1997–98 Washington Capitals season

The 1997–98 Washington Capitals season saw the team reach the 1998 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 six on a goal by Joe Juneau) en route to the team's first (and to date, only) Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The Capitals won six overtime games, three in each of their series against the Bruins and Sabres. However, the team was no match for the defending champs, the Detroit Red Wings, who won in a four-game sweep. 
==Offseason==
===NHL Draft===
Round	#	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1 	9	Nick Boynton (D)	 	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
==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 3 different players reach that same milestone in a single season.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
No.	R	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W	October 1, 1997 	4–1 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 	1–0–0
2 	W	October 3, 1997 	6–2 	Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 	2–0–0
3 	W	October 4, 1997 	4–1 	New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 	3–0–0
4 	W	October 8, 1997 	6–3 	@ New York Islanders (1997–98) 	4–0–0
5 	L	October 9, 1997 	2–5 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 	4–1–0
6 	W	October 11, 1997 	3–1 	New York Islanders (1997–98) 	5–1–0
7 	W	October 15, 1997 	2–0 	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 	6–1–0
8 	W	October 18, 1997 	3–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 	7–1–0
9 	L	October 22, 1997 	3–4 	@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 	7–2–0
10 	T	October 23, 1997 	3–3 OT	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 	7–2–1
11 	L	October 25, 1997 	2–5 	@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 	7–3–1
12 	L	October 29, 1997 	3–4 	Dallas Stars (1997–98) 	7–4–1
13 	T	October 31, 1997 	2–2 OT	Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 	7–4–2
14 	L	November 1, 1997 	1–3 	@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 	7–5–2
15 	W	November 4, 1997 	2–1 	Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 	8–5–2
16 	L	November 6, 1997 	0–2 	@ Boston Bruins (1997–98) 	8–6–2
17 	W	November 8, 1997 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 	9–6–2
18 	L	November 9, 1997 	2–3 	@ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	9–7–2
19 	W	November 12, 1997	4–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 	10–7–2
20 	W	November 13, 1997	3–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 	11–7–2
21 	W	November 15, 1997	3–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 	12–7–2
22 	T	November 18, 1997	6–6 OT	Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 	12–7–3
23 	L	November 22, 1997	2–5 	San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 	12–8–3
24 	W	November 23, 1997	5–2 	@ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	13–8–3
25 	L	November 26, 1997	5–6 	Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 	13–9–3
26 	L	November 27, 1997	1–3 	@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 	13–10–3
27 	T	November 29, 1997	1–1 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1997–98) 	13–10–4
28 	W	December 2, 1997 	3–2 OT	@ New York Rangers (1997–98) 	14–10–4
29 	W	December 5, 1997 	3–2 OT	Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	15–10–4
30 	L	December 7, 1997 	4–5 	@ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	15–11–4
31 	T	December 10, 1997	3–3 OT	@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 	15–11–5
32 	L	December 12, 1997	4–6 	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)	15–12–5
33 	T	December 13, 1997	2–2 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 	15–12–6
34 	T	December 16, 1997	2–2 OT	New York Islanders (1997–98) 	15–12–7
35 	L	December 18, 1997	0–4 	Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	15–13–7
36 	W	December 20, 1997	2–1 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 	16–13–7
37 	T	December 23, 1997	1–1 OT	New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 	16–13–8
38 	L	December 26, 1997	1–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 	16–14–8
39 	L	December 27, 1997	0–3 	Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 	16–15–8
40 	W	December 29, 1997	4–2 	St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 	17–15–8
41 	W	January 1, 1998 	3–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 	18–15–8
42 	L	January 3, 1998 	2–3 	New York Rangers (1997–98) 	18–16–8
43 	W	January 6, 1998 	5–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 	19–16–8
44 	W	January 8, 1998 	5–3 	@ New York Rangers (1997–98) 	20–16–8
45 	W	January 9, 1998 	4–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 	21–16–8
46 	L	January 11, 1998 	0–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 	21–17–8
47 	W	January 13, 1998 	4–0 	Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 	22–17–8
48 	W	January 15, 1998 	3–2 	Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 	23–17–8
49 	W	January 21, 1998 	3–2 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 	24–17–8
50 	W	January 25, 1998 	4–1 	Boston Bruins (1997–98) 	25–17–8
51 	T	January 26, 1998 	2–2 OT	@ New York Rangers (1997–98) 	25–17–9
52 	T	January 28, 1998 	2–2 OT	Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 	25–17–10
53 	W	January 31, 1998 	3–2 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 	26–17–10
54 	L	February 1, 1998 	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 	26–18–10
55 	T	February 4, 1998 	2–2 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 	26–18–11
56 	L	February 7, 1998 	3–4 	Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 	26–19–11
57 	L	February 25, 1998	3–4 	Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 	26–20–11
58 	L	February 28, 1998	2–5 	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 	26–21–11
59 	L	March 1, 1998 	0–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 	26–22–11
60 	L	March 3, 1998 	0–3 	Boston Bruins (1997–98) 	26–23–11
61 	L	March 5, 1998 	2–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 	26–24–11
62 	W	March 7, 1998 	6–3 	Florida Panthers (1997–98) 	27–24–11
63 	W	March 9, 1998 	5–2 	Calgary Flames (1997–98) 	28–24–11
64 	W	March 12, 1998 	2–1 	@ New York Islanders (1997–98) 	29–24–11
65 	L	March 14, 1998 	0–4 	@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 	29–25–11
66 	W	March 16, 1998 	2–1 	Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 	30–25–11
67 	W	March 18, 1998 	1–0 	Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 	31–25–11
68 	W	March 20, 1998 	2–0 	New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 	32–25–11
69 	L	March 21, 1998 	2–3 	@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 	32–26–11
70 	L	March 25, 1998 	2–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 	32–27–11
71 	L	March 26, 1998 	2–3 	@ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 	32–28–11
72 	W	March 28, 1998 	3–2 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 	33–28–11
73 	W	March 31, 1998 	5–2 	New York Islanders (1997–98) 	34–28–11
74 	W	April 2, 1998 	4–1 	Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 	35–28–11
75 	W	April 4, 1998 	3–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 	36–28–11
76 	T	April 6, 1998 	2–2 OT	Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 	36–28–12
77 	L	April 8, 1998 	1–2 OT	@ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 	36–29–12
78 	L	April 11, 1998 	3–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 	36–30–12
79 	W	April 13, 1998 	2–0 	@ New York Islanders (1997–98) 	37–30–12
80 	W	April 14, 1998 	3–1 	New York Rangers (1997–98) 	38–30–12
81 	W	April 18, 1998 	4–3 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 	39–30–12
82 	W	April 19, 1998 	2–1 	Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 	40–30–12
==Playoffs==
===Eastern Conference Quarter-finals===
Boston vs. Washington 	Boston vs. Washington 	Boston vs. Washington 	Boston vs. Washington
Date 	Away 	Home 	
April 22 	Boston 1 	3 Washington 	
April 24 	Boston 4 	3 Washington 	2OT
April 26 	Washington 3 	2 Boston 	2OT
April 28 	Washington 3 	0 Boston 	
May 1 	Boston 4 	0 Washington 	
May 3 	Washington 3 	2 Boston 	OT
Washington wins series 4–2	Washington wins series 4–2	Washington wins series 4–2	Washington wins series 4–2
===Eastern Conference Semi-finals===
Ottawa vs. Washington 	Ottawa vs. Washington 	Ottawa vs. Washington 	Ottawa vs. Washington
Date 	Away 	Home 	
May 7 	Ottawa 2 	4 Washington 	
May 9 	Ottawa 1 	6 Washington 	
May 11 	Washington 3 	4 Ottawa 	
May 13 	Washington 2 	0 Ottawa 	
May 15 	Ottawa 0 	3 Washington 	
Washington win series 4–1	Washington win series 4–1	Washington win series 4–1	Washington win series 4–1
===Eastern Conference Finals===
Buffalo vs. Washington 	Buffalo vs. Washington 	Buffalo vs. Washington 	Buffalo vs. Washington
Date 	Away 	Home 	
May 23 	Buffalo 2 	0 Washington 	
May 25 	Buffalo 2 	3 Washington 	OT
May 28 	Washington 4 	3 Buffalo 	OT
May 30 	Washington 2 	0 Buffalo 	
June 2 	Buffalo 2 	1 Washington 	
June 4 	Washington 3 	2 Buffalo 	OT
Washington wins series 4–2and Prince of Wales Trophy	Washington wins series 4–2and Prince of Wales Trophy	Washington wins series 4–2and Prince of Wales Trophy	Washington wins series 4–2and Prince of Wales Trophy
===Stanley Cup Finals===
Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit
Date 	Away 	Home 	
June 9 	Washington 1 	2 Detroit 	
June 11 	Washington 4 	5 Detroit 	OT
June 13 	Detroit 2 	1 Washington 	
June 16 	Detroit 4 	1 Washington 	
Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup
Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	76	52	26	78 	44 	14 	11 	5 	13
 	C 	82	18	58	76 	36 	6 	3 	2 	3
 	D 	73	15	20	35 	30 	-11	10 	1 	1
 	LW 	80	10	24	34 	80 	9 	2 	0 	2
 	C 	56	9 	22	31 	26 	-8 	4 	1 	1
 	D 	64	6 	25	31 	24 	-10	4 	1 	0
 	RW 	65	17	9 	26 	28 	-2 	2 	0 	2
 	C 	82	8 	18	26 	103	1 	0 	0 	1
 	LW 	28	11	12	23 	12 	2 	4 	0 	2
 	D 	72	5 	16	21 	66 	2 	2 	0 	0
 	D 	47	8 	9 	17 	39 	9 	0 	1 	0
 	LW 	28	7 	10	17 	38 	-1 	4 	0 	1
 	C 	38	6 	10	16 	14 	1 	1 	0 	1
 	C 	48	5 	11	16 	18 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	59	1 	15	16 	36 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	74	6 	9 	15 	189	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	76	7 	7 	14 	41 	-2 	0 	3 	3
 	LW 	45	2 	12	14 	30 	-3 	0 	0 	1
 	LW 	20	2 	10	12 	2 	-4 	1 	0 	2
 	D 	68	2 	8 	10 	70 	15 	0 	0 	1
 	LW 	11	6 	3 	9 	6 	-3 	5 	0 	2
 	C 	33	3 	6 	9 	20 	5 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	64	1 	7 	8 	112	-11	0 	0 	0
 	C 	33	3 	4 	7 	8 	-11	0 	0 	1
 	D 	51	4 	2 	6 	46 	-3 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	0 	6 	6 	6 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	17	4 	1 	5 	10 	-5 	2 	0 	1
 	C/LW	36	1 	3 	4 	16 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	9 	0 	3 	3 	6 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	6 	0 	1 	1 	6 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	64	0 	1 	1 	12 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	22	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	6 	0 	0 	0 	4 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	0 	0 	0 	12 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	1 	0 	0 	0 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GA 	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	3788	64	33	18	10	139	2.20	5 	1729	1590	.920
 	1183	22	7 	12	2 	55 	2.79	0 	555 	500 	.901
Team: 	4971	82	40	30	12	194	2.34	5 	2284	2090	.915
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	21	7	10	17 	8 	1 	1 	4
 	C 	21	6	11	17 	8 	1 	1 	1
 	C 	21	1	13	14 	12 	1 	0 	0
 	LW 	21	6	7 	13 	6 	2 	0 	1
 	RW 	17	7	5 	12 	12 	3 	0 	2
 	D 	21	7	4 	11 	30 	3 	1 	2
 	RW 	17	7	3 	10 	16 	2 	0 	0
 	D 	21	2	8 	10 	16 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	21	3	3 	6 	20 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	18	0	4 	4 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	21	0	4 	4 	30 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	13	1	2 	3 	6 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	21	1	2 	3 	20 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	21	1	2 	3 	42 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	13	0	3 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C/LW	12	0	2 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	21	1	0 	1 	21 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	1	0 	1 	10 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	18	1	0 	1 	26 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	16	1	0 	1 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	10	0	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	21	0	0 	0 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	1 	0	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	1 	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	GA	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	1351	21	12	9	44	1.95	4 	740	696	.941
Team: 	1351	21	12	9	44	1.95	4 	740	696	.941
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; 
==Awards & records==
==Transactions==
==Roster==
==Draft picks==
==Farm teams==
==See also==
* 1997–98 NHL season
==References==
*Capitals on Hockey Database
</div>
Washington Capitals season, 1997–98
Washington Capitals season, 1997–98
Category:Washington Capitals seasons