# 1997–98 Washington Capitals season

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%).

### Season standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
| 2 | 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
| 3 | 4 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
| 4 | 10 | New York Islanders | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
| 5 | 11 | New York Rangers | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
| 6 | 12 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
| 7 | 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
| 4 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
| 6 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
| 7 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
| 8 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
| 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | NE | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
| 10 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
| 11 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
| 12 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## 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.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 7–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 1, 19974–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)1–0–0Recap
2WOctober 3, 19976–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)2–0–0Recap
3WOctober 4, 19974–1New Jersey Devils (1997–98)3–0–0Recap
4WOctober 8, 19976–3@ New York Islanders (1997–98)4–0–0Recap
5LOctober 9, 19972–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)4–1–0Recap
6WOctober 11, 19973–1New York Islanders (1997–98)5–1–0Recap
7WOctober 15, 19972–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)6–1–0Recap
8WOctober 24, 19973–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)7–1–0Recap
9LOctober 22, 19973–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)7–2–0Recap
10TOctober 23, 19973–3 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)7–2–1Recap
11LOctober 25, 19972–5@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)7–3–1Recap
12LOctober 29, 19973–4Dallas Stars (1997–98)7–4–1Recap
13TOctober 31, 19972–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1997–98)7–4–2Recap :
November: 6–6–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14LNovember 1, 19971–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)7–5–2Recap
15WNovember 4, 19972–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–5–2Recap
16LNovember 6, 19970–2@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)8–6–2Recap
17WNovember 8, 19972–1Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)9–6–2Recap
18LNovember 9, 19972–3@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)9–7–2Recap
19WNovember 12, 19974–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)10–7–2Recap
20WNovember 13, 19973–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)11–7–2Recap
21WNovember 15, 19973–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)12–7–2Recap
22TNovember 18, 19976–6 OTColorado Avalanche (1997–98)12–7–3Recap
23LNovember 22, 19972–5San Jose Sharks (1997–98)12–8–3Recap
24WNovember 23, 19975–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)13–8–3Recap
25LNovember 26, 19975–6Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)13–9–3Recap
26LNovember 27, 19971–3@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)13–10–3Recap
27TNovember 29, 19971–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)13–10–4Recap :
December: 4–5–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28WDecember 2, 19973–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)14–10–4Recap
29WDecember 5, 19973–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)15–10–4Recap
30LDecember 7, 19974–5@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)15–11–4Recap
31TDecember 10, 19973–3 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)15–11–5Recap
32LDecember 12, 19974–6@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–12–5Recap
33TDecember 13, 19972–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)15–12–6Recap
34TDecember 16, 19972–2 OTNew York Islanders (1997–98)15–12–7Recap
35LDecember 18, 19970–4Florida Panthers (1997–98)15–13–7Recap
36WDecember 20, 19972–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)16–13–7Recap
37TDecember 23, 19971–1 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)16–13–8Recap
38LDecember 26, 19971–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)16–14–8Recap
39LDecember 27, 19970–3Ottawa Senators (1997–98)16–15–8Recap
40WDecember 29, 19974–2St. Louis Blues (1997–98)17–15–8Recap :
January: 9–2–2 (home: 6–1–1; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
41WJanuary 1, 19983–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)18–15–8Recap
42LJanuary 3, 19982–3New York Rangers (1997–98)18–16–8Recap
43WJanuary 6, 19985–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)19–16–8Recap
44WJanuary 8, 19985–3@ New York Rangers (1997–98)20–16–8Recap
45WJanuary 9, 19984–1Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)21–16–8Recap
46LJanuary 11, 19980–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)21–17–8Recap
47WJanuary 13, 19984–0Ottawa Senators (1997–98)22–17–8Recap
48WJanuary 15, 19983–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)23–17–8Recap
49WJanuary 21, 19983–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)24–17–8Recap
50WJanuary 25, 19984–1Boston Bruins (1997–98)25–17–8Recap
51TJanuary 26, 19982–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)25–17–9Recap
52TJanuary 28, 19982–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)25–17–10Recap
53WJanuary 31, 19983–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)26–17–10Recap :
February: 0–4–1 (home: 0–3–0; road: 0–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54LFebruary 1, 19982–4Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)26–18–10Recap
55TFebruary 4, 19982–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)26–18–11Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19983–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–19–11Recap
57LFebruary 25, 19983–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–20–11Recap
58LFebruary 28, 19982–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–21–11Recap :
March: 8–7–0 (home: 6–2–0; road: 2–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59LMarch 1, 19980–3Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)26–22–11Recap
60LMarch 3, 19980–3Boston Bruins (1997–98)26–23–11Recap
61LMarch 5, 19982–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)26–24–11Recap
62WMarch 7, 19986–3Florida Panthers (1997–98)27–24–11Recap
63WMarch 9, 19985–2Calgary Flames (1997–98)28–24–11Recap
64WMarch 12, 19982–1@ New York Islanders (1997–98)29–24–11Recap
65LMarch 14, 19980–4@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)29–25–11Recap
66WMarch 16, 19982–1Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)30–25–11Recap
67WMarch 18, 19981–0Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)31–25–11Recap
68WMarch 20, 19982–0New Jersey Devils (1997–98)32–25–11Recap
69LMarch 21, 19982–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)32–26–11Recap
70LMarch 25, 19982–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)32–27–11Recap
71LMarch 26, 19982–3@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)32–28–11Recap
72WMarch 28, 19983–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)33–28–11Recap
73WMarch 31, 19985–2New York Islanders (1997–98)34–28–11Recap :
April: 6–2–1 (home: 4–0–1; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 2, 19984–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)35–28–11Recap
75WApril 4, 19983–2Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)36–28–11Recap
76TApril 6, 19982–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)36–28–12Recap
77LApril 8, 19981–2 OT@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)36–29–12Recap
78LApril 11, 19983–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)36–30–12Recap
79WApril 13, 19982–0@ New York Islanders (1997–98)37–30–12Recap
80WApril 14, 19983–1New York Rangers (1997–98)38–30–12Recap
81WApril 18, 19984–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)39–30–12Recap
82WApril 19, 19982–1Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)40–30–12Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Boston Bruins – Capitals win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 22, 19983–1Boston BruinsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 24, 19983–4 2OTBoston BruinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 26, 19983–2 2OT@ Boston BruinsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 28, 19983–0@ Boston BruinsCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 1, 19980–4Boston BruinsCapitals lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 3, 19983–2 OT@ Boston BruinsCapitals win 4–2Recap :
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (8) Ottawa Senators – Capitals win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 7, 19984–2Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2WMay 9, 19986–1Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 2–0Recap
3LMay 11, 19983–4@ Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 13, 19982–0@ Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 15, 19983–0Ottawa SenatorsCapitals win 4–1Recap :
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres – Capitals win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 23, 19980–2Buffalo SabresSabres lead 1–0Recap
2WMay 25, 19983–2 OTBuffalo SabresSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 28, 19984–3 OT@ Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 30, 19982–0@ Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5LJune 2, 19981–2Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 3–2Recap
6WJune 4, 19983–2 OT@ Buffalo SabresCapitals win 4–2Recap :
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (W3) Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LJune 9, 19981–2@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 1–0Recap
2LJune 11, 19984–5 OT@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 2–0Recap
3LJune 13, 19981–2Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 3–0Recap
4LJune 16, 19981–4Detroit Red WingsRed Wings win 4–0Recap :
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 |
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 90 | Joe 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 | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Sylvain Cote‡ | D | 59 | 1 | 15 | 16 | −5 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Craig Berube | LW | 74 | 6 | 9 | 15 | −3 | 189 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 10 | Kelly Miller | 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 | 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† | D | 9 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Jaroslav Svejkovsky | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38 | Nolan Baumgartner | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 48 | Benoit Gratton | C | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | G | 64 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 12 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 30 | Bill Ranford | G | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Brad Church | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43 | David Harlock | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42 | Dwayne Hay‡ | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Stewart Malgunas | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | Ryan Mulhern | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Pat Peake | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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 |
| 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

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Peter Bondra | |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Olaf Kolzig | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Jan Benda | October 1, 1997 |
| First game | Jan Bulis | October 1, 1997 |
| First game | Ryan Mulhern | October 25, 1997 |
| First game | Dwayne Hay | October 31, 1997 |
| First game | Benoit Gratton | November 12, 1997 |
| First game | Brad Church | December 16, 1997 |
| 1,000th point | Adam Oates | October 8, 1997 |
| 1,000th point | Phil Housley | November 8, 1997 |
| 1,000th point | Dale Hunter | January 9, 1998 |

## 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.
| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 9 | Nick Boynton | D | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 2 | 35 | Jean-Francois Fortin | D | Canada | Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 89 | Curtis Cruickshank | G | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 5 | 116 | Kevin Caulfield | RW | United States | Boston College (NCAA) |
| 6 | 143 | Henrik Petre | D | Sweden | Djurgårdens IF-jr. (Allsvenskan) |
| 8 | 200 | Pierre-Luc Therrien | G | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 226 | Matt Oikawa | RW | Canada | St. Lawrence University (NCAA) |

## Farm teams

Portland Pirates