# 1981–82 Washington Capitals season

The 1981–82 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 54 | 16 | 10 | 385 | 250 | 118 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | 316 | 306 | 92 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 38 | 31 | 11 | 325 | 313 | 87 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 31 | 36 | 13 | 310 | 337 | 75 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 319 | 338 | 65 |
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
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
N.Y. Islanders
—6−26−1−16−27−0−125−5−2
N.Y. Rangers
2−6—4−2−24−3−13−2−313−13−6
Philadelphia
1−6−12−4−2—5−2−13−4−111−16−5
Pittsburgh
2−63−4−12–5–1—5−2−112−17−3
Washington
0−7−12−3−34–3–12–5–1—8−18−6
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
N.Y. Islanders
1−21−22−0−12−11−1−17−6−2
N.Y. Rangers
1−22−0−11−1−11−21−1−16−6−3
Philadelphia
2−12−13−01−21−1−19−5−1
Pittsburgh
1−1−11−22−0−11−23−08−5−2
Washington
0−30−32−12−10−2−14−10−1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
N.Y. Islanders
3−03−02−0−12−0−13−02−115−1−2
N.Y. Rangers
3−02−12−12−0−11−1−11−1−111−4−3
Philadelphia
1−1−12−0−11−1−13−02−11−210−5−3
Pittsburgh
0−1−21−21−21−20−1−22−15−9−4
Washington
1−21−0−20−2−12−12−12−18−7−3
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
N.Y. Islanders
1−0−22−0−11−1−11−22−17−4−4
N.Y. Rangers
2−0−12−0−10−32−13−09−4−2
Philadelphia
3−02−11−22−0−10−2−18−5−2
Pittsburgh
0−1−23−00−31−1−12−0−16−5−4
Washington
3−01−20−2−11−1−11−1−16−6−3 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 7, 1981 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 10, 1981 | 6–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 11, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 14, 1981 | 4–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 15, 1981 | 2–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 17, 1981 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | L | October 21, 1981 | 3–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 1–6–0 |
| 8 | L | October 23, 1981 | 2–4 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 1–7–0 |
| 9 | L | October 24, 1981 | 4–6 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 1–8–0 |
| 10 | L | October 28, 1981 | 0–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 1–9–0 |
| 11 | L | October 29, 1981 | 3–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 1–10–0 |
| 12 | L | October 31, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 1–11–0 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1981 | 1–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 1–12–0 |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1981 | 1–3 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 1–13–0 |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1981 | 2–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 1–14–0 |
| 16 | T | November 13, 1981 | 3–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 1–14–1 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1981 | 4–0 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 2–14–1 |
| 18 | W | November 18, 1981 | 7–1 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 3–14–1 |
| 19 | W | November 21, 1981 | 10–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 4–14–1 |
| 20 | W | November 22, 1981 | 3–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 5–14–1 |
| 21 | T | November 25, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 5–14–2 |
| 22 | W | November 27, 1981 | 5–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 6–14–2 |
| 23 | L | November 28, 1981 | 2–6 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 6–15–2 |
| 24 | W | December 2, 1981 | 9–3 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 7–15–2 |
| 25 | W | December 4, 1981 | 7–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 8–15–2 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1981 | 4–9 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 8–16–2 |
| 27 | L | December 9, 1981 | 3–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 8–17–2 |
| 28 | W | December 11, 1981 | 11–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 9–17–2 |
| 29 | L | December 12, 1981 | 4–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 9–18–2 |
| 30 | L | December 14, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 9–19–2 |
| 31 | L | December 17, 1981 | 1–4 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 9–20–2 |
| 32 | L | December 19, 1981 | 4–6 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 9–21–2 |
| 33 | W | December 20, 1981 | 3–2 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 10–21–2 |
| 34 | L | December 23, 1981 | 4–7 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 10–22–2 |
| 35 | T | December 26, 1981 | 4–4 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 10–22–3 |
| 36 | L | December 27, 1981 | 2–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 10–23–3 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1981 | 2–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 10–24–3 |
| 38 | W | January 2, 1982 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 11–24–3 |
| 39 | W | January 3, 1982 | 4–3 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 12–24–3 |
| 40 | L | January 5, 1982 | 0–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 12–25–3 |
| 41 | T | January 7, 1982 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 12–25–4 |
| 42 | L | January 9, 1982 | 4–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 12–26–4 |
| 43 | T | January 13, 1982 | 6–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 12–26–5 |
| 44 | T | January 16, 1982 | 5–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 12–26–6 |
| 45 | T | January 17, 1982 | 2–2 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 12–26–7 |
| 46 | L | January 20, 1982 | 0–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 12–27–7 |
| 47 | L | January 23, 1982 | 1–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 12–28–7 |
| 48 | T | January 24, 1982 | 4–4 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 12–28–8 |
| 49 | L | January 27, 1982 | 4–5 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 12–29–8 |
| 50 | W | January 30, 1982 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 13–29–8 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1982 | 8–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 14–29–8 |
| 52 | L | February 2, 1982 | 6–7 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 14–30–8 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1982 | 2–5 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 14–31–8 |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1982 | 6–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 15–31–8 |
| 55 | T | February 7, 1982 | 5–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 15–31–9 |
| 56 | W | February 11, 1982 | 5–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 16–31–9 |
| 57 | L | February 12, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 16–32–9 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 16–33–9 |
| 59 | W | February 17, 1982 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 17–33–9 |
| 60 | L | February 20, 1982 | 3–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 17–34–9 |
| 61 | W | February 21, 1982 | 6–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 18–34–9 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1982 | 9–1 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 19–34–9 |
| 63 | W | February 27, 1982 | 7–1 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 20–34–9 |
| 64 | L | February 28, 1982 | 1–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 20–35–9 |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1982 | 8–4 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 21–35–9 |
| 66 | W | March 5, 1982 | 8–6 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 22–35–9 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1982 | 1–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 22–36–9 |
| 68 | L | March 10, 1982 | 2–7 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 22–37–9 |
| 69 | W | March 13, 1982 | 6–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 23–37–9 |
| 70 | T | March 14, 1982 | 5–5 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 23–37–10 |
| 71 | T | March 17, 1982 | 6–6 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 23–37–11 |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1982 | 3–4 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 23–38–11 |
| 73 | L | March 21, 1982 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 23–39–11 |
| 74 | L | March 23, 1982 | 1–8 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 23–40–11 |
| 75 | W | March 25, 1982 | 4–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 24–40–11 |
| 76 | T | March 27, 1982 | 4–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 24–40–12 |
| 77 | L | March 28, 1982 | 5–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 24–41–12 |
| 78 | T | March 31, 1982 | 4–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 24–41–13 |
| 79 | W | April 3, 1982 | 6–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 25–41–13 |
| 80 | W | April 4, 1982 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 26–41–13 |

## Playoffs

The Capitals did not qualify for the post-season.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Dennis Maruk | C | 80 | 60 | 76 | 136 | 128 | -4 | 20 | 2 | 1 |
| Ryan Walter | C/LW | 78 | 38 | 49 | 87 | 142 | -3 | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 80 | 35 | 45 | 80 | 121 | -11 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 80 | 32 | 35 | 67 | 69 | -23 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Chris Valentine | C | 60 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 92 | -15 | 18 | 0 | 5 |
| Bengt-Ake Gustafsson | RW | 70 | 26 | 34 | 60 | 40 | -20 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 67 | 9 | 44 | 53 | 54 | -17 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Theberge | D | 57 | 5 | 32 | 37 | 49 | -8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Gould | RW | 60 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 69 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Rick Green | D | 65 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 93 | -12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Murray | D | 74 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 60 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | LW | 74 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 46 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Torrie Robertson | LW | 54 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 204 | -1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Norwood | D | 26 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 125 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Tim Tookey | C | 28 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 35 | -9 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Currie | C | 43 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wes Jarvis | C | 26 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lou Franceschetti | RW | 30 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 23 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Timo Blomqvist | D | 44 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 62 | -17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul MacKinnon | D | 39 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 35 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy Holt | D | 53 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 250 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McTaggart | D | 19 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tony Cassolato | RW | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roland Stoltz | RW | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Kelly | LW | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Bidner | LW | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jean Pronovost | RW | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Ribble | D | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Hangsleben | D | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Rowe | RW | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 26 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howard Walker | D | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orest Kindrachuk | C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Siltala | RW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Hicks | D | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Palmateer | G | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Parro | G | 52 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Calder | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Camazzola | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Johnston | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McGeough | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harvie Pocza | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Errol Rausse | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Dave Parro | 2942 | 52 | 16 | 26 | 7 | 206 | 4.20 | 1 |
| Al Jensen | 1274 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 81 | 3.81 | 0 |
| Mike Palmateer | 584 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 47 | 4.83 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 334 | 4.17 | 1 |
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 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 3 | Bobby Carpenter | United States | St. John's School (USHS-MA) |
| 3 | 45 | Eric Calder | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 68 | Tony Kellin | United States | Grand Rapids High School (USHS-MN) |
| 5 | 89 | Mike Siltala | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 91 | Peter Sidorkiewicz | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 110 | Jim McGeough | Canada | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
| 7 | 131 | Risto Jalo | Finland | Ilves (Finland) |
| 8 | 152 | Gaetan Duchesne | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 173 | George White | United States | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 10 | 194 | Chris Valentine | Canada | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |