# 2023–24 Washington Capitals season

The 2023–24 Washington Capitals season was the 50th season (49th season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.
The Capitals returned to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2013–14 season (and only the second time since 2006–07), ending their eight-season playoff streak, and attempted to win the team's second Stanley Cup and their first since 2018. The Capitals clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on April 16, 2024, following a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. During the playoffs, the Capitals faced a first round sweep by the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, marking the first occurrence of such an event in the team's franchise history.

## Standings
### Divisional standings

Metropolitan Division :
| Pos | Team v t e | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | p – New York Rangers | 82 | 55 | 23 | 4 | 43 | 282 | 229 | +53 | 114 |
| 2 | x – Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 52 | 23 | 7 | 44 | 279 | 216 | +63 | 111 |
| 3 | x – New York Islanders | 82 | 39 | 27 | 16 | 29 | 246 | 263 | −17 | 94 |
| 4 | x – Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 32 | 220 | 257 | −37 | 91 |
| 5 | e – Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 32 | 255 | 251 | +4 | 88 |
| 6 | e – Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 30 | 235 | 261 | −26 | 87 |
| 7 | e – New Jersey Devils | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 33 | 264 | 283 | −19 | 81 |
| 8 | e – Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 27 | 43 | 12 | 21 | 237 | 300 | −63 | 66 |

### Conference standings

Eastern Conference Wild Card :
| Pos | Div | Team v t e | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | AT | x – Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 37 | 291 | 268 | +23 | 98 |
| 2 | ME | x – Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 32 | 220 | 257 | −37 | 91 |
| 3 | AT | e – Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 27 | 278 | 274 | +4 | 91 |
| 4 | ME | e – Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 32 | 255 | 251 | +4 | 88 |
| 5 | ME | e – Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 30 | 235 | 261 | −26 | 87 |
| 6 | AT | e – Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 39 | 37 | 6 | 33 | 246 | 244 | +2 | 84 |
| 7 | ME | e – New Jersey Devils | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 33 | 264 | 283 | −19 | 81 |
| 8 | AT | e – Ottawa Senators | 82 | 37 | 41 | 4 | 25 | 255 | 281 | −26 | 78 |
| 9 | AT | e – Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 30 | 36 | 16 | 20 | 236 | 289 | −53 | 76 |
| 10 | ME | e – Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 27 | 43 | 12 | 21 | 237 | 300 | −63 | 66 |

## Schedule and results
### Preseason

The preseason schedule was released on June 21, 2023.
2023 preseason game log: 3–2–1 (Home: 1–1–1; Road: 2–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecord
1September 24Buffalo4–3WashingtonSOStevensonCapital One Arena12,6380–0–1
2September 28Detroit3–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena12,7461–0–1
3September 30Washington2–5DetroitShepardLittle Caesars Arena11,0501–1–1
4October 3Washington5–4BostonOTKuemperTD Garden17,5652–1–1
5October 5Washington4–2ColumbusLindgrenNationwide Arena11,4913–1–1
6October 7Columbus4–2WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena12,9613–2–1 :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss
  Overtime/shootout loss :

### Regular Season

2023–24 game log :
October: 4–3–1 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 1–1–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 13Pittsburgh4–0WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,5730–1–00
2October 16Calgary2–3WashingtonSOKuemperCapital One Arena16,4891–1–02
3October 18Washington1–6OttawaKuemperCanadian Tire Centre15,0211–2–02
4October 21Washington2–3MontrealOTKuemperBell Centre21,1051–2–13
5October 24Toronto4–1WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena16,6411–3–13
6October 25Washington6–4New JerseyShepardPrudential Center16,1172–3–15
7October 27Minnesota2–3WashingtonSOKuemperCapital One Arena16,6023–3–17
8October 29San Jose1–3WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena15,8564–3–19 :
November: 8–3–1 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 4–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
9November 2NY Islanders3–0WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena16,2094–4–19
10November 4Columbus1–2WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,5735–4–111
11November 8Florida4–3WashingtonOTKuemperCapital One Arena16,1045–4–212
12November 10Washington4–2New JerseyLindgrenPrudential Center16,5146–4–214
13November 11Washington4–1NY IslandersShepardUBS Arena16,5197–4–216
14November 14Vegas0–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena16,5988–4–218
15November 18Columbus3–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,5739–4–220
16November 22Buffalo3–4WashingtonOTKuemperCapital One Arena18,57310–4–222
17November 24Edmonton5–0WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57310–5–222
18November 27Washington1–2San JoseKuemperSAP Center10,75910–6–222
19November 29Washington2–1Los AngelesLindgrenCrypto.com Arena18,14511–6–224
20November 30Washington5–4AnaheimKuemperHonda Center14,33612–6–226 :
December: 5–5–4 (Home: 2–0–3; Road: 3–5–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
21December 2Washington1–4VegasKuemperT-Mobile Arena18,14012–7–226
22December 4Washington0–6ArizonaKuemperMullett Arena4,60012–8–226
23December 7Dallas5–4WashingtonSOLindgrenCapital One Arena15,85012–8–327
24December 9NY Rangers0–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57313–8–329
25December 10Washington4–2ChicagoKuemperUnited Center18,25814–8–331
26December 14Washington3–4PhiladelphiaSOLindgrenWells Fargo Center18,55714–8–432
27December 16Washington1–3NashvilleLindgrenBridgestone Arena17,26714–9–432
28December 17Washington2–1CarolinaSOKuemperPNC Arena18,70015–9–434
29December 20NY Islanders2–3WashingtonOTKuemperCapital One Arena18,57316–9–436
30December 21Washington3–2ColumbusOTLindgrenNationwide Arena18,17217–9–438
31December 23Tampa Bay2–1WashingtonSOLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57317–9–539
32December 27Washington1–5NY RangersKuemperMadison Square Garden18,00617–10–539
33December 29Washington1–5NY IslandersKuemperUBS Arena17,25517–11–539
34December 30Nashville3–2WashingtonSOShepardCapital One Arena18,57317–11–640 :
January: 5–7–1 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 1–4–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
35January 2Washington4–3PittsburghKuemperPPG Paints Arena18,19018–11–642
36January 3New Jersey6–3WashingtonShepardCapital One Arena17,15618–12–642
37January 5Carolina6–2WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena18,57318–13–642
38January 7Los Angeles3–4WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena18,57319–13–644
39January 11Seattle4–1WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena17,93519–14–644
40January 13NY Rangers2–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57320–14–646
41January 14Washington1–2NY RangersLindgrenMadison Square Garden18,00620–15–646
42January 16Anaheim0–2WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena15,96121–15–648
43January 18St. Louis2–5WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,90922–15–650
44January 20Washington0–3St. LouisLindgrenEnterprise Center18,09622–16–650
45January 23Washington3–5MinnesotaKuemperXcel Energy Center18,43722–17–650
46January 24Washington2–6ColoradoLindgrenBall Arena18,13622–18–650
47January 27Washington4–5DallasOTLindgrenAmerican Airlines Center18,53222–18–751 :
February: 5–4–2 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–2–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
48February 6Montreal5–2WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena16,95922–19–751
49February 8Washington2–4FloridaKuemperAmerant Bank Arena17,64522–20–751
50February 10Washington3–0BostonLindgrenTD Garden17,85023–20–753
51February 11Vancouver3–2WashingtonOTKuemperCapital One Arena18,57323–20–854
52February 13Colorado6–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,87823–21–854
53February 17Washington4–3MontrealKuemperBell Centre21,10524–21–856
54February 20New Jersey2–6WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,23225–21–858
55February 22Washington5–3Tampa BayLindgrenAmalie Arena19,09226–21–860
56February 24Washington2–3FloridaOTLindgrenAmerant Bank Arena19,88726–21–961
57February 26Ottawa3–6WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena17,29627–21–963
58February 27Washington3–8DetroitLindgrenLittle Caesars Arena19,51527–22–963 :
March: 9–5–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 4–3–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
59March 1Philadelphia2–5WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57328–22–965
60March 3Arizona5–2WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57328–23–965
61March 7Washington6–0PittsburghLindgrenPPG Paints Arena17,09329–23–967
62March 9Chicago1–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57330–23–969
63March 11Washington0–3WinnipegLindgrenCanada Life Centre13,71630–24–969
64March 13Washington2–7EdmontonKuemperRogers Place18,34730–25–969
65March 14Washington2–1SeattleLindgrenClimate Pledge Arena17,15131–25–971
66March 16Washington2–1VancouverLindgrenRogers Arena18,85932–25–973
67March 18Washington5–2CalgaryLindgrenScotiabank Saddledome16,79333–25–975
68March 20Toronto7–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,72733–26–975
69March 22Carolina6–7WashingtonSOLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57334–26–977
70March 24Winnipeg0–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57335–26–979
71March 26Detroit3–4WashingtonOTLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57336–26–981
72March 28Washington1–5TorontoLindgrenScotiabank Arena18,57736–27–981
73March 30Boston3–2WashingtonSOLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57336–27–1082 :
April: 4–4–1 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 2–3–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
74April 2Washington2–6BuffaloLindgrenKeyBank Center14,39036–28–1082
75April 4Pittsburgh4–1WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57336–29–1082
76April 5Washington2–4CarolinaKuemperPNC Arena18,72436–30–1082
77April 7Ottawa3–2WashingtonOTLindgrenCapital One Arena17,90236–30–1183
78April 9Washington2–1DetroitLindgrenLittle Caesars Arena19,51537–30–1185
79April 11Washington2–4BuffaloLindgrenKeyBank Center15,45437–31–1185
80April 13Tampa Bay2–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57338–31–1187
81April 15Boston0–2WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,57339–31–1189
82April 16Washington2–1PhiladelphiaLindgrenWells Fargo Center19,41140–31–1191 :
Win (2 Points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs :
Eastern Conference first round vs. (M1) New York Rangers: New York won 4–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 21Washington1–4NY RangersLindgren18,0060–1
2April 23Washington3–4NY RangersLindgren18,0060–2
3April 26NY Rangers3–1WashingtonLindgren18,5730–3
4April 28NY Rangers4–2WashingtonLindgren18,5730–4 :
Win
  Loss :

## Player stats

As of April 28, 2024

### Skaters

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/− | PIM |
| Dylan Strome | 82 | 27 | 40 | 67 | −13 | 22 |
| Alexander Ovechkin | 79 | 31 | 34 | 65 | −22 | 20 |
| John Carlson | 82 | 10 | 42 | 52 | –7 | 40 |
| Anthony Mantha$^‡$ | 56 | 20 | 14 | 34 | +5 | 17 |
| Tom Wilson | 74 | 18 | 17 | 35 | −19 | 133 |
| Connor McMichael | 80 | 18 | 15 | 33 | –20 | 34 |
| Aliaksei Protas | 78 | 6 | 23 | 29 | –3 | 8 |
| T. J. Oshie | 52 | 12 | 13 | 25 | –6 | 44 |
| Sonny Milano | 49 | 15 | 8 | 23 | +4 | 10 |
| Max Pacioretty | 47 | 4 | 19 | 23 | –14 | 25 |
| Rasmus Sandin | 68 | 3 | 20 | 23 | –13 | 24 |
| Nic Dowd | 64 | 12 | 10 | 22 | –2 | 47 |
| Hendrix Lapierre | 51 | 8 | 14 | 22 | −1 | 4 |
| Beck Malenstyn | 81 | 6 | 15 | 21 | −1 | 25 |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov$^‡$ | 43 | 6 | 11 | 17 | –11 | 24 |
| Nicolas Aube-Kubel | 60 | 6 | 10 | 16 | +4 | 23 |
| Martin Fehervary | 66 | 3 | 13 | 16 | –7 | 24 |
| Nick Jensen | 78 | 1 | 13 | 14 | −9 | 10 |
| Trevor van Riemsdyk | 70 | 0 | 14 | 14 | –7 | 18 |
| Michael Sgarbossa | 25 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Ivan Miroshnichenko | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | –4 | 6 |
| Joel Edmundson$^‡$ | 44 | 1 | 5 | 6 | –5 | 19 |
| Matthew Phillips | 28 | 1 | 4 | 5 | –3 | 0 |
| Ethan Bear | 24 | 1 | 3 | 4 | –5 | 10 |
| Alexander Alexeyev | 39 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −8 | 6 |
| Dylan McIlrath | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Hardy Haman Aktell | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –2 | 2 |
| Lucas Johansen | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| Nicklas Backstrom | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 2 |
| Pierrick Dube | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| Joe Snively | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –1 | 0 |
| Vincent Iorio | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/− | PIM |
| Martin Fehervary | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Tom Wilson | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +1 | 16 |
| John Carlson | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | –1 | 2 |
| Hendrix Lapierre | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| Dylan Strome | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| Aliaksei Protas | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 0 |
| Connor McMichael | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –3 | 2 |
| Alexander Alexeyev | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| T. J. Oshie | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –2 | 4 |
| Max Pacioretty | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –2 | 2 |
| Vincent Iorio | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| Nick Jensen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| Ivan Miroshnichenko | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rasmus Sandin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lucas Johansen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nicolas Aube-Kubel | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| Sonny Milano | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| Alexander Ovechkin | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| Trevor van Riemsdyk | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –3 | 0 |
| Nic Dowd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Beck Malenstyn | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| Dylan McIlrath | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 10 |

### Goaltenders

Regular season :
| Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
| Charlie Lindgren | 50 | 48 | 2,852:23 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 127 | 2.67 | 1,431 | .911 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darcy Kuemper | 33 | 30 | 1,866:32 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 103 | 3.31 | 940 | .890 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hunter Shepard | 4 | 4 | 244:50 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3.19 | 123 | .894 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
| Charlie Lindgren | 4 | 4 | 234:31 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 3.58 | 103 | .864 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only. $^‡$No longer with the Capitals.

## Transactions

The Capitals have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.
Key:
† Contract is entry-level.  ‡ Contract initially takes effect in the 2024–25 season.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 29, 2023 (2023-06-29) | To San Jose Sharks7th-round pick in 2025 | To Washington CapitalsPIT 7th-round pick in 2023 |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | To Montreal CanadiensMIN 3rd-round pick in 2024 7th-round pick in 2024 | To Washington CapitalsJoel Edmundson (50% retained) |
| March 5, 2024 (2024-03-05) | To Vegas Golden KnightsAnthony Mantha (50% retained) | To Washington Capitals2nd-round pick in 2024 4th-round pick in 2026 |
| March 7, 2024 (2024-03-07) | To Toronto Maple LeafsJoel Edmundson (50% retained) | To Washington CapitalsNYI 3rd-round pick in 2024 CHI 5th-round pick in 2025 |
| March 8, 2024 (2024-03-08) | To Carolina HurricanesEvgeny Kuznetsov (50% retained) | To Washington Capitals3rd-round pick in 2025 |
| June 19, 2024 (2024-06-19) | To Los Angeles KingsDarcy Kuemper | To Washington CapitalsPierre-Luc Dubois |
| June 27, 2024 (2024-06-27) | To Calgary FlamesCOL 2nd-round pick in 2025 | To Washington CapitalsAndrew Mangiapane |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Max Pacioretty | Carolina Hurricanes | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 2, 2023 (2023-07-02) | Pierrick Dube | Laval Rocket (AHL) | 2-year† | Free agency |
| July 2, 2023 (2023-07-02) | Matthew Phillips | Calgary Flames | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 3, 2023 (2023-07-03) | Alex Limoges | Winnipeg Jets | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 5, 2023 (2023-07-05) | Chase Priskie | Anaheim Ducks | 1-year | Free agency |
| December 28, 2023 (2023-12-28) | Ethan Bear | Vancouver Canucks | 2-year | Free agency |
| March 5, 2024 (2024-03-05) | Matthew Phillips | Pittsburgh Penguins | | Waivers |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Term | Via |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Connor Brown | Edmonton Oilers | 1-year | Free-agency |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Matt Irwin | Vancouver Canucks | 1-year | Free-agency |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Garrett Pilon | Ottawa Senators | 1-year | Free-agency |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Conor Sheary | Tampa Bay Lightning | 3-year | Free-agency |
| July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) | Craig Smith | Dallas Stars | 1-year | Free-agency |
| July 6, 2023 (2023-07-06) | Zachary Fucale | Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) | 2-year | Free-agency |
| July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28) | Gabriel Carlsson | Växjö Lakers (SHL) | 3-year | Free-agency |
| July 31, 2023 (2023-07-31) | Bobby Nardella | HV71 (SHL) | 1-year | Free-agency |
| February 16, 2024 (2024-02-16) | Matthew Phillips | Pittsburgh Penguins | | Waivers |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| July 2, 2023 (2023-07-02) | Hunter Shepard | 1-year |
| July 2, 2023 (2023-07-02) | Dylan McIlrath | 2-year |
| July 4, 2023 (2023-07-04) | Martin Fehervary | 3-year |
| July 4, 2023 (2023-07-04) | Riley Sutter | 1-year |
| July 7, 2023 (2023-07-07) | Andrew Cristall | 3-year† |
| August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04) | Tom Wilson | 7-year‡ |
| December 12, 2023 (2023-12-12) | Clay Stevenson | 2-year‡ |
| March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06) | Rasmus Sandin | 5-year |

## Draft picks

Below are the Washington Capitals selections at 2023 NHL Entry Draft, which was on June 28 and 29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 8 | Ryan Leonard | RW | United States | U.S NTDP (USHL) |
| 2 | 40 | Andrew Cristall | LW | Canada | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
| 4 | 104 | Patrick Thomas | C | Canada | Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) |
| 5 | 136 | Cameron Allen | D | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 7 | 200 | Brett Hyland | C | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
Notes: