# 1979–80 Washington Capitals season

The 1979–80 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| Atlanta Flames | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| 3 | x – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| 6 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| 7 | x – Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| 8 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| 9 | Atlanta Flames | PTK | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| 14 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| 16 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
| 18 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
| 19 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 61 |
| 20 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| 21 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Atlanta
—1–33–0–12–23–0–19−5−2
N.Y. Islanders
3–1—2–22–22–29−7−0
N.Y. Rangers
0–3–12–2—1–2–12–25−9−2
Philadelphia
2–22–22–1–1—2–0–28−5−3
Washington
0–3–12–22–20–2–2—4−9−3
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Atlanta
0−2−24−02−1−13−12−24−015−6−3
N.Y. Islanders
2−1−13−11−2−13−11−2−12−0−212−7−5
N.Y. Rangers
1−2−11−1−23−14−04−02−215−6−3
Philadelphia
2–0–22–1–13–0−12−0−23−14−016−2−6
Washington
2−21−1−21−32−23−13−0−112−9−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Atlanta
0–40–3–11–1–23–0–11–35–11–4
N.Y. Islanders
1–31–2–10–2–24–03–19–8–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–21–2–11–2–12–1–12–28–9–3
Philadelphia
1–1–23–0–13–13–0–11–1–211–3–6
Washington
1–2–10–40–3–11–1–21–33–13–4
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Atlanta
2–1–11–32–1–10–3–11–2–16–10–4
N.Y. Islanders
1–33–12–1–13–0–10–1–39–6–5
N.Y. Rangers
3–12–1–13–10–3–12–210–8–2
Philadelphia
3–0–12–0–24–01–2–13–0–113–2–5
Washington
1–2–12–1–13–11–2–11–38–9–3 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 11, 1979 | 3–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 13, 1979 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | W | October 14, 1979 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 16, 1979 | 8–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 19, 1979 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 20, 1979 | 1–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | L | October 24, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 2–6–0 |
| 9 | W | October 28, 1979 | 6–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | T | October 30, 1979 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | T | November 2, 1979 | 1–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 3–6–2 |
| 12 | L | November 3, 1979 | 1–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 3–7–2 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1979 | 0–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 3–8–2 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1979 | 6–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 4–8–2 |
| 15 | L | November 10, 1979 | 3–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 4–9–2 |
| 16 | L | November 13, 1979 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 4–10–2 |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1979 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 4–11–2 |
| 18 | L | November 16, 1979 | 2–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 4–12–2 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1979 | 2–4 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 4–13–2 |
| 20 | T | November 20, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 4–13–3 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1979 | 0–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 4–14–3 |
| 22 | L | November 24, 1979 | 1–6 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 4–15–3 |
| 23 | T | November 25, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 4–15–4 |
| 24 | L | November 28, 1979 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 4–16–4 |
| 25 | W | December 1, 1979 | 7–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 5–16–4 |
| 26 | L | December 2, 1979 | 0–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 5–17–4 |
| 27 | T | December 4, 1979 | 3–3 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 5–17–5 |
| 28 | L | December 7, 1979 | 3–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 5–18–5 |
| 29 | L | December 8, 1979 | 1–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 5–19–5 |
| 30 | L | December 12, 1979 | 4–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 5–20–5 |
| 31 | W | December 15, 1979 | 5–4 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 6–20–5 |
| 32 | L | December 19, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 6–21–5 |
| 33 | W | December 21, 1979 | 2–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 7–21–5 |
| 34 | L | December 22, 1979 | 1–2 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 7–22–5 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1979 | 8–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 8–22–5 |
| 36 | W | December 28, 1979 | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 9–22–5 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1979 | 2–5 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 9–23–5 |
| 38 | W | January 4, 1980 | 6–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 10–23–5 |
| 39 | T | January 5, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 10–23–6 |
| 40 | W | January 11, 1980 | 7–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 11–23–6 |
| 41 | L | January 12, 1980 | 2–5 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 11–24–6 |
| 42 | L | January 15, 1980 | 4–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 11–25–6 |
| 43 | L | January 16, 1980 | 2–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 11–26–6 |
| 44 | T | January 19, 1980 | 4–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 11–26–7 |
| 45 | L | January 20, 1980 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 11–27–7 |
| 46 | W | January 22, 1980 | 5–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 12–27–7 |
| 47 | T | January 26, 1980 | 1–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 12–27–8 |
| 48 | W | January 27, 1980 | 7–1 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 13–27–8 |
| 49 | L | January 30, 1980 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 13–28–8 |
| 50 | L | February 1, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 13–29–8 |
| 51 | L | February 2, 1980 | 3–6 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 13–30–8 |
| 52 | T | February 6, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 13–30–9 |
| 53 | W | February 8, 1980 | 6–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 14–30–9 |
| 54 | W | February 12, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 15–30–9 |
| 55 | L | February 15, 1980 | 2–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 15–31–9 |
| 56 | W | February 16, 1980 | 5–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 16–31–9 |
| 57 | W | February 19, 1980 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 17–31–9 |
| 58 | L | February 21, 1980 | 0–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 17–32–9 |
| 59 | W | February 23, 1980 | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 18–32–9 |
| 60 | T | February 24, 1980 | 1–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 18–32–10 |
| 61 | W | February 26, 1980 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 19–32–10 |
| 62 | L | February 28, 1980 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 19–33–10 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1980 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 19–34–10 |
| 64 | L | March 2, 1980 | 1–3 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 19–35–10 |
| 65 | W | March 5, 1980 | 7–5 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 20–35–10 |
| 66 | W | March 8, 1980 | 9–5 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 21–35–10 |
| 67 | W | March 9, 1980 | 3–1 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 22–35–10 |
| 68 | W | March 12, 1980 | 6–4 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 23–35–10 |
| 69 | W | March 15, 1980 | 5–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 24–35–10 |
| 70 | T | March 16, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 24–35–11 |
| 71 | W | March 18, 1980 | 4–1 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 25–35–11 |
| 72 | L | March 21, 1980 | 3–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 25–36–11 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1980 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 25–37–11 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1980 | 1–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 25–38–11 |
| 75 | W | March 26, 1980 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 26–38–11 |
| 76 | T | March 29, 1980 | 3–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 26–38–12 |
| 77 | L | March 30, 1980 | 0–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 26–39–12 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1980 | 6–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 27–39–12 |
| 79 | L | April 3, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 27–40–12 |
| 80 | T | April 5, 1980 | 4–4 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 27–40–13 |

## Playoffs

The Capitals still failed to make the playoffs. Washington was tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the last berth with two games remaining, but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers and tied the Atlanta Flames, while the Oilers tied the Minnesota North Stars and defeated the Colorado Rockies to finish two points ahead.

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 77 | 36 | 32 | 68 | 66 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Ryan Walter | C/LW | 80 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 106 | -1 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | RW | 80 | 22 | 38 | 60 | 17 | -17 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Robert Picard | D | 78 | 11 | 43 | 54 | 122 | -21 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Rolf Edberg | C | 63 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 12 | -5 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Paul Mulvey | LW | 77 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 240 | -8 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Mark Lofthouse | RW/C | 68 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 20 | -9 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Sirois | RW | 49 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 18 | -5 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Guy Charron | C | 33 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 6 | -2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Dennis Maruk | C | 27 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tom Rowe | RW | 41 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 76 | -9 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Wes Jarvis | C | 63 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 8 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Green | D | 71 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 52 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Antero Lehtonen | LW | 65 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 14 | -4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Alan Hangsleben | D | 37 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Kaszycki | C | 28 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 10 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Leif Svensson | D | 47 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 21 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 54 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 16 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul MacKinnon | D | 63 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 22 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Errol Rausse | LW | 24 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Scamurra | D | 23 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Lane | D | 19 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Polis | LW | 28 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 19 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Ribble | D | 19 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Labre | D | 18 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Coulis | LW | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 27 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Currie | C | 32 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dennis Hextall | LW | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 49 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Cassolato | RW | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Stephenson | G | 56 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Tremblay | D | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rollie Boutin | G | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Rissling | LW | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 49 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Theberge | D | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Clippingdale | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Girard | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Inness | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Noel | C | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harvie Pocza | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Stephenson | 3146 | 56 | 18 | 24 | 10 | 187 | 3.57 | 0 |
| Rollie Boutin | 927 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 3.50 | 0 |
| Gary Inness | 727 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 44 | 3.63 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 285 | 3.56 | 0 |
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;

## Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 4 | Mike Gartner (RW) | Canada | Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) |
| 2 | 24 | Errol Rausse (LW) | Canada | Seattle Breakers (WHL) |
| 4 | 67 | Harvie Pocza (LW) | Canada | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
| 5 | 88 | Tim Tookey (C) | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 6 | 109 | Greg Theberge (D) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |