1988–89 Washington Capitals season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1988–89 1988 Washington Capitals Wales 2nd Patrick 1st 41–29–10 25–12–3 16–17–7 305 259 David Poile Bryan Murray Rod Langway Capital Centre Geoff Courtnall (42) Scott Stevens (61) Mike Ridley (89) Kevin Hatcher (+19) Scott Stevens (225) Pete Peeters (20) Pete Peeters (2.85) Yes The 1988–89 Washington Capitals season saw the team became the first team other than the Philadelphia Flyers or the New York Islanders to finish in first place in the Patrick Division with a 41–29–10 record for 92 points. However, they lost their first-round playoff match-up to the Philadelphia Flyers, four games to two. This was the first time the Capitals won their division in the regular season and did not do so again until 2000. 2 Regular season The Capitals tied the St. Louis Blues for most shutouts in the league, with 6.https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1989_games.html 1988-89 NHL Schedule and Results Final standings WAS Record vs. opponents WSH Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 5px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 5px solid; 1988–89 regular season1988-89 Washington Capitals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1989_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 22, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 7, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||0–1–0 |- |2||W||October 8, 1988||6–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||1–1–0 |- |3||L||October 11, 1988||7–8 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||1–2–0 |- |4||L||October 14, 1988||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||1–3–0 |- |5||W||October 15, 1988||8–5 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||2–3–0 |- |6||L||October 19, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||2–4–0 |- |7||L||October 21, 1988||1–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||2–5–0 |- |8||L||October 23, 1988||2–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||2–6–0 |- |9||W||October 25, 1988||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||3–6–0 |- |10||T||October 28, 1988||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||3–6–1 |- |11||L||October 29, 1988||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||3–7–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||T||November 1, 1988||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||3–7–2 |- |13||W||November 4, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1988–89) ||4–7–2 |- |14||L||November 5, 1988||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||4–8–2 |- |15||W||November 10, 1988||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||5–8–2 |- |16||L||November 12, 1988||3–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||5–9–2 |- |17||W||November 15, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||6–9–2 |- |18||W||November 18, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||7–9–2 |- |19||W||November 19, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||8–9–2 |- |20||W||November 22, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||9–9–2 |- |21||W||November 23, 1988||7–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1988–89) ||10–9–2 |- |22||L||November 25, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||10–10–2 |- |23||W||November 27, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||11–10–2 |- |24||W||November 29, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||12–10–2 |- |25||L||November 30, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||12–11–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |26||T||December 3, 1988||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||12–11–3 |- |27||W||December 6, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||13–11–3 |- |28||L||December 7, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||13–12–3 |- |29||T||December 10, 1988||0–0 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||13–12–4 |- |30||W||December 11, 1988||6–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||14–12–4 |- |31||W||December 13, 1988||4–1 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||15–12–4 |- |32||L||December 15, 1988||1–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||15–13–4 |- |33||W||December 17, 1988||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||16–13–4 |- |34||L||December 19, 1988||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||16–14–4 |- |35||W||December 21, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||17–14–4 |- |36||T||December 23, 1988||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||17–14–5 |- |37||W||December 27, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||18–14–5 |- |38||W||December 30, 1988||5–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||19–14–5 |- |39||L||December 31, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||19–15–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |40||W||January 2, 1989||8–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||20–15–5 |- |41||T||January 4, 1989||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||20–15–6 |- |42||W||January 6, 1989||3–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||21–15–6 |- |43||W||January 7, 1989||6–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||22–15–6 |- |44||T||January 10, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||22–15–7 |- |45||W||January 11, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||23–15–7 |- |46||W||January 13, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||24–15–7 |- |47||L||January 15, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||24–16–7 |- |48||L||January 20, 1989||5–6 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||24–17–7 |- |49||L||January 22, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||24–18–7 |- |50||T||January 24, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||24–18–8 |- |51||W||January 26, 1989||1–0 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||25–18–8 |- |52||T||January 28, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||25–18–9 |- |53||T||January 30, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||25–18–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |54||W||February 1, 1989||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||26–18–10 |- |55||W||February 3, 1989||1–0 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||27–18–10 |- |56||L||February 5, 1989||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||27–19–10 |- |57||L||February 10, 1989||6–7 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||27–20–10 |- |58||L||February 11, 1989||1–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||27–21–10 |- |59||W||February 14, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||28–21–10 |- |60||L||February 15, 1989||4–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||28–22–10 |- |61||W||February 17, 1989||8–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||29–22–10 |- |62||L||February 19, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||29–23–10 |- |63||L||February 20, 1989||2–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||29–24–10 |- |64||W||February 22, 1989||7–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||30–24–10 |- |65||L||February 28, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||30–25–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |66||W||March 3, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||31–25–10 |- |67||W||March 5, 1989||3–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||32–25–10 |- |68||L||March 8, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||32–26–10 |- |69||W||March 9, 1989||7–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||33–26–10 |- |70||W||March 11, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||34–26–10 |- |71||W||March 14, 1989||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||35–26–10 |- |72||W||March 17, 1989||4–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||36–26–10 |- |73||W||March 18, 1989||8–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||37–26–10 |- |74||W||March 22, 1989||5–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||38–26–10 |- |75||W||March 24, 1989||6–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||39–26–10 |- |76||W||March 26, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1988–89) ||40–26–10 |- |77||L||March 28, 1989||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1988–89) ||40–27–10 |- |78||L||March 30, 1989||4–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||40–28–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |79||W||April 1, 1989||6–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||41–28–10 |- |80||L||April 2, 1989||4–7 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||41–29–10 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs Round 1: (P1) Washington Capitals vs. (P4) Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals Capital Centre Spectrum April 5 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1989/04/05/1988030131#game=1988030131,game_state=final Brian Propp (1) – 07:49Tim Kerr (1) – pp – 11:52 14:49 – pp – Geoff Courtnall (1) No scoring 12:24 – Michal Pivonka (1)13:59 – Lou Franceschetti (1) No scoring No scoring Ron Hextall 33 saves / 36 shots Pete Peeters 27 saves / 29 shots April 6 3–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1989/04/06/1988030132#game=1988030132,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 19:59 – pp – Dino Ciccarelli (1) Keith Acton (1) – 07:08Brian Propp (2) – pp – 11:25Brian Propp (3) – pp – 19:09 02:40 – Geoff Courtnall (2) Ron Hextall 19 saves / 21 shots Pete Peeters 23 saves / 26 shots April 8 4–3 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1989/04/08/1988030133#game=1988030133,game_state=final 05:19 – pp – Rick Tocchet (1) Bob Rouse (1) – 08:16 03:47 – Scott Mellanby (1) Stephen Leach (1) – pp – 16:15 05:30 – Brian Propp (4) Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (1) – pp – 12:15 No scoring Kelly Miller (1) – 00:51 Ron Hextall 40 saves / 44 shots Pete Peeters 21 saves / 24 shots April 9 2–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1989/04/09/1988030134#game=1988030134,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 03:41 – pp – Tim Kerr (2)08:54 – Dave Poulin (1)12:01 – Gord Murphy (1)19:00 – pp – Rick Tocchet (2) No scoring 02:11 – Scott Mellanby (2) Dino Ciccarelli (2) – pp – 10:03Michal Pivonka (2) – sh – 11:32 Ron Hextall 30 saves / 32 shots Pete Peeters 26 saves / 31 shots April 11 8–5 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/1989/04/11/1988030135#game=1988030135,game_state=final Rick Tocchet (3) – 03:32Mike Bullard (1) – 09:35 03:11 – Bob Rouse (2)15:53 – pp – Dave Christian (1) Tim Kerr (3) – 08:57Tim Kerr (4) – pp – 14:32 04:41 – Michal Pivonka (3)12:31 – pp – Dino Ciccarelli (3) Brian Propp (5) – 08:03Pelle Eklund (1) – pp – 13:52Kjell Samuelsson (1) – 16:32Ron Hextall (1) – sh-en – 18:58 05:35 – pp – Calle Johansson (1) Ron Hextall 29 saves / 34 shots Pete Peeters 18 saves / 25 shots April 13 3–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/1989/04/13/1988030136#game=1988030136,game_state=final No scoring Kevin Hatcher (1) – pp – 07:02 05:21 – sh – Brian Propp (6)15:42 – pp – Gord Murphy (2) No scoring 07:27 – Rick Tocchet (4)16:42 – Rick Tocchet (5) Scott Stevens (1) – 03:28Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (2) – 13:13 Ron Hextall 31 saves / 34 shots Pete Peeters 24 saves / 28 shots Philadelphia won series 4–2 Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mike Ridley C 80 41 48 89 49171609 Geoff Courtnall LW 79 42 38 80 112111606 Bengt-Ake Gustafsson RW 72 18 51 69 1813546 Scott Stevens D 80 7 61 68 2251603 Dave Christian RW 80 34 31 65 1221611 Dale Hunter C 80 20 37 57 219-3903 Mike Gartner RW 56 26 29 55 718601 Kelly Miller Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963) LW 78 19 21 40 4513213 Kevin Hatcher D 62 13 27 40 10119302 Larry Murphy Larry Murphy (ice hockey) D 65 7 29 36 70-5300 Stephen Leach RW 74 11 19 30 94-4400 Michal Pivonka C 52 8 19 27 309101 Rod Langway D 76 2 19 21 6512000 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 75 5 13 18 65-2010 Lou Franceschetti RW 63 7 10 17 123-4000 Dino Ciccarelli RW 11 12 3 15 1210303 John Druce RW 48 8 7 15 627001 Grant Ledyard D 61 3 11 14 431101 Mike Millar RW 18 6 3 9 4-4301 Calle Johansson D 12 1 7 8 41100 Chris Felix D 21 0 8 8 87000 Neil Sheehy D 72 3 4 7 179-1000 Doug Wickenheiser C 16 2 5 7 40100 Peter Sundstrom LW 35 4 2 6 12-5000 Yvon Corriveau LW 33 3 2 5 620000 Bill Houlder D 8 0 3 3 47000 Jim Thomson Jim Thomson (ice hockey b. 1965) RW 14 2 0 2 53-3000 Bob Rouse D 13 0 2 2 362000 Kent Carlson D 2 1 0 1 02000 Scot Kleinendorst D 3 0 1 1 100000 Clint Malarchuk G 42 0 1 1 160000 Pete Peeters G 35 0 1 1 80000 Don Beaupre G 11 0 0 0 60000 Shawn Cronin D 1 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% Pete Peeters 1854 33 20 7 3 88 2.85 4790702.889 Clint Malarchuk 2428 42 16 18 7 141 3.48 111451004.877 Don Beaupre 578 11 5 4 0 28 2.91 1269241.896 Team: 4860 80 41 29 10 257 3.17 622041947.883 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Geoff Courtnall LW 6 2 5 7 12100 Dino Ciccarelli RW 6 3 3 6 12300 Bengt-Ake Gustafsson RW 4 2 3 5 6100 Kevin Hatcher D 6 1 4 5 20100 Scott Stevens D 6 1 4 5 11000 Mike Ridley C 6 0 5 5 2000 Michal Pivonka C 6 3 1 4 10010 Dale Hunter C 6 0 4 4 29000 Calle Johansson D 6 1 2 3 0100 Bob Rouse D 6 2 0 2 4000 Dave Christian RW 6 1 1 2 0100 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 6 0 2 2 0000 Lou Franceschetti RW 6 1 0 1 8001 Stephen Leach RW 6 1 0 1 12100 Kelly Miller Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963) LW 6 1 0 1 2001 Chris Felix D 1 0 1 1 0000 Yvon Corriveau LW 1 0 0 0 0000 John Druce RW 1 0 0 0 0000 Rod Langway D 6 0 0 0 6000 Pete Peeters G 6 0 0 0 2000 Neil Sheehy D 6 0 0 0 19000 Doug Wickenheiser C 5 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% Pete Peeters 359 6 2 4 24 4.01 0164140.854 Team: 359 6 2 4 24 4.01 0164140.854 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-01 1988-89 Washington Capitals Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1989.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 1988 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)115Reggie SavageCanadaVictoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)236Tim TaylorCanadaLondon Knights (OHL)241Wade BartleyCanadaDauphin Kings (MJHL)357Duane DerksenCanadaWinkler Flyers (MJHL)478Rob KraussCanadaLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)6120Dmitri KhristichUSSRSokil Kyiv (USSR)7141Keith JonesCanadaNiagara Falls Canucks (NDJBHL)7144Brad SchlegelCanadaLondon Knights (WHL)8162Todd HilditchCanadaPenticton Knights (BCJHL)9183Petr PavlasDukla Trenčín (Czechoslovakia)10192Mark SorensenCanadaUniversity of Michigan (CCHA)10204Claudio ScreminCanadaUniversity of Maine (Hockey East)11225Chris VenkusUnited StatesWestern Michigan University (CCHA)12246Ron PascucciUnited StatesBelmont Hill School (USHS-MA)S20Harry MewsCanadaNortheastern University (Hockey East) References Category:Washington Capitals seasons Wash Category:Patrick Division champion seasons Washing Washing