# 1983–84 Washington Capitals season

The 1983–84 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals tenth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 50 | 26 | 4 | 357 | 269 | 104 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 48 | 27 | 5 | 308 | 226 | 101 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 44 | 26 | 10 | 350 | 290 | 98 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 42 | 29 | 9 | 314 | 304 | 93 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 17 | 56 | 7 | 231 | 350 | 41 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 16 | 58 | 6 | 254 | 390 | 38 |
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.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—0−71−5−10−73−40−5−24−28−3
N.Y. Islanders
7−0—3−44−36−14−324−11−0
N.Y. Rangers
5−1−14−3—4−35−23−3−121−12−2
Philadelphia
7−03−43−4—7−03−423−12−0
Pittsburgh
4−31−62−50–7—1−68−27−0
Washington
5−0−23−43−3−14–36–1—21−11−3
Vs. Adams Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
1−20−2−11−1−11−21−24−9−2
N.Y. Islanders
0−2−13−01−23−01−28−6−1
N.Y. Rangers
0−2−11−1−11−21−22−0−15−7−3
Philadelphia
1−1−10−31−22−0−12−0−16−6−3
Pittsburgh
0−30−32−10−2−10−32−12−1
Washington
1−20−2−12−13−01−27−7−1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
2−12−11−20−30−35−10−0
N.Y. Islanders
3−01−22−0−11−1−12−19−4−2
N.Y. Rangers
2−13−01−1−12−11−29−5−1
Philadelphia
1−0−21−0−20−1−21−23−06−3−6
Pittsburgh
1−1−10−31−20−2−11−1−13−9−3
Washington
1−1−11−23−02−13−010−4−1
Vs. Smythe Division
1983–84 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
0−2−10−2−12−11−21−24−9−2
N.Y. Islanders
0−33−02−0−13−01−29−5−1
N.Y. Rangers
2−11−21−0−21−1−12−17−5−3
Philadelphia
2−12−0−12−11−22−19−5−1
Pittsburgh
0−1−20−31−21−21−23−10−2
Washington
2−11−23−02−12−110−5−0 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 6, 1983 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 8, 1983 | 7–8 OT | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 9, 1983 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1983–84) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 13, 1983 | 3–4 | @ New York Rangers (1983–84) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | L | October 14, 1983 | 0–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 0–5–0 |
| 6 | L | October 16, 1983 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 0–6–0 |
| 7 | L | October 19, 1983 | 0–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 0–7–0 |
| 8 | W | October 22, 1983 | 4–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 1–7–0 |
| 9 | W | October 25, 1983 | 1–0 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 2–7–0 |
| 10 | W | October 26, 1983 | 2–0 | @ New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 3–7–0 |
| 11 | W | October 29, 1983 | 6–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 4–7–0 |
| 12 | W | October 30, 1983 | 7–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 5–7–0 |
| 13 | L | November 2, 1983 | 3–11 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 5–8–0 |
| 14 | W | November 4, 1983 | 5–4 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 6–8–0 |
| 15 | W | November 6, 1983 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 7–8–0 |
| 16 | L | November 9, 1983 | 4–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 7–9–0 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1983 | 7–4 | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 8–9–0 |
| 18 | L | November 13, 1983 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 8–10–0 |
| 19 | L | November 16, 1983 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers (1983–84) | 8–11–0 |
| 20 | W | November 18, 1983 | 7–1 | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 9–11–0 |
| 21 | L | November 19, 1983 | 2–6 | @ New York Islanders (1983–84) | 9–12–0 |
| 22 | T | November 23, 1983 | 2–2 OT | Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 9–12–1 |
| 23 | W | November 25, 1983 | 3–1 | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 10–12–1 |
| 24 | W | November 26, 1983 | 5–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 11–12–1 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1983 | 3–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 11–13–1 |
| 26 | W | December 1, 1983 | 8–4 | New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 12–13–1 |
| 27 | T | December 2, 1983 | 2–2 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 12–13–2 |
| 28 | L | December 4, 1983 | 1–4 | Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 12–14–2 |
| 29 | L | December 7, 1983 | 5–7 | @ New York Rangers (1983–84) | 12–15–2 |
| 30 | W | December 8, 1983 | 4–3 | Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 13–15–2 |
| 31 | W | December 10, 1983 | 2–0 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 14–15–2 |
| 32 | L | December 15, 1983 | 4–9 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 14–16–2 |
| 33 | W | December 17, 1983 | 3–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 15–16–2 |
| 34 | W | December 18, 1983 | 5–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 16–16–2 |
| 35 | L | December 22, 1983 | 1–6 | @ New York Islanders (1983–84) | 16–17–2 |
| 36 | W | December 23, 1983 | 7–3 | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 17–17–2 |
| 37 | L | December 26, 1983 | 4–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 17–18–2 |
| 38 | L | December 28, 1983 | 2–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 17–19–2 |
| 39 | W | December 31, 1983 | 3–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 18–19–2 |
| 40 | T | January 2, 1984 | 2–2 OT | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 18–19–3 |
| 41 | W | January 5, 1984 | 5–1 | St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 19–19–3 |
| 42 | L | January 7, 1984 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1983–84) | 19–20–3 |
| 43 | W | January 8, 1984 | 7–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 20–20–3 |
| 44 | W | January 11, 1984 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 21–20–3 |
| 45 | W | January 13, 1984 | 6–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 22–20–3 |
| 46 | L | January 15, 1984 | 2–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 22–21–3 |
| 47 | W | January 17, 1984 | 8–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 23–21–3 |
| 48 | W | January 20, 1984 | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 24–21–3 |
| 49 | W | January 21, 1984 | 3–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 25–21–3 |
| 50 | T | January 25, 1984 | 2–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1983–84) | 25–21–4 |
| 51 | W | January 27, 1984 | 6–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 26–21–4 |
| 52 | W | January 28, 1984 | 8–0 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–84) | 27–21–4 |
| 53 | W | February 2, 1984 | 2–0 | @ New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 28–21–4 |
| 54 | W | February 3, 1984 | 4–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1983–84) | 29–21–4 |
| 55 | W | February 5, 1984 | 9–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1983–84) | 30–21–4 |
| 56 | W | February 8, 1984 | 6–1 | Calgary Flames (1983–84) | 31–21–4 |
| 57 | W | February 11, 1984 | 6–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 32–21–4 |
| 58 | W | February 13, 1984 | 4–0 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 33–21–4 |
| 59 | W | February 16, 1984 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1983–84) | 34–21–4 |
| 60 | W | February 18, 1984 | 4–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 35–21–4 |
| 61 | L | February 19, 1984 | 3–4 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1983–84) | 35–22–4 |
| 62 | L | February 22, 1984 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1983–84) | 35–23–4 |
| 63 | L | February 25, 1984 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1983–84) | 35–24–4 |
| 64 | W | February 26, 1984 | 4–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 36–24–4 |
| 65 | L | February 28, 1984 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1983–84) | 36–25–4 |
| 66 | W | March 1, 1984 | 9–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 37–25–4 |
| 67 | W | March 3, 1984 | 5–1 | New York Rangers (1983–84) | 38–25–4 |
| 68 | W | March 5, 1984 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 39–25–4 |
| 69 | W | March 7, 1984 | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers (1983–84) | 40–25–4 |
| 70 | W | March 9, 1984 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1983–84) | 41–25–4 |
| 71 | W | March 11, 1984 | 2–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1983–84) | 42–25–4 |
| 72 | T | March 14, 1984 | 3–3 OT | New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 42–25–5 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1984 | 2–1 | @ New York Islanders (1983–84) | 43–25–5 |
| 74 | L | March 18, 1984 | 3–5 | St. Louis Blues (1983–84) | 43–26–5 |
| 75 | W | March 21, 1984 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1983–84) | 44–26–5 |
| 76 | W | March 24, 1984 | 6–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 45–26–5 |
| 77 | W | March 25, 1984 | 4–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1983–84) | 46–26–5 |
| 78 | W | March 28, 1984 | 6–2 | New Jersey Devils (1983–84) | 47–26–5 |
| 79 | L | March 31, 1984 | 1–3 | New York Islanders (1983–84) | 47–27–5 |
| 80 | W | April 1, 1984 | 4–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1983–84) | 48–27–5 |

## Playoffs
### Round 1: (P2) Washington Capitals vs. (P3) Philadelphia Flyers

* Washington won series 3–0

### Round 2: (P1) New York Islanders vs. (P2) Washington Capitals

* New York won series 4–1

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 80 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 90 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Dave Christian | RW | 80 | 29 | 52 | 81 | 28 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | RW | 69 | 32 | 43 | 75 | 16 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 80 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 51 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Alan Haworth | C | 75 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 52 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 80 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 69 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 72 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 50 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Scott Stevens | D | 78 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 201 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 80 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Bobby Gould | RW | 78 | 21 | 19 | 40 | 74 | -2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | LW | 79 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Glen Currie | C | 80 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rod Langway | D | 80 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 61 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Bryan Erickson | RW | 45 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 46 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Timo Blomqvist | D | 65 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 84 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Shand | D | 72 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 124 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Valentine | C | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 21 | -8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Peter Andersson | D | 42 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 57 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 133 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary McAdam | LW | 24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Theberge | D | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Sampson | LW | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Engblom | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul MacKinnon | D | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Evason | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lou Franceschetti | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Hidi | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Houston | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Mason | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Parro | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Riggin | G | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Al Jensen | 2414 | 43 | 25 | 13 | 3 | 117 | 2.91 | 4 |
| Pat Riggin | 2299 | 41 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 102 | 2.66 | 4 |
| Bob Mason | 120 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.50 | 0 |
| Dave Parro | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4834 | 80 | 48 | 27 | 5 | 222 | 2.76 | 8 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 8 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Christian | RW | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Stevens | D | 8 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Alan Haworth | C | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Erickson | RW | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | RW | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Langway | D | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | LW | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Gould | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Currie | C | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Sampson | LW | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Andersson | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Shand | D | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timo Blomqvist | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lou Franceschetti | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Hidi | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Riggin | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Al Jensen | 258 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 3.26 | 0 |
| Pat Riggin | 230 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2.35 | 0 |
| Team: | 488 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 2.83 | 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 1983 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 4 | 75 | Tim Bergland | United States | Thief River Falls High School (USHS-MN) |
| 5 | 95 | Martin Bouliane | Canada | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 135 | Dwaine Hutton | Canada | Kelowna Wings (WHL) |
| 8 | 155 | Marty Abrams | Canada | Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJAHL) |
| 9 | 175 | Dave Cowan | United States | Washburn High School (USHS-MN) |
| 10 | 195 | Yves Beaudoin | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 215 | Alain Raymond | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 216 | Anders Huss | Sweden | Gävle (Sweden) |