1985–86 Washington Capitals season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1985–86 1985 Washington Capitals 50–23–7 30–8–2 20–15–5 Wales 2nd Patrick 2nd 315 272 David Poile Bryan Murray Rod Langway Capital Centre Dave Christian (41) Bengt-Ake Gustafsson (52) Dave Christian (83) Scott Stevens (165) Alan Haworth (+36) Al Jensen (28) Al Jensen (3.19) The Washington Capitals are a professional American ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.; in the 1985–86 season, the team finished with 107 points and won 50 games for the first time in franchise history, good enough for the third-best record in the National Hockey League (NHL). However, they were bounced out of the playoffs in the second round by the New York Rangers. The 107 points scored by the Capitals in this season would not be surpassed until the 2008–09 season, when the team scored 108 points in the regular season.http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=416349 https://web.archive.org/web/20090405065114/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=416349 dead April 5, 2009 Playoff-race drama a fitting end to a great season 2 Offseason The Washington Capitals picked up Yvon Corriveau in the first round (19th overall) of the 1985 NHL entry draft. Regular season The fifty wins which the Washington Capitals won during the regular season placed them second in the Patrick Division, after the Philadelphia Flyers, and earned them a berth in the playoffs, which was the fourth consecutive time it had made the playoffs since the 1982–83 NHL season. Final standings WAS Record vs. opponents WSH Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 5px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 5px solid; 1985–86 regular season1985-86 Washington Capitals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1986_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 10, 1985||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1985–86) ||0–1–0 |- |2||L||October 12, 1985||1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||0–2–0 |- |3||L||October 13, 1985||2–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||0–3–0 |- |4||W||October 16, 1985||6–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||1–3–0 |- |5||W||October 18, 1985||4–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||2–3–0 |- |6||T||October 19, 1985||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||2–3–1 |- |7||L||October 23, 1985||2–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||2–4–1 |- |8||T||October 25, 1985||7–7 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||2–4–2 |- |9||W||October 27, 1985||4–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||3–4–2 |- |10||W||October 29, 1985||6–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||4–4–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||W||November 1, 1985||5–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1985–86) ||5–4–2 |- |12||L||November 2, 1985||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1985–86) ||5–5–2 |- |13||W||November 5, 1985||8–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||6–5–2 |- |14||W||November 6, 1985||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||7–5–2 |- |15||L||November 9, 1985||4–5 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||7–6–2 |- |16||W||November 12, 1985||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||8–6–2 |- |17||W||November 15, 1985||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||9–6–2 |- |18||T||November 16, 1985||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||9–6–3 |- |19||W||November 19, 1985||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||10–6–3 |- |20||W||November 20, 1985||3–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||11–6–3 |- |21||W||November 23, 1985||3–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||12–6–3 |- |22||W||November 27, 1985||5–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||13–6–3 |- |23||L||November 29, 1985||2–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1985–86) ||13–7–3 |- |24||W||November 30, 1985||6–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||14–7–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||W||December 5, 1985||3–2 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||15–7–3 |- |26||W||December 7, 1985||2–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||16–7–3 |- |27||W||December 10, 1985||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||17–7–3 |- |28||W||December 14, 1985||5–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||18–7–3 |- |29||T||December 17, 1985||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||18–7–4 |- |30||W||December 18, 1985||5–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||19–7–4 |- |31||L||December 20, 1985||4–7 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||19–8–4 |- |32||W||December 22, 1985||7–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||20–8–4 |- |33||W||December 26, 1985||4–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||21–8–4 |- |34||L||December 28, 1985||4–7 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||21–9–4 |- |35||L||December 29, 1985||5–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1985–86) ||21–10–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |36||W||January 1, 1986||3–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1985–86) ||22–10–4 |- |37||W||January 3, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||23–10–4 |- |38||W||January 4, 1986||9–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||24–10–4 |- |39||W||January 7, 1986||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) ||25–10–4 |- |40||L||January 9, 1986||0–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||25–11–4 |- |41||L||January 11, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||25–12–4 |- |42||L||January 14, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||25–13–4 |- |43||W||January 17, 1986||4–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||26–13–4 |- |44||W||January 18, 1986||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||27–13–4 |- |45||W||January 21, 1986||7–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||28–13–4 |- |46||L||January 24, 1986||5–7 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1985–86) ||28–14–4 |- |47||W||January 25, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||29–14–4 |- |48||L||January 28, 1986||0–7 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) ||29–15–4 |- |49||L||January 29, 1986||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||29–16–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |50||W||February 1, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||30–16–4 |- |51||W||February 2, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||31–16–4 |- |52||W||February 7, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||32–16–4 |- |53||W||February 8, 1986||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||33–16–4 |- |54||L||February 12, 1986||1–8 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||33–17–4 |- |55||W||February 15, 1986||4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||34–17–4 |- |56||W||February 18, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1985–86) ||35–17–4 |- |57||T||February 19, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||35–17–5 |- |58||L||February 22, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||35–18–5 |- |59||L||February 23, 1986||1–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||35–19–5 |- |60||W||February 25, 1986||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) ||36–19–5 |- |61||W||February 27, 1986||2–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||37–19–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |62||W||March 1, 1986||4–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1985–86) ||38–19–5 |- |63||W||March 2, 1986||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1985–86) ||39–19–5 |- |64||W||March 4, 1986||4–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||40–19–5 |- |65||W||March 8, 1986||6–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1985–86) ||41–19–5 |- |66||W||March 9, 1986||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1985–86) ||42–19–5 |- |67||W||March 11, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||43–19–5 |- |68||L||March 13, 1986||0–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||43–20–5 |- |69||W||March 15, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||44–20–5 |- |70||W||March 17, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||45–20–5 |- |71||L||March 18, 1986||2–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||45–21–5 |- |72||W||March 21, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||46–21–5 |- |73||W||March 23, 1986||6–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||47–21–5 |- |74||W||March 25, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||48–21–5 |- |75||L||March 28, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1985–86) ||48–22–5 |- |76||T||March 29, 1986||6–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||48–22–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#D50032 2px solid; border-bottom:#003DA5 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||W||April 1, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||49–22–6 |- |78||W||April 3, 1986||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||50–22–6 |- |79||T||April 5, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1985–86) ||50–22–7 |- |80||L||April 6, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||50–23–7 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs The 1985–86 NHL season was the fourth time the Washington Capitals had made the playoffs, and finally defeated the New York Islanders in a playoff series three games to none. However, the Capitals were eliminated by the New York Rangers four games to two in a best of seven series. Patrick Division Semi-finals New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals New York Islanders Washington Capitals Nassau Coliseum Capital Centre April 9 1–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-wsh/1986/04/09/1985030141#game=1985030141,game_state=final Clark Gillies (1) – 16:25 10:12 – Gaetan Duchesne (1) No scoring 11:46 – Bobby Carpenter (1) No scoring 12:16 – Dave Christian (1) Kelly Hrudey 33 saves / 36 shots Pete Peeters 32 saves / 33 shots April 10 2–5 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-wsh/1986/04/10/1985030142#game=1985030142,game_state=final Pat LaFontaine (1) – pp – 19:48 06:22 – Gaetan Duchesne (2) Bryan Trottier (1) – 18:26 04:22 – Greg Smith (1)18:35 – Scott Stevens (1) No scoring 00:58 – Bobby Gould (1)19:45 – Bobby Gould (2) Billy Smith 29 saves / 33 shots Pete Peeters 27 saves / 29 shots April 12 3–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-nyi/1986/04/12/1985030143#game=1985030143,game_state=final No scoring Rod Langway (1) – pp – 13:20 No scoring Scott Stevens (2) – pp – 07:18Larry Murphy (1) – pp – 15:08 05:12 – Mike Bossy (1) No scoring Kelly Hrudey 20 saves / 23 shots Pete Peeters 27 saves / 28 shots Washington won series 3–0 Patrick Divisional Finals New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals New York Rangers Washington Capitals Madison Square Garden Capital Centre April 17 4–3 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-wsh/1986/04/17/1985030221#game=1985030221,game_state=final Brian MacLellan (1) – 11:48 08:46 – Dave Christian (2)12:39 – Bobby Gould (3) Mark Osborne (2) – sh – 17:33 06:39 – Alan Haworth (1) Mike Ridley (4) – 09:37 No scoring Brian MacLellan (2) – 01:16 No scoring John Vanbiesbrouck 24 saves / 27 shots Pete Peeters 19 saves / 23 shots April 19 1–8 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-wsh/1986/04/19/1985030222#game=1985030222,game_state=final No scoring 09:27 – Mike Gartner (1)11:38 – Craig Laughlin (1)19:03 – Alan Haworth (2) Larry Melnyk (1) – 05:12 06:46 – Gaetan Duchesne (3)14:08 – sh – Gaetan Duchesne (4) No scoring 03:00 – pp – Jorgen Pettersson (1)11:19 – pp – Alan Haworth (3)13:22 – Greg Adams (1) John Vanbiesbrouck 21 saves / 26 shotsGlen Hanlon 10 saves / 13 shots Pete Peeters 19 saves / 20 shots April 21 6–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-nyr/1986/04/21/1985030223#game=1985030223,game_state=final No scoring Bobby Carpenter (2) – 03:06Mike Gartner (2) – 06:45 No scoring Bobby Carpenter (3) – 02:42John Barrett (1) – 04:09 04:08 – pp – Pierre Larouche (4)07:50 – pp – Wilf Paiement (1)17:56 – Pierre Larouche (5) John Barrett (2) – 04:37Alan Haworth (4) – 09:44 John Vanbiesbrouck 22 saves / 28 shots Pete Peeters 39 saves / 42 shots April 23 5–6 1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-nyr/1986/04/23/1985030224#game=1985030224,game_state=final 06:47 – pp – Wilf Paiement (2) Dave Christian (3) – 07:15Kevin Hatcher (1) – 10:49Bobby Carpenter (4) – pp – 13:19 04:42 – Mike Ridley (5)08:29 – Tomas Sandström (1) Bobby Gould (4) – 18:59 08:09 – pp – Willie Huber (2)17:25 – Bob Brooke (3) Greg Smith (2) – sh – 07:45 02:40 – Bob Brooke (4) No scoring John Vanbiesbrouck 24 saves / 29 shots Pete Peeters 24 saves / 30 shots April 25 4–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-wsh/1986/04/25/1985030225#game=1985030225,game_state=final Pierre Larouche (6) – 04:05Wilf Paiement (3) – pp – 13:40 02:51 – pp – Dave Christian (4)03:34 – pp – Scott Stevens (3) Tomas Sandström (2) – 13:49 No scoring Don Maloney (2) – 02:12 No scoring John Vanbiesbrouck 30 saves / 32 shots Pete Peeters 23 saves / 27 shots April 27 1–2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-nyr/1986/04/27/1985030226#game=1985030226,game_state=final 12:36 – Pierre Larouche (7) No scoring No scoring No scoring 00:34 – pp – Pierre Larouche (8) Bobby Carpenter (5) – pp – 05:38 John Vanbiesbrouck 27 saves / 28 shots Pete Peeters 19 saves / 21 shots New York Rangers won series 4–2 Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Dave Christian RW 80 41 42 83 1531824 Mike Gartner RW 74 35 40 75 63-51124 Craig Laughlin RW 75 30 45 75 43241004 Bengt-Ake Gustafsson RW 70 23 52 75 269846 Alan Haworth ice hockey C 71 34 39 73 7236705 Larry Murphy Larry Murphy (ice hockey) D 78 21 44 65 502812 Bobby Carpenter Bobby Carpenter (ice hockey) C 80 27 29 56 105-12703 Greg Adams Greg Adams (ice hockey b. 1960) LW 78 18 38 56 15224302 Scott Stevens D 73 15 38 53 1650302 Gaetan Duchesne LW 80 11 28 39 3910013 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 79 19 19 38 267035 Jorgen Pettersson ice hockey LW 47 8 16 24 10-4203 Peter Andersson Peter Andersson (ice hockey b. 1962) D 61 6 16 22 36-8303 Lou Franceschetti RW 76 7 14 21 131-4002 Kevin Hatcher D 79 9 10 19 1196101 Rod Langway D 71 1 17 18 6127100 Darren Veitch D 62 3 9 12 2721000 Gary Sampson Gary Sampson (ice hockey) LW 19 1 4 5 2-3001 Mark Taylor Mark Taylor (ice hockey, born 1958) C 30 2 1 3 4-4000 Doug Jarvis C 25 1 2 3 16-5000 Dwight Schofield D 50 1 2 3 1275000 John Barrett ice hockey D 14 0 3 3 123000 Greg Smith Greg Smith (ice hockey) D 14 0 3 3 103000 Stephen Leach RW 11 1 1 2 20000 David Jensen David Allan Jensen C 5 1 0 1 01000 Daryl Evans LW 6 0 1 1 0-1000 Al Jensen G 44 0 1 1 40000 Grant Martin LW 11 0 1 1 6-5000 Yves Beaudoin D 4 0 0 0 0-4000 Yvon Corriveau LW 2 0 0 0 0-1000 Ed Kastelic W 15 0 0 0 730000 Bob Mason ice hockey G 1 0 0 0 00000 Pete Peeters G 34 0 0 0 80000 Pat Riggin G 7 0 0 0 20000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% Al Jensen 2437 44 28 9 3 129 3.18 211681039.890 Pete Peeters 2021 34 19 11 3 113 3.35 1910797.876 Pat Riggin 369 7 2 3 1 23 3.74 0133110.827 Bob Mason ice hockey 16 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 0551.000 Team: 4843 80 50 23 7 265 3.28 322161951.880 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Mike Gartner RW 9 2 10 12 4000 Scott Stevens D 9 3 8 11 12202 Alan Haworth ice hockey C 9 4 6 10 11100 Bobby Carpenter Bobby Carpenter (ice hockey) C 9 5 4 9 12201 Dave Christian RW 9 4 4 8 0100 Gaetan Duchesne LW 9 4 3 7 12010 Bobby Gould Bobby Gould (ice hockey) RW 9 4 3 7 11000 Larry Murphy Larry Murphy (ice hockey) D 9 1 5 6 6100 Greg Adams Greg Adams (ice hockey b. 1960) LW 9 1 3 4 27000 John Barrett ice hockey D 9 2 1 3 35001 Greg Smith Greg Smith (ice hockey) D 9 2 1 3 9010 Rod Langway D 9 1 2 3 6100 Craig Laughlin RW 9 1 2 3 10001 Jorgen Pettersson ice hockey LW 8 1 2 3 2100 Yvon Corriveau LW 4 0 3 3 2000 Kevin Hatcher D 9 1 1 2 19000 Stephen Leach RW 6 0 1 1 0000 Lou Franceschetti RW 8 0 0 0 15000 David Jensen David Allan Jensen C 4 0 0 0 0000 Pete Peeters G 9 0 0 0 2000 Dwight Schofield D 3 0 0 0 14000 Mark Taylor Mark Taylor (ice hockey, born 1958) C 3 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% Pete Peeters 544 9 5 4 24 2.65 0253229.905 Team: 544 9 5 4 24 2.65 0253229.905 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-02 1985-86 Washington Capitals Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1986.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; Awards and records The 107 points scored by the Washington Capitals in this season would not be surpassed until the 2008–09 Washington Capitals season, when the team scored 108 points in the regular season. Alan Haworth scored a goal in nine consecutive games, setting Washington record.https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/mike-green-s-scoring-streak-comes-to-an-end-1.801477 CBC News Mike Green's scoring streak comes to an end February 15, 2009 Draft picks Washington's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)119Yvon CorriveauCanadaToronto Marlboros (OHL)240John DruceCanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)361Rob MurrayCanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)482Bill HoulderCanadaNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)483Larry ShawCanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)5103Claude DumasCanadaGranby Bisons (QMJHL)6124Doug StrombackCanadaKitchener Rangers (OHL)7145Jamie NadjiwanCanadaSudbury Wolves (OHL)8166Mark HaarmannCanadaOshawa Generals (OHL)9187Steve HollettCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)10208Dallas EakinsCanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)11229Steve HrynewichCanadaOttawa 67's (OHL)12250Frank Di MuzioCanadaBelleville Bulls (OHL) See also 1985–86 NHL season References Category:Washington Capitals seasons Wash Washing Washing