1996–97 Washington Capitals season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1996–97 1996 Washington Capitals 33–40–9 19–17–5 14–23–4 Eastern 9th Atlantic 5th 214 231 David Poile Jim Schoenfeld Dale Hunter US Airways Arena 15,761 Portland PiratesHampton Roads Admirals Peter Bondra (46) Dale Hunter (32) Peter Bondra (77) Craig Berube (218) Sylvain Cote (+11) Jim Carey (17) Olaf Kolzig (2.59) 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 the 1981–82 season. It was their last full season playing at USAir Arena. Regular season Final standings WAS WAS Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#236192 5px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 Washington Capitals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 22, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; October: 4–6–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 2–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 5, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||0–1–0 || 1996020010 L |- |2||October 8, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||0–2–0 || 1996020026 L |- |3||October 11, 1996||6–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–2–0 || 1996020039 W |- |4||October 12, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||1–3–0 || 1996020048 L |- |5||October 18, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||1–4–0 || 1996020078 L |- |6||October 19, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||1–5–0 || 1996020082 L |- |7||October 23, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||2–5–0 || 1996020100 W |- |8||October 26, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||3–5–0 || 1996020120 W |- |9||October 28, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||3–6–0 || 1996020130 L |- |10||October 30, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||4–6–0 || 1996020138 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; November: 9–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |11||November 1, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||5–6–0 || 1996020150 W |- |12||November 2, 1996||1–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–7–0 || 1996020159 L |- |13||November 6, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||6–7–0 || 1996020178 W |- |14||November 7, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||6–8–0 || 1996020186 L |- |15||November 9, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||7–8–0 || 1996020199 W |- |16||November 12, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||7–9–0 || 1996020213 L |- |17||November 14, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||8–9–0 || 1996020225 W |- |18||November 15, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||9–9–0 || 1996020231 W |- |19||November 18, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–9–0 || 1996020248 W |- |20||November 19, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||10–9–1 || 1996020253 T |- |21||November 22, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||11–9–1 || 1996020271 W |- |22||November 23, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||12–9–1 || 1996020277 W |- |23||November 27, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||12–10–1 || 1996020296 L |- |24||November 29, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||12–11–1 || 1996020308 L |- |25||November 30, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||13–11–1 || 1996020315 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; December: 2–9–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 1–7–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |26||December 4, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||13–12–1 || 1996020337 L |- |27||December 6, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||13–13–1 || 1996020348 L |- |28||December 7, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||13–14–1 || 1996020357 L |- |29||December 11, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||13–15–1 || 1996020379 L |- |30||December 13, 1996||4–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–16–1 || 1996020391 L |- |31||December 14, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||13–16–2 || 1996020399 T |- |32||December 17, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||13–17–2 || 1996020412 L |- |33||December 20, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||14–17–2 || 1996020426 W |- |34||December 21, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||14–18–2 || 1996020432 L |- |35||December 23, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||15–18–2 || 1996020449 W |- |36||December 26, 1996||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||15–19–2 || 1996020460 L |- |37||December 28, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||15–19–3 || 1996020473 T |- |38||December 30, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||15–20–3 || 1996020484 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; January: 5–5–2 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–1–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |39||January 1, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||16–20–3 || 1996020496 W |- |40||January 3, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||17–20–3 || 1996020509 W |- |41||January 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||17–20–4 || 1996020514 T |- |42||January 9, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||18–20–4 || 1996020543 W |- |43||January 11, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||18–20–5 || 1996020555 T |- |44||January 13, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||19–20–5 || 1996020569 W |- |45||January 15, 1997||1–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||19–21–5 || 1996020578 L |- |46||January 20, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||20–21–5 || 1996020585 W |- |47||January 22, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||20–22–5 || 1996020600 L |- |48||January 24, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||20–23–5 || 1996020613 L |- |49||January 26, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||20–24–5 || 1996020627 L |- |50||January 29, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||20–25–5 || 1996020639 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; February: 4–6–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 3–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |51||February 1, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||21–25–5 || 1996020659 W |- |52||February 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||21–25–6 || 1996020665 T |- |53||February 7, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||21–26–6 || 1996020693 L |- |54||February 9, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||21–27–6 || 1996020709 L |- |55||February 11, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||22–27–6 || 1996020715 W |- |56||February 14, 1997||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||23–27–6 || 1996020731 W |- |57||February 15, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||23–28–6 || 1996020737 L |- |58||February 18, 1997||1–6 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||23–29–6 || 1996020756 L |- |59||February 22, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||23–30–6 || 1996020775 L |- |60||February 24, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||23–30–7 || 1996020791 T |- |61||February 26, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||24–30–7 || 1996020801 W |- |62||February 28, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||24–31–7 || 1996020813 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; March: 6–7–1 (home: 5–3–1; road: 1–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |63||March 2, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||24–32–7 || 1996020826 L |- |64||March 4, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||25–32–7 || 1996020834 W |- |65||March 6, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||26–32–7 || 1996020846 W |- |66||March 9, 1997||0–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||26–33–7 || 1996020863 L |- |67||March 11, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||27–33–7 || 1996020875 W |- |68||March 12, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||27–34–7 || 1996020879 L |- |69||March 15, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||27–35–7 || 1996020898 L |- |70||March 16, 1997||5–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||28–35–7 || 1996020905 W |- |71||March 19, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||28–35–8 || 1996020918 T |- |72||March 21, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||28–36–8 || 1996020931 L |- |73||March 22, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–36–8 || 1996020937 W |- |74||March 25, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||30–36–8 || 1996020953 W |- |75||March 26, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||30–37–8 || 1996020959 L |- |76||March 29, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||30–38–8 || 1996020975 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; April: 3–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 1–1–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |77||April 1, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||30–39–8 || 1996020989 L |- |78||April 3, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||30–40–8 || 1996021000 L |- |79||April 6, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||30–40–9 || 1996021019 T |- |80||April 10, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||31–40–9 || 1996021042 W |- |81||April 12, 1997||6–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||32–40–9 || 1996021056 W |- |82||April 13, 1997||8–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||33–40–9 || 1996021062 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Player statistics Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = 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. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 12 Peter Bondra RW 77 46 31 77 7 72 32 Dale Hunter C 82 14 32 46 −2 125 22 Steve Konowalchuk LW 78 17 25 42 −3 67 90 Joe Juneau Joé Juneau C 58 15 27 42 −11 8 96 Phil Housley D 77 11 29 40 −10 24 55 Sergei Gonchar D 57 13 17 30 −11 36 10 Kelly Miller ice hockey, born 1963 LW 77 10 14 24 4 33 3 Sylvain Cote Sylvain Côté D 57 6 18 24 11 28 20 Michal Pivonka Michal Pivoňka C 54 7 16 23 −15 22 17 Chris Simon LW 42 9 13 22 −1 165 41 Jason Allison C 53 5 17 22 −3 25 13Nikolishin wore number 11 in his first game. Andrei Nikolishin C 59 7 14 21 5 30 6 Calle Johansson D 65 6 11 17 −2 16 21 Todd Krygier LW 47 5 11 16 −10 37 77 Adam Oates C 17 4 8 12 −2 4 18 Andrew Brunette LW 23 4 7 11 −3 12 2 Ken Klee D 80 3 8 11 −5 115 34 Jaroslav Svejkovsky Jaroslav Svejkovský RW 19 7 3 10 −1 4 92 Rick Tocchet RW 13 5 5 10 0 31 29 Joe Reekie D 65 1 8 9 8 107 24 Mark Tinordi D 56 2 6 8 3 118 36 Mike Eagles C/LW 70 1 7 8 −4 42 27 Craig Berube LW 80 4 3 7 −11 218 33Carter wore number 45 in his first ten games. Anson Carter RW 19 3 2 5 0 7 19 Brendan Witt D 44 3 2 5 −20 88 26 Keith Jones ice hockey RW 11 2 3 5 −2 13 44 Richard Zednik Richard Zedník RW 11 2 1 3 −5 4 23 Kevin Kaminski C 38 1 2 3 0 130 28 Eric Charron Éric Charron D 25 1 1 2 1 20 30 Bill Ranford G 18 0 1 1 7 45 Patrick Boileau D 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 Jim Carey ice hockey G 40 0 0 0 2 37 Olaf Kolzig Olaf Kölzig G 29 0 0 0 4 9 Curtis Leschyshyn D 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 Stewart Malgunas D 6 0 0 0 2 2 14 Pat Peake C 4 0 0 0 1 4 16 Stefan Ustorf C 6 0 0 0 −3 2 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. No. Jersey number Player Regular season GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on ice 30 Jim Carey 40 17 18 3 984 105 2.75 .893 1 2293 37 Olaf Kolzig 29 8 15 4 758 71 2.59 .906 2 1645 30 Bill Ranford 18 8 7 2 412 46 2.74 .888 0 1009 Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Bondra1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Dale HunterHunter was selected by the commissioner.All-Star Game Rosters The Spokesman-Review https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/jan/18/all-star-game-rosters/ www.spokesman.com July 27, 2023 January 18, 1997 Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Anson Carter October 5, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Jaroslav Svejkovsky December 7, 1996 Patrick Boileau January 15, 1997 1,000th game played Phil Housley October 30, 19961982 NHL Entry Draft -- Phil Housley https://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1982/82006.html www.hockeydraftcentral.com July 27, 2023 Played in his 1,000th career NHL game for Washington on Oct. 30, 1996, vs. Philadelphia. Draft picks Washington's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html www.hockeydb.com July 27, 2023 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)14Alexander VolchkovBarrie Colts (OHL)117Jaroslav SvejkovskyTri-City Americans (WHL)243Jan BulisBarrie Colts (OHL)358Sergei ZimakovKrylya Sovetov (Russia)374David WeningerMichigan Technological University (WCHA)378Shawn McNeilKamloops Blazers (WHL)485Justin DavisKingston Frontenacs (OHL)5126Matt LaheyPeterborough Petes (OHL)6153A. J. Van BruggenNorthern Michigan University (WCHA)7180Michael AndersonUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)8206Oleg OrekhovskyDynamo Moscow (Russia)9232Chad CavanaghLondon Knights (OHL) See also 1996–97 NHL season Notes References Washington Capitals 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000491997.html www.hockeydb.com July 22, 2023 1996-97 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 22, 2023 W Category:Washington Capitals seasons Cap Cap