 |- | 10 || October 30, 1987 || Washington || 2–3 || Winnipeg || OT || Malarchuk || Winnipeg Arena || || 6–4–0 || 12 || 1987020102 L1 |- | 11 || October 31, 1987 || Washington || 3–3 || Minnesota || OT || Malarchuk || Met Center || || 6–4–1 || 13 || 1987020109 T1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; November: 4–7–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 12 || November 3, 1987 || Vancouver || 2–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 7–4–1 || 13 || 1987020123 W1 |- | 13 || November 6, 1987 || Quebec || 4–1 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 7–5–1 || 13 || 1987020137 L1 |- | 14 || November 7, 1987 || Washington || 1–4 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 16,347 || 7–6–1 || 13 || 1987020145 L2 |- | 15 || November 10, 1987 || Washington || 3–4 || NY Islanders || OT || Malarchuk || Nassau Coliseum || || 7–7–1 || 15 || 1987020154 L3 |- | 16 || November 11, 1987 || Washington || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || || Malarchuk || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 7–8–1 || 15 || 1987020162 L4 |- | 17 || November 14, 1987 || Minnesota || 1–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 8–8–1 || 17 || 1987020179 W1 |- | 18 || November 17, 1987 || Detroit || 1–0 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Center || 12,729 || 8–9–1 || 17 || 1987020189 L1 |- | 19 || November 20, 1987 || Washington || 3–5 || Buffalo || || Peeters || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || || 8–10–1 || 17 || 1987020202 L2 |- | 20 || November 21, 1987 || Washington || 4–3 || Hartford || || Malarchuk || Hartford Civic Center || || 9–10–1 || 19 || 1987020207 W1 |- | 21 || November 25, 1987 || Boston || 1–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 15,844 || 10–10–1 || 21 || 1987020220 W2 |- | 22 || November 27, 1987 || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 10–11–1 || 21 || 1987020234 L1 |- | 23 || November 28, 1987 || Washington || 5–5 || Pittsburgh || OT || Malarchuk || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 10–11–2 || 22 || 1987020242 T1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; December: 6–6–3 (home: 4–3–1; road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 24 || December 1, 1987 || Edmonton || 2–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 17,342 || 11–11–2 || 24 || 1987020251 W1 |- | 25 || December 4, 1987 || NY Islanders || 6–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk|| Capital Centre || || 11–12–2 || 24 || 1987020265 L1 |- | 26 || December 6, 1987 || Los Angeles || 3–10 || Washington || || Malarchuk|| Capital Centre || || 12–12–2 || 26 || 1987020277 W1 |- | 27 || December 8, 1987 || Calgary || 5–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 12–13–2 || 26 || 1987020283 L1 |- | 28 || December 9, 1987 || Washington || 4–5 || Hartford || || Raymond || Hartford Civic Center || || 12–14–2 || 26 || 1987020285 L2 |- | 29 || December 12, 1987 || Chicago || 1–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 13–14–2 || 28 || 1987020307 W1 |- | 30 || December 15, 1987 || Washington || 3–5 || Toronto || || Peeters || Maple Leaf Gardens || || 13–15–2 || 28 || 1987020316 L1 |- | 31 || December 16, 1987 || Washington || 1–6 || Detroit || || Malarchuk || Joe Louis Arena || 19,293 || 13–16–2 || 28 || 1987020319 L2 |- | 32 || December 18, 1987 || Toronto || 2–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 14–16–2 || 30 || 1987020328 W1 |- | 33 || December 20, 1987 || St. Louis || 1–1 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 14–16–3 || 31 || 1987020344 T1 |- | 34 || December 22, 1987 || Washington || 2–1 || Quebec || || Peeters || Quebec Coliseum || || 15–16–3 || 33 || 1987020349 W1 |- | 35 || December 23, 1987 || Washington || 2–2 || Montreal || OT || Peeters || Montreal Forum || || 15–16–4 || 34 || 1987020354 T1 |- | 36 || December 26, 1987 || Philadelphia || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 15–17–4 || 34 || 1987020364 L1 |- | 37 || December 28, 1987 || Washington || 4–4 || Toronto || OT || Malarchuk || Maple Leaf Gardens || || 15–17–5 || 35 || 1987020377 T1 |- | 38 || December 30, 1987 || Washington || 4–3 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || 16–17–5 || 37 || 1987020358 W1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; January: 8–5–1 (home: 0–0–1; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 39 || January 1, 1988 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 17–17–5 || 39 || 1987020396 W2 |- | 40 || January 2, 1988 || Edmonton || 0–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 18–17–5 || 41 || 1987020404 W3 |- | 41 || January 5, 1988 || Washington || 3–1 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 19–17–5 || 43 || 1987020414 W4 |- | 42 || January 8, 1988 || NY Rangers || 4–8 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 20–17–5 || 45 || 1987020428 W5 |- | 43 || January 10, 1988 || Washington || 2–8 || Calgary || || Peeters || Olympic Saddledome || || 20–18–5 || 45 || 1987020441 L1 |- | 44 || January 11, 1988 || Washington || 2–3 || Edmonton || || Malarchuk || Northlands Coliseum || 16,315 || 20–19–5 || 45 || 1987020446 L2 |- | 45 || January 13, 1988 || Washington || 8–3 || Los Angeles || || Malarchuk || The Forum || || 21–19–5 || 47 || 1987020455 W1 |- | 46 || January 16, 1988 || Washington || 1–3 || St. Louis || || Malarchuk || St. Louis Arena || || 21–20–5 || 47 || 1987020474 L1 |- | 47 || January 17, 1988 || Washington || 4–5 || Chicago || || Malarchuk || Chicago Stadium || || 21–21–5 || 47 || 1987020478 L2 |- | 48 || January 19, 1988 || New Jersey || 4–6 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 12,501 || 22–21–5 || 49 || 1987020486 W1 |- | 49 || January 23, 1988 || Buffalo || 3–3 || Washington || OT || || Capital Centre || || 22–21–6 || 50 || 1987020503 T1 |- | 50 || January 26, 1988 || Winnipeg || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 22–22–6 || 50 || 1987020518 L1 |- | 51 || January 29, 1988 || Montreal || 3–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 23–22–6 || 52 || 1987020532 W1 |- | 52 || January 31, 1988 || Philadelphia || 0–1 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 24–22–6 || 54 || 1987020546 W2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; February: 7–4–0 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 53 || February 2, 1988 || Washington || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || OT || Peeters || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 24–23–6 || 54 || 1987020553 L1 |- | 54 || February 5, 1988 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 24–24–6 || 54 || 1987020566 L2 |- | 55 || February 6, 1988 || NY Rangers || 3–0 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 24–25–6 || 54 || 1987020574 L3 |- | 56 || February 11, 1988 || Washington || 5–3 || NY Rangers || || Peeters || Madison Square Garden || || 25–25–6 || 56 || 1987020586 W1 |- | 57 || February 12, 1988 || NY Islanders || 2–6 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 26–25–6 || 58 || 1987020590 W2 |- | 58 || February 14, 1988 || Calgary || 4–5 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 27–25–6 || 60 || 1987020604 W3 |- | 59 || February 17, 1988 || Washington || 4–3 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 10,009 || 28–25–6 || 62 || 1987020615 W4 |- | 60 || February 19, 1988 || Washington || 6–0 || Winnipeg || || Malarchuk || Winnipeg Arena || || 29–25–6 || 64 || 1987020625 W5 |- | 61 || February 20, 1988 || Washington || 3–0 || Minnesota || || Malarchuk || Met Center || || 30–25–6 || 66 || 1987020629 W6 |- | 62 || February 24, 1988 || Washington || 3–4 || Los Angeles || || Malarchuk || The Forum || || 30–26–6 || 66 || 1987020650 L1 |- | 63 || February 27, 1988 || Washington || 3–0 || NY Islanders || || Malarchuk || Nassau Coliseum || || 31–26–6 || 68 || 1987020664 W1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; March: 7–6–2 (home: 4–3–2; road: 3–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 64 || March 1, 1988 || New Jersey || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 14,281 || 32–26–6 || 70 || 19870206777 W2 |- | 65 || March 2, 1988 || Washington || 6–1 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 12,760 || 33–26–6 || 72 || 1987020684 W3 |- | 66 || March 4, 1988 || Quebec || 2–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 34–26–6 || 74 || 1987020691 W4 |- | 67 || March 6, 1988 || Vancouver || 2–7 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 35–26–6 || 76 || 1987020704 W5 |- | 68 || March 10, 1988 || Washington || 2–5 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 35–27–6 || 76 || 1987020720 L1 |- | 69 || March 12, 1988 || NY Rangers || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 35–28–6 || 76 || 1987020728 L2 |- | 70 || March 13, 1988 || Washington || 3–0 || Boston || || Peeters || Boston Garden || 14,130 || 36–28–6 || 78 || 1987020733 W1 |- | 71 || March 16, 1988 || Washington || 8–4 || NY Rangers || || Peeters || Madison Square Garden || || 37–28–6 || 80 || 1987020747 W2 |- | 72 || March 18, 1988 || NY Islanders || 3–3 || Washington || OT || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 37–28–7 || 81 || 1987020755 T1 |- | 73 || March 20, 1988 || New Jersey || 4–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 37–29–7 || 81 || 1987020768 L1 |- | 73 || March 22, 1988 || New Jersey || 5–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 37–30–7 || 81 || 1987020777 L2 |- | 75 || March 23, 1988 || Washington || 1–7 || Pittsburgh || || Peeters || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 37–31–7 || 81 || 1987020782 L3 |- | 76 || March 25, 1988 || Philadelphia || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 38–31–7 || 83 || 1987020791 W1 |- | 77 || March 29, 1988 || Detroit || 2–2 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 38–31–8 || 84 || 1987020811 T1 |- | 78 || March 31, 1988 || Washington || 3–7 || NY Islanders || || Peeters || Nassau Coliseum || ||38–32–8 || 84 || 1987020819 L1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; April: 0–1–1 (home: 0–1–0; road: 0–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 79 || April 2, 1988 || Pittsburgh || 7–6 || Washington || OT || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 38–33–8 || 84 || 1987020830 L2 |- | 80 || April 3, 1988 || Washington || 2–2 || Philadelphia || OT || Peeters || Spectrum || || 38–33–9 || 85 || 1987020837 T1 |- |- | #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#fe1134 5px solid; border-bottom:#00519e 5px solid; 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#fe1134 2px solid; border-bottom:#00519e 2px solid; Patrick Division Semifinals vs (P3) Philadelphia Flyers: Washington won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || April 6, 1988 || Philadelphia || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Flyers lead 1–0 || 1987030141 L1 |- | 2 || April 7, 1988 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Series tied 1–1 || 1987030142 W1 |- | 3 || April 9, 1988 || Washington || 3–4 || Philadelphia || || Peeters || Spectrum || || Flyers lead 2–1 || 1987030143 L1 |- | 4 || April 10, 1988 || Washington || 4–5 || Philadelphia || OT || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || Flyers lead 3–1 || 1987030144 L2 |- | 5 || April 12, 1988 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Flyers lead 3–2 || 1987030145 W1 |- | 6 || April 14, 1988 || Washington || 7–2 || Philadelphia || || Peeters || Spectrum || || Series tied 3–3 || 1987030146 W2 |- | 7 || April 16, 1988 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Capitals win 4–3 || 1987030147 W3 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; Patrick Division Finals vs (P4) New Jersey Devils: New Jersey won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Location Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || April 18, 1988 || New Jersey || 1–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 16,710 || Capitals lead 1–0 || 1987030221 W1 |- | 2 || April 20, 1988 || New Jersey || 5–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Series tied 1–1 || 1987030222 L1 |- | 3 || April 22, 1988 || Washington || 4–10 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Devils lead 2–1 || 1987030223 L2 |- | 4 || April 24, 1988 || Washington || 4–1 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Series tied 2–2 || 1987030224 W1 |- | 5 || April 26, 1988 || New Jersey || 3–1 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Devils lead 3–2 || 1987030225 L1 |- | 6 || April 28, 1988 || Washington || 7–2 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Series tied 3–3 || 1987030226 W1 |- | 7 || April 30, 1988 || New Jersey || 3–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Devils win 4–3 || 1987030227 L1 |- | #cfc Win 1px solid #000000 #fcc Loss 1px solid #000000 Playoffs Defenseman Garry Galley's crucial two-goal performance tied the regular season finale with Philadelphia, meant that Washington won the head-to-head tiebreaker and finished second in the Patrick Division, giving them home-ice advantage in their first-round match-up with the defending division and Wales Conference champion Flyers.April 4, 1988 CAPITALS TIE, FINISH 2ND https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/04/04/capitals-tie-finish-2nd/cf96e83f-80ae-4cb2-aec3-c15baa8a403f/ March 11, 2017 Philly showed a champion's mettle right away, though, stealing home ice away with a 4–2 victory in Game 1. Ron Hextall made 35 saves and Dave Poulin's 3rd period power play tally broke a 2–2 tie. Washington salvaged a split at home with a 5–4 triumph in Game 2. Despite letting in a quartet of Philly goals, Pete Peeters proved to be the final period hero, stopping 14 of 15 shots from a pressing Flyers attack. Philadelphia then turned the tables back at their place, taking a pair of one-goal games, both of them high in drama for entirely different reasons. In Game 3, a 4–3 Flyers win, officials handed out 40 penalties, including 10 major/misconduct penalties. After the game Philly forward Rick Tocchet, who spent roughly half the contest in the penalty box, was quoted as saying, "There are 10 guys on that team that I'd like to kill." The rivalry heated up further in Game 4 as both teams tried to change momentum with goalie switches. The Capitals yanked Peeters in favor of starting Clint Malarchuk, who had played more during the regular season. Despite missing starting defenseman Scott Stevens and team captain Rod Langway, who were injured in Game 3, the move seemed to be paying dividends as Washington took a 4–1 lead with 17:00 to go, resulting in Hextall's removal for backup Mark Laforest. The Caps maintained their 3-goal advantage into the final 9:00 of the game, when the Flyers began one of their most riveting comebacks in franchise history. Mark Howe and Brian Propp scored to cut the deficit to one and then, after pulling their new netminder, the tying tally came from defenseman Kjell Samuelsson with :53 remaining. The Flyers completed the comeback when Murray Craven lit the lamp just 1:18 into overtime, giving them a 5–4 win for Philly. Howe said after, "If we play that game 250 times, we win it once." Now facing elimination, the Capitals returned home and showed no fear as they again knocked Hextall out of the game after posting a 4–1 lead, but this time it only took 29 minutes. Washington went on to win easily this time, 5–2. The final Philadelphia goal came on a power play in the second period after the team asked to check goalie Pete Peeters' stick, which was ruled to be wider than permitted by the rules. Peeters admitted all his sticks were the same and so he had to use one of backup Clint Malarchuk's sticks for the rest of the game. The Flyers now had a chance to clinch the series at home in Game 6, which would be another penalty-filled contest. It was highlighted (or lowlighted, depending on your point of view) by Philadelphia defenseman Greg Smyth spending 27 minutes in the sin bin. Given all the infractions, it was no surprise that the difference in the game was special teams. While Philadelphia went a pedestrian 1-for-8 on the power play, Washington was a scintillating 4-of-9. The key play in the game was Flyers forward Dave Brown trying to fight Caps counterpart Bob Gould. However, assistant captain Gould shrewdly went turtle, covering up, and letting Brown whale on him a couple times before officials stepped in. Gould went back to the bench as Brown's fighting major gave the Capitals, who were already ahead 2–0, a 5:00 power play, during which they scored twice to blow the game open. Washington romped to a 7–2 triumph with 7 different goal scorers to set up the 7th and deciding game back in D.C. In a series full of twists and turns (some of them being highly illegal and downright nasty), the final turn of them all came in one of the more exciting Game 7's in Stanley Cup playoff history. But first, one last bit of nasty had to be doled out. During a Flyer power play late in a scoreless first period, Capitals defenseman Grant Ledyard didn't like the way Flyers forward Rick Tocchet checked him to the ice in front of the Washington goal. Ledyard promptly speared Tocchet in the groin with the blade of his stick and received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Tim Kerr scored during the Ledyard penalty, giving the Flyers a 1–0 lead after the 1st period. Things went from bad to worse for the Caps as the 1-goal deficit was tripled less than 3:00 into the 2nd period on markers by Brian Propp and Mark Howe. Just like Game 4, one team had a 3-goal lead and all the momentum. But momentum's a funny thing. It changed four minutes later when Dale Hunter, who was picked up in the offseason from the Quebec Nordiques, fired a backwards cross-ice pass to a wide open Garry Galley who beat Ron Hextall with a slapshot. With the Capital Centre crowd now in full throat, Washington kept up the pressure and forced an icing and an offensive zone faceoff. Mike Ridley dueled with Peter Zezel and the puck was kicked and dribbled right in front of the crease where Kelly Miller stuffed it under Hextall's pads. Two goals in about 90 seconds and it was a brand new hockey game. But just when the actual play on the ice looked to be returning to center stage, tempers flared again. As the Caps rushed up ice for the tying goal, forward Dave Christian fired a high shot that Hextall jumped to try to corral on his chest, Washington defenseman Kevin Hatcher, charging the net for a rebound, lowered the boom and ran right over the Flyer netminder, earning him a minor penalty and putting the three officials quickly to work to break up the players before any punches could be thrown. Hatcher would atone for his mistake before the period was out. Philadelphia tried to clear from their defensive half-wall, but failed to flip the puck over the 6'3" defenseman. Hatcher gloved it down at the blue line and walked in to fire a wicked slapshot that beat Hextall shortside to tie the game. Just as Philadelphia needed less than twenty minutes to erase a 3-goal deficit in Game 4, Washington had done the same in Game 7. However, there was still a whole 3rd period to go. Just over 5:00 into the 3rd, Kjell Samuelsson was sent off the ice for tripping Peter Sundström. Washington was so potent in the previous game with the man advantage, but had failed to score in this contest despite over 9 1 2 minutes of power play time. They apparently didn't want to waste any more. The Caps won the offensive zone faceoff and Hatcher took the puck and passed across the blue line to Garry Galley. Galley fired low at the target, but Dale Hunter stopped the attempt about halfway to the net and re-shot the puck. Hextall, already down trying to catch the Galley shot, didn't have a chance to readjust. The light went on and the Capitals had taken a 4–3 lead with just under 15:00 to go, needing only 6 seconds of their power play to score. But Philadelphia was not about to go quietly. Just over a minute later, the Flyers won a faceoff in their offensive zone and the puck came back to defenseman Brad Marsh who fired a low shot that somehow found its way through the legs and sticks of a half-dozen players before zooming past Peeters and into the net for the tying goal. Again, initiation was the sincerest form of flattery in this series, although it had been defined by flattening throughout. Both defenses tightened up and very few scoring chances came for the rest of regulation and the game went to overtime tied 4–4. Having already lost one dramatic overtime game in the series and still stinging from the heartbreak of the previous season's quadruple-overtime playoff loss at home in Game 7 in the famed Easter Epic (rated the #7 game in New York Islanders history), Capitals fans were not relishing bonus hockey. Adding to the uncertainty was whether all the bad blood that had been spilled in this series might dramatically affect the outcome. No one knew how this one was going to end. It almost ended in less than 5 seconds. Philadelphia won the opening faceoff and Mark Howe skated across the red line and fired a long, high slapshot. Pete Peeters reached up to catch it, but the puck deflected off his glove and came down just high and wide of the goal. Neither team had a real decent scoring opportunity, though, until a Washington defensive clear wound up springing Mike Gartner on a breakaway. As the Caps leading goal scorer tried to catch up to the pass, he was hooked down from behind by Mark Howe, giving the Capitals a rare overtime power play. Washington had Hextall out of position three times early in the man advantage but couldn't get a clean shot away. Then, as things looked to be cooling off, Scott Stevens was taken down, but still managed to get the puck over to Mike Ridley on the left side. He slid it back to Gartner who was all alone 10 feet in front of the net. Gartner's shot beat Hextall clean glove-side-high, but didn't beat the crossbar, marking the third time in the game the iron had repelled a Washington scoring chance. Adding insult to, well, insult, the rebound then dropped almost straight down into the crease where it bounced over Dale Hunter's sweeping stick, which had nothing between it and the open net. The ensuing chaotic scramble would send Philly's Brian Propp on a shorthanded breakaway down the right wing. His first shot found the right pad of Peeters, and his rebound attempt was scooped by Peeters' glove. Less than a minute later, Gartner was sprung again by Ridley down his favored right wing. Gartner beat one defenseman, drew the second one to him, and then sent a perfect pass across to Peter Sundstrom. The redirect was on target, but Hextall somehow got back to make arguably his best save of the series, robbing Sundstrom from point-blank range. Washington kept the pressure on and about a minute later almost won it again, this time it was Hunter from behind the net setting up Bobby Gould, whose backhand one-timer from just above the crease was kicked out by Hextall's stick. Gould got another shot after Washington retrieved Philadelphia's clear and Murray Craven skated the loose puck out of the Flyer zone. He got as far as the Caps blue line where he was poke-checked by Larry Murphy. Craven tried to return the favor as he went off the ice for a line change, but the puck bounced off Scott Stevens' skate and came right back to Murphy. That's when Murphy looked up and saw Hunter making a hard u-turn just past the red line with his stick raised. Hunter perfectly split three Flyers and Murphy hit him in stride right at the blue line. Hunter cruised in and later said he didn't know what he was going to do until the last moment when he saw an opening between Hextall's pads. The man who six years earlier won a deciding Game 5 (best-of-5 series) for Quebec with an overtime goal against Montreal, feathered a slithering shot that hit the back of the net 5:57 into overtime, giving the Capitals a thrilling 5–4 victory and a 4–3 series triumph. In the process, the Capitals became the first team in NHL history to comeback from a 3-1 deficit the year after blowing a 3-1 lead. The game would not only be one of the most disheartening and gut-wrenching for Flyer fans, it would also be the last for Philadelphia's head coach Mike Keenan, who left in the offseason to take the head job with the Chicago Blackhawks. As for Washington, the victory was recently voted the #1 game in the history of the franchise.January 27, 2016 Capitals vs. Flyers: The Philthy Rivalry https://novacapsfans.com/2016/01/27/capitals-vs-flyers-the-philthy-rivalry/ March 11, 2017 March 8, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170308142107/https://novacapsfans.com/2016/01/27/capitals-vs-flyers-the-philthy-rivalry/ dead Philadelphia Flyers 10:50 – Mike Ridley (1)11:26 – Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (3) 2 7–2 April 14 Pete Peeters 31 saves / 33 shots Ron Hextall 20 saves / 24 shotsMark Laforest 7 saves / 8 shots No scoring No scoring 05:19 – Kevin Hatcher (3)09:00 – sh – Bobby Gould (2)17:10 – Michal Pivonka (3) Doug Crossman (1) – pp – 10:48 Ilkka Sinisalo (3) – 14:09 No scoring www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1988/04/12/1987030145#game=1987030145,game_state=final 2 2–5 April 12 Clint Malarchuk 25 saves / 30 shots Ron Hextall 18 saves / 22 shotsMark Laforest 4 saves / 4 shots No scoring 01:18 – Murray Craven (2) Mike Gartner (1) – 00:55Dale Hunter (3) – 03:04 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1988/04/14/1987030146#game=1987030146,game_state=final Mike Ridley (2) – pp – 05:12 No scoring Tim Kerr (1) – pp – 17:36 Pete Peeters 29 saves / 33 shots Ron Hextall 35 saves / 40 shots 05:57 – Dale Hunter (5) No scoring 05:19 – pp – Dale Hunter (4) Brad Marsh (1) – 06:21 06:42 – Garry Galley (1)08:02 – Kelly Miller (3)17:54 – Kevin Hatcher (5) Brian Propp (4) – 01:35Mark Howe (3) – 02:59 No scoring www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1988/04/16/1987030147#game=1987030147,game_state=final 12:44 – Ilkka Sinisalo (4)17:17 – pp – Rick Tocchet (1) 2 1 4–5 April 16 Pete Peeters 24 saves / 26 shots Ron Hextall 21 saves / 28 shots Bobby Gould (3) – sh – 02:37Kelly Miller (2) – 10:02 No scoring Dave Christian (1) – 00:25Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (4) – pp – 02:39Kevin Hatcher (4) – pp – 03:17Michal Pivonka (4) – pp – 16:10 10:53 – Mark Howe (2)15:08 – Brian Propp (3)19:07 – Kjell Samuelsson (2) No scoring Washington Capitals Dave Poulin (1) – pp – 09:21Murray Craven (1) – 19:42 00:47 – Kevin Hatcher (1)18:36 – Bobby Gould (1) Mark Howe (1) – 05:32Dave Brown (1) – 07:59 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1988/04/07/1987030142#game=1987030142,game_state=final 2 4–5 April 7 Pete Peeters 27 saves / 30 shots Ron Hextall 35 saves / 37 shots 05:27 – pp – Dale Hunter (1) 12:05 – pp – Michal Pivonka (1) 11:10 – Stephen Leach (1)18:06 – sh – Peter Sundstrom (1) Peter Zezel (2) – 05:11 No scoring Peter Zezel (1) – 05:17 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1988/04/06/1987030141#game=1987030141,game_state=final 1 4–2 April 6 Capital Centre Spectrum Peter Zezel (3) – 10:49 Brian Propp (1) – 15:55 Michal Pivonka (2) – 13:06Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (2) – 18:36 No scoring 09:04 – Ilkka Sinisalo (2) www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1988/04/10/1987030144#game=1987030144,game_state=final 1 1 4–5 April 10 Pete Peeters 25 saves / 29 shots Ron Hextall 14 saves / 17 shots No scoring Kevin Hatcher (2) – 14:10 06:12 – Kelly Miller (1) 03:08 – pp – Ilkka Sinisalo (1)12:12 – Dave Poulin (2)15:26 – Kjell Samuelsson (1) Dale Hunter (2) – 11:49Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (1) – pp – 16:30 00:40 – Brian Propp (2) www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1988/04/09/1987030143#game=1987030143,game_state=final 1 3–4 April 9 Pete Peeters 31 saves / 35 shots Ron Hextall 23 saves / 26 shots Washington won series 4–3 Second round The historic win did not propel the Capitals very far. Facing the New Jersey Devils in the Patrick Division Finals, Washington again cannot keep their home ice advantage. After winning Game 1 3–1 behind 33 saves from Pete Peeters, the Capitals dropped Game 2 at home 5–2 as Aaron Broten had a hat trick for the Devils. Jersey doubled their Game 2 score in Game 3, winning by a stunning 10–4 margin behind a pair of hat tricks. Mark Johnson scored 4 times and Peter Sundstrom's twin brother, Patrik, torched his sibling's squad with 3 goals and 5 assists, the 8 points setting a new Stanley Cup playoff record. Peeters was yanked after giving up 3 goals on just 10 shots in the first period, but replacement Clint Malarchuk did even worse, stopping only 14 of the 21 shots he faced. Washington rebounded with a 4–1 win in Game 4 behind a pair of Dave Christian goals and coach Bryan Murray actually splitting time between his goalies. However, New Jersey stole Game 5 right back in D.C. by a 3–1 count as Bob Sauve started in place of Sean Burke in net and stopped 28 shots. Down 3-2 and facing elimination on the road, Washington forced Game 7 with a 7–2 victory from the previous series in which 7 different Capitals scored, including power play goals from Gartner and Hunter. This time, however, there was no magical comeback as John MacLean's tally proved to be the game winner in a 3–2 triumph that sent the Devils on to their first conference final. In a most unusual twist, the road team won 5 of the 7 games in the series. New Jersey Devils Kirk Muller (1) – 16:36 April 28 Clint Malarchuk 28 saves / 31 shots Bob Sauve 28 saves / 29 shots 10:24 – Mike Ridley (5) Kirk Muller (2) – 13:26 No scoring Tom Kurvers (3) – pp – 06:54 No scoring www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wsh/1988/04/26/1987030225#game=1987030225,game_state=final 2 1 3–1 April 26 Pete Peeters 11 saves / 12 shotsClint Malarchuk 13 saves / 13 shots Sean Burke 27 saves / 31 shots Dale Hunter (6) – pp – 08:45 No scoring Dave Christian (4) – 09:11 7–2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-njd/1988/04/28/1987030226#game=1987030226,game_state=final Dave Christian (3) – 03:55Peter Sundstrom (2) – 11:02 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wsh/1988/04/30/1987030227#game=1987030227,game_state=final Pete Peeters 23 saves / 26 shots Sean Burke 30 saves / 32 shots No scoring John MacLean (5) – 13:49 15:21 – Grant Ledyard (1)19:54 – Garry Galley (2) No scoring No scoring Kirk Muller (3) – 00:14Claude Loiselle (4) – 12:01 1 00:18 – Claude Loiselle (3) 3–2 April 30 Pete Peeters 25 saves / 27 shots Sean Burke 13 saves / 18 shotsBob Sauve 11 saves / 13 shots Kelly Miller (4) – sh – 05:25Mike Gartner (3) – pp – 18:32 07:21 – David Maley (2) Yvon Corriveau (1) – 10:43Dave Christian (5) – 17:48 No scoring Mike Ridley (6) – 06:40Dale Hunter (7) – pp – 13:07Stephen Leach (2) – 17:03 No scoring 03:12 – pp – Tom Kurvers (2) Washington Capitals 03:29 – pp – Larry Murphy (1)16:48 – Scott Stevens (1) www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wsh/1988/04/20/1987030222#game=1987030222,game_state=final 1 5–2 April 20 Pete Peeters 33 saves / 34 shots Sean Burke 28 saves / 31 shots No scoring Tom Kurvers (1) – 09:49 No scoring 13:15 – Mike Ridley (4) 07:18 – Mike Ridley (3) No scoring www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wsh/1988/04/18/1987030221#game=1987030221,game_state=final 2 1–3 April 18 Capital Centre Brendan Byrne Arena Aaron Broten (2) – pp – 09:37 Aaron Broten (3) – 03:02Aaron Broten (4) – pp – 05:23Pat Verbeek (2) – 18:14 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-njd/1988/04/24/1987030224#game=1987030224,game_state=final 00:57 – Patrik Sundstrom (4)02:01 – sh – Claude Loiselle (2)11:39 – Anders Carlsson (1)15:33 – Doug Brown (3)19:45 – Patrik Sundstrom (5) 2 4–1 April 24 Clint Malarchuk 14 saves / 21 shotsPete Peeters 7 saves / 10 shots Sean Burke 28 saves / 32 shots No scoring 02:59 – Mark Johnson (7)09:47 – pp – Mark Johnson (8)14:14 – Patrik Sundstrom (6) Larry Murphy (3) – 06:51Mike Gartner (2) – 09:50Larry Murphy (4) – 13:57 Dave Christian (2) – pp – 18:22 17:45 – pp – Larry Robinson (2) 10:37 – pp – Mark Johnson (5)15:07 – pp – Mark Johnson (6) www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-njd/1988/04/22/1987030223#game=1987030223,game_state=final 1 4–10 April 22 Pete Peeters 25 saves / 30 shots Sean Burke 28 saves / 30 shots No scoring Patrik Sundstrom (3) – pp – 12:49 New Jersey won series 4–3 As a final note, the playoffs ended in bizarre fashion. After a Game 3 loss to Boston in the Wales Conference Finals, New Jersey coach Jim Schoenfeld and referee Don Koharski got into a heated argument during which Koharski tripped and fell, accusing Schoenfeld of pushing him. Schoenfield famously responded, "You tripped and fell, you fat pig!" Then, he added "Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!" Boston won the series in seven games and advance to face Edmonton in the finals. Schoenfeld was fired two years later and go on to coach the Capitals for four seasons in the mid-1990s. Facing being swept at home in Game 4 of the finals, the Bruins apparently tried to use some of the Celtic magic their Boston Garden counterparts had made famous over the years. The sweltering heat outside resulted in the ice surface being shrouded in fog and slowed the vaunted Oiler attack. Then, the building suffered a power overload, plunging the Garden into darkness. The blackout was presumably caused by the air conditioning system short-circuiting from running on full power for too long. League rules stated that the game (which was tied at 3 in the 2nd period) had to be canceled and made up in Boston at the end of the series, if necessary, making it a 2–1–1–1–1–1 format. It wasn't necessary as Edmonton completed the rare 4-game sweep in 5 games with a 6–3 victory. Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mike Gartner RW 80 48 33 81 73201907 Scott Stevens D 80 12 60 72 18414512 Larry Murphy Larry Murphy (ice hockey) D 79 8 53 61 722701 Mike Ridley C 70 28 31 59 2211203 Dale Hunter C 79 22 37 59 24071101 Dave Christian RW 80 37 21 58 26-141405 Bengt-Ake Gustafsson RW 78 18 36 54 292753 Kevin Hatcher D 71 14 27 41 1371503 Michal Pivonka C 71 11 23 34 281300 Kelly Miller Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963) LW 80 9 23 32 359013 Garry Galley D 58 7 23 30 4411300 Greg Adams Greg Adams (ice hockey b. 1960) LW 78 15 12 27 153-3300 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 72 12 14 26 56-1002 Peter Sundstrom LW 76 8 17 25 34-2011 Yvon Corriveau LW 44 10 9 19 8417001 Rod Langway D 63 3 13 16 281001 Lou Franceschetti RW 59 4 8 12 1132101 Craig Laughlin RW 40 5 5 10 26-8301 Grant Ledyard D 21 4 3 7 14-4101 Greg Smith Greg Smith (ice hockey) D 54 1 6 7 675000 Paul Cavallini D 24 2 3 5 660001 Bill Houlder D 30 1 2 3 10-2000 Stephen Leach RW 8 1 1 2 172001 Clint Malarchuk G 54 0 2 2 100000 Ed Kastelic W 35 1 0 1 78-3000 David Jensen David Allan Jensen C 5 0 1 1 40000 Pete Peeters G 35 0 1 1 100000 Yves Beaudoin D 1 0 0 0 0-1000 Alain Raymond G 1 0 0 0 00000 Mike Richard C 4 0 0 0 0-1000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% Clint Malarchuk 2926 54 24 20 4 154 3.16 413401186.885 Pete Peeters 1896 35 14 12 5 88 2.78 2866778.898 Alain Raymond 40 1 0 1 0 2 3.00 02018.900 Team: 4862 80 38 33 9 244 3.01 622261982.890 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Bengt-Ake Gustafsson RW 14 4 9 13 6201 Michal Pivonka C 14 4 9 13 4200 Dale Hunter C 14 7 5 12 98401 Kevin Hatcher D 14 5 7 12 55101 Scott Stevens D 13 1 11 12 46000 Mike Ridley C 14 6 5 11 10100 Dave Christian RW 14 5 6 11 6100 Kelly Miller Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963) LW 14 4 4 8 10011 Larry Murphy Larry Murphy (ice hockey) D 13 4 4 8 33201 Mike Gartner RW 14 3 4 7 14100 Garry Galley D 13 2 4 6 13000 Greg Adams Greg Adams (ice hockey b. 1960) LW 14 0 5 5 58000 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 14 3 1 4 21020 Stephen Leach RW 9 2 1 3 0001 Yvon Corriveau LW 13 1 2 3 30000 Peter Sundstrom LW 14 2 0 2 6011 Grant Ledyard D 14 1 0 1 30000 Chris Felix D 1 0 0 0 0000 Lou Franceschetti RW 4 0 0 0 14000 Jeff Greenlaw LW 1 0 0 0 19000 Grant Jennings D 1 0 0 0 0000 Ed Kastelic W 1 0 0 0 19000 Rod Langway D 6 0 0 0 8000 Clint Malarchuk G 4 0 0 0 2000 Pete Peeters G 12 0 0 0 4000 Greg Smith Greg Smith (ice hockey) D 9 0 0 0 23000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% Pete Peeters 654 12 7 5 34 3.12 0326292.896 Clint Malarchuk 193 4 0 2 15 4.66 09580.842 Team: 847 14 7 7 49 3.47 0421372.884 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-01 1987-88 Washington Capitals Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1988.html 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; Draft picks Washington's draft picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)236Jeff BallantyneCanadaOttawa 67's (OHL)357Steve MaltaisCanadaCornwall Royals (OHL)478Tyler LarterCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)599Pat BeauchesneCanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)6120Rich DeFreitasUnited StatesSt. Mark's School (USHS-MA)7141Devon OleniukCanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)8162Thomas SjogrenSwedenVästra Frölunda HC (Sweden)10204Chris ClarkeCanadaPembroke Lumber Kings (COJHL)11225Milos VanikEHC Freiburg (West Germany)12240Dan BrettschneiderUnited StatesBurnsville High School (USHS-MN)12246Ryan KummuCanadaRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)S216Mark AndersonUnited StatesOhio State University (CCHA) See also 1987–88 NHL season References Wash Category:Washington Capitals seasons Washing Washing