1997–98 Washington Capitals season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1997–98 1997 Washington Capitals Eastern 4th Atlantic 3rd 40–30–12 23–12–6 17–18–6 219 202 George McPhee Ron Wilson Dale Hunter US Airways Arena (Oct.–Nov.)MCI Center (Dec.–Jun.) 15,275 Portland PiratesHampton Roads Admirals Peter Bondra (52) Adam Oates (58) Peter Bondra (78) Craig Berube (189) Joe Reekie (+15) Olaf Kolzig (33) Olaf Kolzig (2.20) Yes The 1997–98 Washington Capitals season saw the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in club history. Peter Bondra's 52 goals led the team; veterans Dale Hunter, Joe Juneau, and Adam Oates returned to old form; and Olaf Kolzig had a solid .920 save percentage as the Caps got past the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres (the latter on a dramatic overtime win in Game 6 on a goal by Juneau) en route to the team's first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The Capitals won five overtime games, two against the Bruins and three against Sabres. However, they were no match for the defending cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings, who won in a four-game sweep. It was also the team’s first year at the MCI Center. Regular season Adam Oates, Phil Housley and Dale Hunter, all scored their 1,000th career point, the only time in NHL history that one team had three different players reach that same milestone in a single season. The Capitals had a very effective penalty kill during the regular season, allowing the fewest power-play goals (39) and finishing with the highest penalty-kill percentage (89.23%).https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998.html 1997-98 NHL Summary Season standings WAS WAS Playoffs In the playoffs, the Capitals reached the Conference Finals for the first time since 1990, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games before reaching the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in four games.https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/history.html Washington Capitals Historical Statistics and All-Time Top Leaders Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#236192 5px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 5px solid; 1997–98 regular season1997-98 Washington Capitals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1998_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 4, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; October: 7–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 1, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||1–0–0 || 1997020005 W |- |2||October 3, 1997||6–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||2–0–0 || 1997020015 W |- |3||October 4, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||3–0–0 || 1997020025 W |- |4||October 8, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||4–0–0 || 1997020039 W |- |5||October 9, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||4–1–0 || 1997020044 L |- |6||October 11, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||5–1–0 || 1997020058 W |- |7||October 15, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||6–1–0 || 1997020080 W |- |8||October 24, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||7–1–0 || 1997020094 W |- |9||October 22, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||7–2–0 || 1997020119 L |- |10||October 23, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||7–2–1 || 1997020127 T |- |11||October 25, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||7–3–1 || 1997020138 L |- |12||October 29, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||7–4–1 || 1997020156 L |- |13||October 31, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||7–4–2 || 1997020168 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; November: 6–6–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |14||November 1, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||7–5–2 || 1997020175 L |- |15||November 4, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||8–5–2 || 1997020189 W |- |16||November 6, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||8–6–2 || 1997020199 L |- |17||November 8, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||9–6–2 || 1997020214 W |- |18||November 9, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||9–7–2 || 1997020221 L |- |19||November 12, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||10–7–2 || 1997020233 W |- |20||November 13, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||11–7–2 || 1997020240 W |- |21||November 15, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||12–7–2 || 1997020255 W |- |22||November 18, 1997||6–6 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||12–7–3 || 1997020272 T |- |23||November 22, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||12–8–3 || 1997020299 L |- |24||November 23, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||13–8–3 || 1997020305 W |- |25||November 26, 1997||5–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||13–9–3 || 1997020317 L |- |26||November 27, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||13–10–3 || 1997020323 L |- |27||November 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||13–10–4 || 1997020335 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; December: 4–5–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |28||December 2, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||14–10–4 || 1997020354 W |- |29||December 5, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||15–10–4 || 1997020373 W |- |30||December 7, 1997||4–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||15–11–4 || 1997020385 L |- |31||December 10, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||15–11–5 || 1997020401 T |- |32||December 12, 1997||4–6 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||15–12–5 || 1997020414 L |- |33||December 13, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||15–12–6 || 1997020421 T |- |34||December 16, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||15–12–7 || 1997020434 T |- |35||December 18, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||15–13–7 || 1997020446 L |- |36||December 20, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||16–13–7 || 1997020456 W |- |37||December 23, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||16–13–8 || 1997020477 T |- |38||December 26, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||16–14–8 || 1997020486 L |- |39||December 27, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||16–15–8 || 1997020493 L |- |40||December 29, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||17–15–8 || 1997020505 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; January: 9–2–2 (home: 6–1–1; road: 3–1–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |41||January 1, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||18–15–8 || 1997020525 W |- |42||January 3, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||18–16–8 || 1997020539 L |- |43||January 6, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||19–16–8 || 1997020553 W |- |44||January 8, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||20–16–8 || 1997020567 W |- |45||January 9, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||21–16–8 || 1997020571 W |- |46||January 11, 1998||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||21–17–8 || 1997020586 L |- |47||January 13, 1998||4–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||22–17–8 || 1997020599 W |- |48||January 15, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||23–17–8 || 1997020613 W |- |49||January 21, 1998||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||24–17–8 || 1997020624 W |- |50||January 25, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||25–17–8 || 1997020652 W |- |51||January 26, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||25–17–9 || 1997020655 T |- |52||January 28, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||25–17–10 || 1997020665 T |- |53||January 31, 1998||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||26–17–10 || 1997020684 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; February: 0–4–1 (home: 0–3–0; road: 0–1–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |54||February 1, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||26–18–10 || 1997020694 L |- |55||February 4, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||26–18–11 || 1997020708 T |- |56||February 7, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||26–19–11 || 1997020729 L |- |57||February 25, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||26–20–11 || 1997020741 L |- |58||February 28, 1998||2–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||26–21–11 || 1997020759 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; March: 8–7–0 (home: 6–2–0; road: 2–5–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |59||March 1, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||26–22–11 || 1997020767 L |- |60||March 3, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||26–23–11 || 1997020779 L |- |61||March 5, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||26–24–11 || 1997020790 L |- |62||March 7, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||27–24–11 || 1997020804 W |- |63||March 9, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||28–24–11 || 1997020814 W |- |64||March 12, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||29–24–11 || 1997020834 W |- |65||March 14, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||29–25–11 || 1997020844 L |- |66||March 16, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||30–25–11 || 1997020860 W |- |67||March 18, 1998||1–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||31–25–11 || 1997020870 W |- |68||March 20, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||32–25–11 || 1997020880 W |- |69||March 21, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||32–26–11 || 1997020887 L |- |70||March 25, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||32–27–11 || 1997020910 L |- |71||March 26, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||32–28–11 || 1997020919 L |- |72||March 28, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||33–28–11 || 1997020934 W |- |73||March 31, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||34–28–11 || 1997020947 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; April: 6–2–1 (home: 4–0–1; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |74||April 2, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||35–28–11 || 1997020961 W |- |75||April 4, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||36–28–11 || 1997020970 W |- |76||April 6, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||36–28–12 || 1997020982 T |- |77||April 8, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||36–29–12 || 1997020996 L |- |78||April 11, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||36–30–12 || 1997021012 L |- |79||April 13, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||37–30–12 || 1997021025 W |- |80||April 14, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||38–30–12 || 1997021029 W |- |81||April 18, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||39–30–12 || 1997021050 W |- |82||April 19, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||40–30–12 || 1997021064 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 Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#236192 5px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 5px solid; 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Boston Bruins – Capitals win 4–2 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || April 22, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 1–0 || 1997030141 W |- | 2 || April 24, 1998 || 3–4 2OT || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Series tied 1–1 || 1997030142 L |- | 3 || April 26, 1998 || 3–2 2OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 2–1 || 1997030143 W |- | 4 || April 28, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 3–1 || 1997030144 W |- | 5 || May 1, 1998 || 0–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 3–2 || 1997030145 L |- | 6 || May 3, 1998 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals win 4–2 || 1997030146 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (8) Ottawa Senators – Capitals win 4–1 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || May 7, 1998 || 4–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 1–0 || 1997030211 W |- | 2 || May 9, 1998 || 6–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 2–0 || 1997030212 W |- | 3 || May 11, 1998 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 2–1 || 1997030213 L |- | 4 || May 13, 1998 || 2–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 3–1 || 1997030214 W |- | 5 || May 15, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals win 4–1 || 1997030215 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; Eastern Conference Finals vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres – Capitals win 4–2 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || May 23, 1998 || 0–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 1–0 || 1997030311 L |- | 2 || May 25, 1998 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Series tied 1–1 || 1997030312 W |- | 3 || May 28, 1998 || 4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 2–1 || 1997030313 W |- | 4 || May 30, 1998 || 2–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 3–1 || 1997030314 W |- | 5 || June 2, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 3–2 || 1997030315 L |- | 6 || June 4, 1998 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals win 4–2 || 1997030316 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#236192 2px solid; border-bottom:#AD7C59 2px solid; Stanley Cup Finals vs. (W3) Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings win 4–0 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || June 9, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 1–0 || 1997030411 L |- | 2 || June 11, 1998 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 2–0 || 1997030412 L |- | 3 || June 13, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 3–0 || 1997030413 L |- | 4 || June 16, 1998 || 1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings win 4–0 || 1997030414 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L 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 Playoffs GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 12 Peter Bondra RW 76 52 26 78 14 44 17 7 5 12 4 12 77 Adam Oates C 82 18 58 76 6 36 21 6 11 17 8 8 6 Calle Johansson D 73 15 20 35 −11 30 21 2 8 10 9 16 22 Steve Konowalchuk LW 80 10 24 34 9 80 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 90 Joe Juneau Joé Juneau C 56 9 22 31 −8 26 21 7 10 17 6 8 96 Phil Housley D 64 6 25 31 −10 24 18 0 4 4 −2 4 44 Richard Zednik Richard Zedník RW 65 17 9 26 −2 28 17 7 3 10 0 16 32 Dale Hunter C 82 8 18 26 1 103 21 0 4 4 −1 30 18 Andrew Brunette LW 28 11 12 23 2 12 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 55 Sergei Gonchar D 72 5 16 21 2 66 21 7 4 11 2 30 24 Mark Tinordi D 47 8 9 17 9 39 21 1 2 3 6 42 17 Chris Simon LW 28 7 10 17 −1 38 18 1 0 1 −3 26 13 Andrei Nikolishin C 38 6 10 16 1 14 21 1 13 14 4 12 8 Jan Bulis C 48 5 11 16 −5 18 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 3 Sylvain Cote Sylvain Côté D 59 1 15 16 −5 36 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 27 Craig Berube LW 74 6 9 15 −3 189 21 1 0 1 0 21 10 Kelly Miller ice hockey, born 1963 LW 76 7 7 14 −2 41 10 0 1 1 2 4 9 Todd Krygier LW 45 2 12 14 −3 30 13 1 2 3 −2 6 11 Esa Tikkanen LW 20 2 10 12 −4 2 21 3 3 6 −2 20 29 Joe Reekie D 68 2 8 10 15 70 21 1 2 3 4 20 23 Brian Bellows LW 11 6 3 9 −3 6 21 6 7 13 6 6 20 Michal Pivonka Michal Pivoňka C 33 3 6 9 5 20 13 0 3 3 5 0 19 Brendan Witt D 64 1 7 8 −11 112 16 1 0 1 −1 14 21 Jeff Toms C 33 3 4 7 −11 8 1 0 0 0 −1 0 2 Ken Klee D 51 4 2 6 −3 46 9 1 0 1 2 10 28 Jeff Brown ice hockey, born 1966 D 9 0 6 6 4 6 2 0 2 2 1 0 34 Jaroslav Svejkovsky Jaroslav Svejkovský RW 17 4 1 5 −5 10 1 0 0 0 0 2 36 Mike Eagles LW 36 1 3 4 −2 16 12 0 2 2 1 2 28 Jan Benda C 9 0 3 3 1 6 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 38 Nolan Baumgartner D 4 0 1 1 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 48 Benoit Gratton Benoît Gratton C 6 0 1 1 1 6 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 37 Olaf Kolzig Olaf Kölzig G 64 0 1 1 12 21 0 0 0 -98 4 30 Bill Ranford G 22 0 1 1 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 25 Brad Church LW 2 0 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 43 David Harlock D 6 0 0 0 2 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 42 Dwayne Hay LW 2 0 0 0 0 2 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 4 Stewart Malgunas D 8 0 0 0 1 12 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 26 Ryan Mulhern C 3 0 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 14 Pat Peake C 1 0 0 0 0 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — Goaltending No. Jersey number Player Regular season Playoffs 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 GP Games played W Wins L Losses SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on Ice 37 Olaf Kolzig 64 33 18 10 1729 139 2.20 .920 5 3788 21 12 9 740 44 1.95 .941 4 1351 30 Bill Ranford 22 7 12 2 555 55 2.79 .901 0 1183 — — — — — — — — — Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Bondra1998 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1998_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Olaf Kolzig Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Jan Benda October 1, 19971997-98 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 8, 2024 Jan Bulis Ryan Mulhern October 25, 1997 Dwayne Hay October 31, 1997 Benoit Gratton November 12, 1997 Brad Church December 16, 1997 1,000th point Adam Oates October 8, 1997Oates scores 1,000th point in Caps' win https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1997/10/09/oates-scores-1-000th-point/50591293007/ New Bedford Standard-Times July 9, 2023 October 9, 1997 Phil Housley November 8, 1997Avalanche buries Blues, 4-1 https://www.deseret.com/1997/11/9/19344763/avalanche-buries-blues-4-1 Deseret News July 9, 2023 November 9, 1997 At Landover, Md., Phil Housley became the second American-born player in NHL history to score 1,000 points, tallying an assist as the Washington Capitals beat the Edmonton Oilers. Dale Hunter January 9, 1998Battle of Best Ends Up Even https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-10-sp-6968-story.html Los Angeles Times July 9, 2023 January 10, 1998 Washington 4, Philadelphia 1--The Capitals’ Dale Hunter assisted on the three second-period goals, giving the 18-year veteran 682 assists to go with 318 goals for 1,000 points, as Washington won at home. Draft picks List of Washington Capitals draft picks Below are the Washington Capitals' selections at the 1997 NHL entry draft, held on June 21, 1997 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.1997 NHL Draft http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1997&team=WSH&position=&round= https://web.archive.org/web/20190717064033/http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1997&team=WSH&position=&round= dead July 17, 2019 NHL July 20, 2017 Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 9 Nick Boynton D Ottawa 67's (OHL) 2 35 Jean-Francois Fortin D Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 4 89 Curtis Cruickshank G Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 5 116 Kevin Caulfield RW Boston College (NCAA) 6 143 Henrik Petre D Djurgårdens IF-jr. (Allsvenskan) 8 200 Pierre-Luc Therrien G Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) 9 226 Matt Oikawa RW St. Lawrence University (NCAA) Farm teams Portland Pirates See also 1997–98 NHL season References Washington Capitals 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000491998.html www.hockeydb.com July 4, 2023 1997-98 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1998.html Hockey-Reference.com July 4, 2023 W Category:Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons Category:Washington Capitals seasons Wash Cap Cap