# 1986–87 Washington Capitals season

The 1986–87 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 13th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 46 | 26 | 8 | 310 | 245 | 100 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 285 | 278 | 86 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 35 | 33 | 12 | 279 | 281 | 82 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 307 | 323 | 76 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 30 | 38 | 12 | 297 | 290 | 72 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 29 | 45 | 6 | 293 | 368 | 64 |
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
1986–87 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—2–54–32–4–14–31–613–21–1
N.Y. Islanders
5–2—3–3–13–45–0–22–3–218–12–2
N.Y. Rangers
3–43–3–1—4–33–2–24–317–15–3
Philadelphia
4–2–14–33–4—4–1–25–1–120–11–4
Pittsburgh
3–40–5–22–3–21–4–2—4–310–19–6
Washington
6–13–2–23–41–5–13–4—16–16–3
Vs. Adams Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
1–1–11–21–1–11–20–1–24–7–4
N.Y. Islanders
0–2–11–1–11–21–1–12–15–7–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–12–10–30–2–12–16–8–1
Philadelphia
2–12–11–22–0–12–0–19–4–2
Pittsburgh
1–22–0–10–31–1–13–07–6–2
Washington
1–1–11–21–23–00–2–16–7–2
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
1–22–11–22–11–27–8–0
N.Y. Islanders
1–22–13–01–1–12–19–5–1
N.Y. Rangers
1–1–11–21–1–11–21–1–15–7–3
Philadelphia
2–0–12–11–23–01–1–19–4–2
Pittsburgh
2–11–23–01–0–21–28–5–2
Washington
1–1–12–0–12–0–12–0–12–19–2–4
Vs. Smythe Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
1–21–21–22–0–10–35–9–1
N.Y. Islanders
0–2–10–2–11–21–21–1–13–9–2
N.Y. Rangers
1–20–32–0–12–11–26–8–1
Philadelphia
1–22–11–22–12–18–7–0
Pittsburgh
1–21–21–21–0–21–25–8–2
Washington
1–22–10–33–01–1–17–7–1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 9, 1986 | 4–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1986 | 1–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | W | October 13, 1986 | 7–6 OT | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 16, 1986 | 4–7 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1986 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | W | October 20, 1986 | 5–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | T | October 21, 1986 | 4–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | W | October 24, 1986 | 8–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | W | October 25, 1986 | 2–1 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 4–4–1 |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1986 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | L | October 29, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 5–5–1 |
| 12 | L | November 1, 1986 | 1–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1986 | 1–7 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 5–7–1 |
| 14 | W | November 5, 1986 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 6–7–1 |
| 15 | W | November 8, 1986 | 3–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 7–7–1 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 7–7–2 |
| 17 | T | November 12, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 7–7–3 |
| 18 | L | November 14, 1986 | 1–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 7–8–3 |
| 19 | L | November 16, 1986 | 2–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 7–9–3 |
| 20 | L | November 18, 1986 | 5–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 7–10–3 |
| 21 | T | November 21, 1986 | 3–3 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 7–10–4 |
| 22 | L | November 22, 1986 | 4–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 7–11–4 |
| 23 | T | November 26, 1986 | 2–2 OT | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 7–11–5 |
| 24 | L | November 28, 1986 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 7–12–5 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1986 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 7–13–5 |
| 26 | W | December 1, 1986 | 2–1 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 8–13–5 |
| 27 | T | December 3, 1986 | 3–3 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 8–13–6 |
| 28 | W | December 6, 1986 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 9–13–6 |
| 29 | W | December 9, 1986 | 4–2 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 10–13–6 |
| 30 | L | December 10, 1986 | 2–8 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 10–14–6 |
| 31 | L | December 14, 1986 | 1–3 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 10–15–6 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1986 | 1–6 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 10–16–6 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1986 | 4–6 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 10–17–6 |
| 34 | W | December 20, 1986 | 5–3 | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 11–17–6 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1986 | 2–1 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 12–17–6 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1986 | 5–7 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 12–18–6 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1986 | 1–3 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 12–19–6 |
| 38 | W | January 1, 1987 | 4–3 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 13–19–6 |
| 39 | L | January 3, 1987 | 1–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 13–20–6 |
| 40 | W | January 5, 1987 | 6–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 14–20–6 |
| 41 | L | January 7, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 14–21–6 |
| 42 | W | January 9, 1987 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 15–21–6 |
| 43 | T | January 11, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 15–21–7 |
| 44 | L | January 13, 1987 | 2–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 15–22–7 |
| 45 | W | January 15, 1987 | 3–2 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 16–22–7 |
| 46 | W | January 17, 1987 | 6–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 17–22–7 |
| 47 | W | January 18, 1987 | 6–1 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 18–22–7 |
| 48 | W | January 20, 1987 | 6–3 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 19–22–7 |
| 49 | W | January 23, 1987 | 3–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 20–22–7 |
| 50 | L | January 24, 1987 | 3–6 | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 20–23–7 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1987 | 5–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 20–24–7 |
| 52 | W | January 28, 1987 | 2–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 21–24–7 |
| 53 | T | January 30, 1987 | 3–3 OT | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 21–24–8 |
| 54 | W | February 1, 1987 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 22–24–8 |
| 55 | L | February 4, 1987 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 22–25–8 |
| 56 | L | February 6, 1987 | 2–5 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 22–26–8 |
| 57 | L | February 7, 1987 | 4–5 OT | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 22–27–8 |
| 58 | W | February 15, 1987 | 5–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 23–27–8 |
| 59 | L | February 18, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 23–28–8 |
| 60 | W | February 20, 1987 | 6–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 24–28–8 |
| 61 | W | February 22, 1987 | 5–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 25–28–8 |
| 62 | W | February 24, 1987 | 8–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 26–28–8 |
| 63 | W | February 27, 1987 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 27–28–8 |
| 64 | W | March 1, 1987 | 7–3 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 28–28–8 |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1987 | 3–2 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 29–28–8 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 29–29–8 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1987 | 2–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 29–30–8 |
| 68 | L | March 10, 1987 | 3–6 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 29–31–8 |
| 69 | W | March 13, 1987 | 10–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 30–31–8 |
| 70 | T | March 14, 1987 | 3–3 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 30–31–9 |
| 71 | L | March 17, 1987 | 4–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 30–32–9 |
| 72 | W | March 20, 1987 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 31–32–9 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1987 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 32–32–9 |
| 74 | W | March 24, 1987 | 3–1 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 33–32–9 |
| 75 | T | March 27, 1987 | 2–2 OT | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 33–32–10 |
| 76 | W | March 29, 1987 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 34–32–10 |
| 77 | W | March 31, 1987 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 35–32–10 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1987 | 5–1 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 36–32–10 |
| 79 | W | April 4, 1987 | 3–2 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 37–32–10 |
| 80 | W | April 5, 1987 | 6–5 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 38–32–10 |

## Playoffs

The 1987 playoff Capitals run was best known for the Easter Epic, when the Caps played the longest game 7 in their franchise history through four overtime periods. Unfortunately, they lost to the New York Islanders 3–2 in that game seven and lost the series 4–3.
* New York won series 4–3

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Larry Murphy | D | 80 | 23 | 58 | 81 | 39 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 78 | 41 | 32 | 73 | 61 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| Scott Stevens | D | 77 | 10 | 51 | 61 | 283 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 80 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 67 | -3 | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | LW | 74 | 17 | 35 | 52 | 53 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Dave Christian | RW | 76 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 8 | -5 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Bobby Gould | RW | 78 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 74 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 67 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 184 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Michal Pivoňka | C | 73 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 41 | -19 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Alan Haworth | C | 50 | 25 | 16 | 41 | 43 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike Ridley | C | 40 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 20 | -1 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Rod Langway | D | 78 | 2 | 25 | 27 | 53 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kevin Hatcher | D | 78 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 144 | -29 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Kelly Miller | LW | 39 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Lou Franceschetti | RW | 75 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 127 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| David Jensen | C | 46 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 12 | -10 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 22 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 21 | -7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Galley | D | 18 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Blum | D | 66 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 133 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Smith | D | 45 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 31 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Barrett | D | 55 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 43 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Peeters | G | 37 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Sampson | LW | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Greenlaw | LW | 22 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Corriveau | LW | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 24 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Kastelic | W | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 83 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Cavallini | D | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stephen Leach | RW | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yves Beaudoin | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Crawford | RW | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Martin | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Mason | G | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Thomson | RW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Bob Mason | 2536 | 45 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 137 | 3.24 | 0 | 1247 | 1110 | .890 |
| Pete Peeters | 2002 | 37 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 107 | 3.21 | 0 | 930 | 823 | .885 |
| Al Jensen | 328 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 4.94 | 0 | 184 | 157 | .853 |
| Team: | 4866 | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 271 | 3.34 | 0 | 2361 | 2090 | .885 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike Gartner | RW | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Stevens | D | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Miller | LW | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Christian | RW | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | LW | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Ridley | C | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bobby Gould | RW | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Haworth | C | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michal Pivonka | C | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Hatcher | D | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Kastelic | W | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Martin | LW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Blum | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Langway | D | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lou Franceschetti | RW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Galley | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Jensen | C | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Mason | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Peeters | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Smith | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Bob Mason | 309 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1.75 | 1 | 143 | 134 | .937 |
| Pete Peeters | 180 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3.00 | 0 | 76 | 67 | .882 |
| Team: | 489 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 2.21 | 1 | 219 | 201 | .918 |
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; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 19 | Jeff Greenlaw | Canada | Canadian National Development Team |
| 2 | 40 | Steve Seftel | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHL) |
| 3 | 60 | Shawn Simpson | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 3 | 61 | Jim Hrivnak | Canada | Merrimack College (Hockey East) |
| 4 | 82 | Erin Ginnell | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 5 | 103 | John Purves | Canada | Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL) |
| 6 | 124 | Stefan Nilsson | Sweden | Luleå HF (Sweden) |
| 7 | 145 | Peter Choma | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 8 | 166 | Lee Davidson | Canada | Penticton Knights (BCHL) |
| 9 | 187 | Tero Toivola | Finland | Tappara (Finland) |
| 10 | 208 | Bob Babcock | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 11 | 229 | John Schratz | Canada | Amherst Ramblers (MVLHL) |
| 12 | 250 | Scott McCrory | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| S2 | 22 | Steve Cousins | Canada | University of Alberta (CIAU) |