# 1995–96 Washington Capitals season

The 1995–96 Washington Capitals season was the Capitals' 22nd season of play. The Capitals made the playoffs, but lost their opening round series 4–2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

## Off-season

The Capitals introduced a new logo and color scheme featuring blue, black and bronze.

## Regular season

The Capitals tied the Detroit Red Wings for most shutouts for (9) during the regular season.

### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 282 | 208 | 103 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 82 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 272 | 237 | 96 |
| 3 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 254 | 234 | 92 |
| 4 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 234 | 204 | 89 |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 238 | 248 | 88 |
| 6 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 215 | 202 | 86 |
| 7 | New York Islanders | 82 | 22 | 50 | 10 | 229 | 315 | 54 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 282 | 208 | 103 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 362 | 284 | 102 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 272 | 237 | 96 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 254 | 234 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 282 | 269 | 91 |
| 6 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 40 | 32 | 10 | 265 | 248 | 90 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 234 | 204 | 89 |
| 8 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 238 | 248 | 88 |
| 9 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 215 | 202 | 86 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 237 | 259 | 77 |
| 11 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 247 | 262 | 73 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 22 | 50 | 10 | 229 | 315 | 54 |
| 13 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 18 | 59 | 5 | 191 | 291 | 41 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1995–96 regular season :
October: 7–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 4–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 7, 19954–1St. Louis Blues (1995–96)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 11, 19951–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 13, 19953–1Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)2–1–0Recap
4WOctober 14, 19952–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)3–1–0Recap
5WOctober 17, 19954–3@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)4–1–0Recap
6LOctober 18, 19952–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)4–2–0Recap
7LOctober 20, 19954–7Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)4–3–0Recap
8WOctober 26, 19954–2@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)5–3–0Recap
9WOctober 28, 19954–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)6–3–0Recap
10WOctober 29, 19953–1@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)7–3–0Recap :
November: 4–8–2 (home: 2–5–1; road: 2–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11WNovember 1, 19955–2Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)8–3–0Recap
12LNovember 3, 19952–3Florida Panthers (1995–96)8–4–0Recap
13WNovember 4, 19953–2@ New York Islanders (1995–96)9–4–0Recap
14LNovember 7, 19953–4Boston Bruins (1995–96)9–5–0Recap
15LNovember 10, 19951–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)9–6–0Recap
16LNovember 11, 19951–4Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)9–7–0Recap
17TNovember 14, 19952–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)9–7–1Recap
18LNovember 17, 19952–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)9–8–1Recap
19LNovember 18, 19950–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)9–9–1Recap
20WNovember 21, 19953–2San Jose Sharks (1995–96)10–9–1Recap
21LNovember 24, 19951–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)10–10–1Recap
22WNovember 25, 19954–2@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)11–10–1Recap
23TNovember 29, 19952–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)11–10–2Recap
24LNovember 30, 19952–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)11–11–2Recap :
December: 7–4–1 (home: 5–1–0; road: 2–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25LDecember 2, 19953–5@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)11–12–2Recap
26LDecember 5, 19953–4Florida Panthers (1995–96)11–13–2Recap
27TDecember 8, 19952–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)11–13–3Recap
28WDecember 10, 19956–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)12–13–3Recap
29WDecember 14, 19954–3 OTNew York Islanders (1995–96)13–13–3Recap
30WDecember 16, 19953–2New York Rangers (1995–96)14–13–3Recap
31LDecember 18, 19950–3@ New York Rangers (1995–96)14–14–3Recap
32WDecember 22, 19956–3Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)15–14–3Recap
33LDecember 23, 19951–3@ New York Islanders (1995–96)15–15–3Recap
34WDecember 26, 19954–0Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)16–15–3Recap
35WDecember 28, 19955–4@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)17–15–3Recap
36WDecember 30, 19953–0Hartford Whalers (1995–96)18–15–3Recap :
January: 5–6–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
37WJanuary 1, 19964–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)19–15–3Recap
38LJanuary 3, 19960–2@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)19–16–3Recap
39TJanuary 5, 19964–4 OTNew York Rangers (1995–96)19–16–4Recap
40LJanuary 6, 19961–3@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)19–17–4Recap
41WJanuary 11, 19966–1Ottawa Senators (1995–96)20–17–4Recap
42LJanuary 13, 19962–4Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)20–18–4Recap
43TJanuary 16, 19961–1 OTWinnipeg Jets (1995–96)20–18–5Recap
44WJanuary 17, 19963–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)21–18–5Recap
45LJanuary 23, 19964–5Florida Panthers (1995–96)21–19–5Recap
46LJanuary 25, 19961–3@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)21–20–5Recap
47WJanuary 26, 19961–0Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)22–20–5Recap
48WJanuary 28, 19963–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)23–20–5Recap
49LJanuary 31, 19963–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)23–21–5Recap :
February: 6–4–3 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–3–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
50WFebruary 1, 19964–2@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)24–21–5Recap
51WFebruary 3, 19966–5 OTNew York Islanders (1995–96)25–21–5Recap
52WFebruary 7, 19962–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)26–21–5Recap
53TFebruary 8, 19964–4 OT@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)26–21–6Recap
54TFebruary 10, 19964–4 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)26–21–7Recap
55WFebruary 13, 19963–2Calgary Flames (1995–96)27–21–7Recap
56LFebruary 15, 19963–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)27–22–7Recap
57WFebruary 16, 19964–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)28–22–7Recap
58LFebruary 18, 19960–3@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)28–23–7Recap
59LFebruary 22, 19963–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)28–24–7Recap
60LFebruary 24, 19961–2New Jersey Devils (1995–96)28–25–7Recap
61WFebruary 27, 19965–3@ New York Rangers (1995–96)29–25–7Recap
62TFebruary 29, 19962–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)29–25–8Recap :
March: 7–4–3 (home: 4–3–2; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63WMarch 2, 19962–0@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)30–25–8Recap
64WMarch 3, 19963–0Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)31–25–8Recap
65LMarch 9, 19961–6New York Rangers (1995–96)31–26–8Recap
66LMarch 10, 19960–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)31–27–8Recap
67WMarch 12, 19969–0Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)32–27–8Recap
68LMarch 15, 19962–5Boston Bruins (1995–96)32–28–8Recap
69WMarch 17, 19962–1Dallas Stars (1995–96)33–28–8Recap
70LMarch 19, 19961–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)33–29–8Recap
71TMarch 21, 19963–3 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)33–29–9Recap
72TMarch 23, 19962–2 OTHartford Whalers (1995–96)33–29–10Recap
73WMarch 26, 19967–1@ New York Islanders (1995–96)34–29–10Recap
74WMarch 27, 19961–0 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)35–29–10Recap
75WMarch 29, 19965–0Ottawa Senators (1995–96)36–29–10Recap
76TMarch 31, 19961–1 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)36–29–11Recap :
April: 3–3–0 (home: 0–2–0; road: 3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77WApril 3, 19965–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)37–29–11Recap
78LApril 4, 19962–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)37–30–11Recap
79WApril 6, 19964–3@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)38–30–11Recap
80WApril 10, 19964–1@ New York Rangers (1995–96)39–30–11Recap
81LApril 11, 19962–3New Jersey Devils (1995–96)39–31–11Recap
82LApril 13, 19962–3Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)39–32–11Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1996 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19966–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 19, 19965–3@ Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 2–0Recap
3LApril 22, 19961–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 24, 19962–3 4OTPittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 26, 19961–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 3–2Recap
6LApril 28, 19962–3Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins win 4–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 20 | Michal Pivonka | C | 73 | 16 | 65 | 81 | 18 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 18 |
| 12 | Peter Bondra | RW | 67 | 52 | 28 | 80 | 18 | 40 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| 90 | Joe Juneau | C | 80 | 14 | 50 | 64 | −3 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −4 | 6 |
| 22 | Steve Konowalchuk | LW | 70 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 92 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Keith Jones | RW | 68 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 8 | 103 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 7 |
| 55 | Sergei Gonchar | D | 78 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 25 | 60 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
| 3 | Sylvain Cote | D | 81 | 5 | 33 | 38 | 5 | 40 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −3 | 12 |
| 32 | Dale Hunter | C | 82 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 5 | 112 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 24 |
| 14 | Pat Peake | C | 62 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 7 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −4 | 12 |
| 6 | Calle Johansson | D | 78 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 13 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Kelly Miller | LW | 74 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 7 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 16 | Stefan Ustorf | C | 48 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 24 | Mark Tinordi | D | 71 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 113 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 16 |
| 27 | Craig Berube | LW | 50 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 151 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 19 |
| 2 | Ken Klee | D | 66 | 8 | 3 | 11 | −1 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Todd Krygier† | LW | 16 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −3 | 12 |
| 36 | Mike Eagles | C | 70 | 4 | 7 | 11 | −1 | 75 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 29 | Joe Reekie | D | 78 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 149 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Jeff Nelson | C | 33 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 18 | Andrew Brunette | LW | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −5 | 0 |
| 4 | Jim Johnson | D | 66 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −3 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 19 | Brendan Witt | D | 48 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −4 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Martin Gendron | RW | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −5 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Kevin Kaminski | C | 54 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 164 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 41 | Jason Allison | C | 19 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Steve Poapst | D | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Jim Carey | G | 71 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 28 | Eric Charron† | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 38 | Nolan Baumgartner | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 10 |
| 26 | Denis Chasse†‡ | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 26 | Stewart Malgunas† | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Richard Zednik | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 30 | Jim Carey | 71 | 35 | 24 | 9 | 1631 | 153 | 2.26 | .906 | 9 | 4069 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 10 | 6.18 | .744 | 0 | 97 |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | 18 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 406 | 46 | 3.08 | .887 | 0 | 897 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 167 | 11 | 1.93 | .934 | 0 | 341 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Milt Schmidt |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star team | Jim Carey (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | Vezina Trophy | Jim Carey |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Peter Bondra |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Stefan Ustorf | October 7, 1995 |
| First game | Brendan Witt | October 7, 1995 |
| First game | Nolan Baumgartner | October 18, 1995 |
| First game | Andrew Brunette | January 17, 1996 |
| First game | Steve Poapst | April 10, 1996 |
| First game | Richard Zednik | April 13, 1996 |

## Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 17 | Brad Church | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 1 | 23 | Miika Elomo | Finland | Kiekko-67 Turku (Finland) |
| 2 | 43 | Dwayne Hay | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 4 | 93 | Sebastien Charpentier | Canada | Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 95 | Joel Theriault | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 105 | Benoit Gratton | Canada | Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 124 | Joel Cort | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 6 | 147 | Frederick Jobin | Canada | Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 199 | Vasili Turkovsky | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 9 | 225 | Scott Swanson | United States | Omaha Lancers (USHL) |