1997–98 Washington Capitals season

The 1997–98 Washington Capitals season saw the team reach the 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 6 on a goal by Juneau) en route to the team's first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The Capitals won five overtime games, two against the Bruins and three against Sabres. However, they were no match for the defending cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings, who won in a four-game sweep. It was also the team’s first year at the MCI Center.

1997–98 Washington Capitals
Eastern Conference champions
Division3rd Atlantic
Conference4th Eastern
1997–98 record40–30–12
Home record23–12–6
Road record17–18–6
Goals for219
Goals against202
Team information
General managerGeorge McPhee
CoachRon Wilson
CaptainDale Hunter
ArenaUS Airways Arena (until Nov. 26, 1997)
MCI Center (from Dec. 5, 1997 onward)
Average attendance15,275
Minor league affiliate(s)Portland Pirates
Hampton Roads Admirals
Team leaders
GoalsPeter Bondra (52)
AssistsAdam Oates (58)
PointsPeter Bondra (78)
Penalty minutesCraig Berube (189)
Plus/minusJoe Reekie (+15)
WinsOlaf Kolzig (33)
Goals against averageOlaf Kolzig (2.20)

Offseason

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 three different players reach that same milestone in a single season.

The Capitals had a very effective penalty kill during the regular season, allowing the fewest power-play goals (39) and finishing with the highest penalty-kill percentage (89.23%).[1]

Season standings
Atlantic Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey Devils82482311225166107
2Philadelphia Flyers8242291124219395
3Washington Capitals8240301221920292
4New York Islanders8230411121222571
5New York Rangers8225391819723168
6Florida Panthers8224431520325663
7Tampa Bay Lightning8217551015126944
Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82482311225166107
2Pittsburgh PenguinsNE8240241822818898
3Philadelphia FlyersATL8242291124219395
4Washington CapitalsATL8240301221920292
5Boston BruinsNE8239301322119491
6Buffalo SabresNE8236291721118789
7Montreal CanadiensNE8237321323520887
8Ottawa SenatorsNE8234331519320083
9Carolina HurricanesNE823341820021974
10New York IslandersATL8230411121222571
11New York RangersATL8225391819723168
12Florida PanthersATL8224431520325663
13Tampa Bay LightningATL8217551015126944

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season
1997–98 regular season[3]
October: 7–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 1, 19974–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)1–0–0Recap
2WOctober 3, 19976–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)2–0–0Recap
3WOctober 4, 19974–1New Jersey Devils (1997–98)3–0–0Recap
4WOctober 8, 19976–3@ New York Islanders (1997–98)4–0–0Recap
5LOctober 9, 19972–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)4–1–0Recap
6WOctober 11, 19973–1New York Islanders (1997–98)5–1–0Recap
7WOctober 15, 19972–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)6–1–0Recap
8WOctober 24, 19973–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)7–1–0Recap
9LOctober 22, 19973–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)7–2–0Recap
10TOctober 23, 19973–3 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)7–2–1Recap
11LOctober 25, 19972–5@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)7–3–1Recap
12LOctober 29, 19973–4Dallas Stars (1997–98)7–4–1Recap
13TOctober 31, 19972–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1997–98)7–4–2Recap
November: 6–6–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14LNovember 1, 19971–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)7–5–2Recap
15WNovember 4, 19972–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–5–2Recap
16LNovember 6, 19970–2@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)8–6–2Recap
17WNovember 8, 19972–1Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)9–6–2Recap
18LNovember 9, 19972–3@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)9–7–2Recap
19WNovember 12, 19974–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)10–7–2Recap
20WNovember 13, 19973–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)11–7–2Recap
21WNovember 15, 19973–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)12–7–2Recap
22TNovember 18, 19976–6 OTColorado Avalanche (1997–98)12–7–3Recap
23LNovember 22, 19972–5San Jose Sharks (1997–98)12–8–3Recap
24WNovember 23, 19975–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)13–8–3Recap
25LNovember 26, 19975–6Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)13–9–3Recap
26LNovember 27, 19971–3@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)13–10–3Recap
27TNovember 29, 19971–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)13–10–4Recap
December: 4–5–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28WDecember 2, 19973–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)14–10–4Recap
29WDecember 5, 19973–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)15–10–4Recap
30LDecember 7, 19974–5@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)15–11–4Recap
31TDecember 10, 19973–3 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)15–11–5Recap
32LDecember 12, 19974–6@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–12–5Recap
33TDecember 13, 19972–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)15–12–6Recap
34TDecember 16, 19972–2 OTNew York Islanders (1997–98)15–12–7Recap
35LDecember 18, 19970–4Florida Panthers (1997–98)15–13–7Recap
36WDecember 20, 19972–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)16–13–7Recap
37TDecember 23, 19971–1 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)16–13–8Recap
38LDecember 26, 19971–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)16–14–8Recap
39LDecember 27, 19970–3Ottawa Senators (1997–98)16–15–8Recap
40WDecember 29, 19974–2St. Louis Blues (1997–98)17–15–8Recap
January: 9–2–2 (home: 6–1–1; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
41WJanuary 1, 19983–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)18–15–8Recap
42LJanuary 3, 19982–3New York Rangers (1997–98)18–16–8Recap
43WJanuary 6, 19985–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)19–16–8Recap
44WJanuary 8, 19985–3@ New York Rangers (1997–98)20–16–8Recap
45WJanuary 9, 19984–1Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)21–16–8Recap
46LJanuary 11, 19980–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)21–17–8Recap
47WJanuary 13, 19984–0Ottawa Senators (1997–98)22–17–8Recap
48WJanuary 15, 19983–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)23–17–8Recap
49WJanuary 21, 19983–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)24–17–8Recap
50WJanuary 25, 19984–1Boston Bruins (1997–98)25–17–8Recap
51TJanuary 26, 19982–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)25–17–9Recap
52TJanuary 28, 19982–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)25–17–10Recap
53WJanuary 31, 19983–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)26–17–10Recap
February: 0–4–1 (home: 0–3–0; road: 0–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54LFebruary 1, 19982–4Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)26–18–10Recap
55TFebruary 4, 19982–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)26–18–11Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19983–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–19–11Recap
57LFebruary 25, 19983–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–20–11Recap
58LFebruary 28, 19982–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)26–21–11Recap
March: 8–7–0 (home: 6–2–0; road: 2–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59LMarch 1, 19980–3Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)26–22–11Recap
60LMarch 3, 19980–3Boston Bruins (1997–98)26–23–11Recap
61LMarch 5, 19982–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)26–24–11Recap
62WMarch 7, 19986–3Florida Panthers (1997–98)27–24–11Recap
63WMarch 9, 19985–2Calgary Flames (1997–98)28–24–11Recap
64WMarch 12, 19982–1@ New York Islanders (1997–98)29–24–11Recap
65LMarch 14, 19980–4@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)29–25–11Recap
66WMarch 16, 19982–1Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)30–25–11Recap
67WMarch 18, 19981–0Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)31–25–11Recap
68WMarch 20, 19982–0New Jersey Devils (1997–98)32–25–11Recap
69LMarch 21, 19982–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)32–26–11Recap
70LMarch 25, 19982–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)32–27–11Recap
71LMarch 26, 19982–3@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)32–28–11Recap
72WMarch 28, 19983–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)33–28–11Recap
73WMarch 31, 19985–2New York Islanders (1997–98)34–28–11Recap
April: 6–2–1 (home: 4–0–1; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 2, 19984–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)35–28–11Recap
75WApril 4, 19983–2Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)36–28–11Recap
76TApril 6, 19982–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)36–28–12Recap
77LApril 8, 19981–2 OT@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)36–29–12Recap
78LApril 11, 19983–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)36–30–12Recap
79WApril 13, 19982–0@ New York Islanders (1997–98)37–30–12Recap
80WApril 14, 19983–1New York Rangers (1997–98)38–30–12Recap
81WApril 18, 19984–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)39–30–12Recap
82WApril 19, 19982–1Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)40–30–12Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1998 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Boston Bruins – Capitals win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 22, 19983–1Boston BruinsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 24, 19983–4 2OTBoston BruinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 26, 19983–2 2OT@ Boston BruinsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 28, 19983–0@ Boston BruinsCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 1, 19980–4Boston BruinsCapitals lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 3, 19983–2 OT@ Boston BruinsCapitals win 4–2Recap
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (8) Ottawa Senators – Capitals win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 7, 19984–2Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2WMay 9, 19986–1Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 2–0Recap
3LMay 11, 19983–4@ Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 13, 19982–0@ Ottawa SenatorsCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 15, 19983–0Ottawa SenatorsCapitals win 4–1Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres – Capitals win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 23, 19980–2Buffalo SabresSabres lead 1–0Recap
2WMay 25, 19983–2 OTBuffalo SabresSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 28, 19984–3 OT@ Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 30, 19982–0@ Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5LJune 2, 19981–2Buffalo SabresCapitals lead 3–2Recap
6WJune 4, 19983–2 OT@ Buffalo SabresCapitals win 4–2Recap
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (W3) Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LJune 9, 19981–2@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 1–0Recap
2LJune 11, 19984–5 OT@ Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 2–0Recap
3LJune 13, 19981–2Detroit Red WingsRed Wings lead 3–0Recap
4LJune 16, 19981–4Detroit Red WingsRed Wings win 4–0Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring
  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12Peter BondraRW765226781444177512412
77Adam OatesC82185876636216111788
6Calle JohanssonD73152035−1130212810916
22Steve KonowalchukLW80102434980——————
90Joe JuneauC5692231−826217101768
96Phil HousleyD6462531−102418044−24
44Richard ZednikRW6517926−228177310016
32Dale HunterC8281826110321044−130
18Andrew BrunetteLW28111223212——————
55Sergei GoncharD7251621266217411230
24Mark TinordiD47891793921123642
17Chris SimonLW2871017−13818101−326
13Andrei NikolishinC38610161142111314412
8Jan BulisC4851116−518——————
3Sylvain Cote‡D5911516−536——————
27Craig BerubeLW746915−318921101021
10Kelly MillerLW767714−2411001124
9Todd KrygierLW4521214−33013123−26
11Esa Tikkanen†LW2021012−4221336−220
29Joe ReekieD682810157021123420
23Brian Bellows†LW11639−3621671366
20Michal PivonkaC333695201303350
19Brendan WittD64178−1111216101−114
21Jeff Toms†C33347−1181000−10
2Ken KleeD51426−3469101210
28Jeff Brown†D906646202210
34Jaroslav SvejkovskyRW17415−510100002
36Mike EaglesLW36134−2161202212
28Jan BendaC903316——————
38Nolan BaumgartnerD401100——————
48Benoit GrattonC601116——————
37Olaf KolzigG6401112210004
30Bill RanfordG220110——————
25Brad ChurchLW200000——————
43David HarlockD600024——————
42Dwayne Hay‡LW200002——————
4Stewart MalgunasD8000112——————
26Ryan MulhernC300000——————
14Pat PeakeC100004——————

Goaltending
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
37Olaf Kolzig6433181017291392.20.9205378821129740441.95.94141351
30Bill Ranford227122555552.79.90101183—————————

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Bondra [4]
Olaf Kolzig

Milestones
Milestone Player Date Ref
1,000th point Adam Oates October 8, 1997 [5]
Phil Housley November 8, 1997 [6]
Dale Hunter January 9, 1998 [7]

Draft picks
See also: List of Washington Capitals draft picks

Below are the Washington Capitals' selections at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21, 1997 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[8]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 9 Nick Boynton D  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL)
2 35 Jean-Francois Fortin D  Canada Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL)
4 89 Curtis Cruickshank G  Canada Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
5 116 Kevin Caulfield RW  United States Boston College (NCAA)
6 143 Henrik Petre D  Sweden Djurgårdens IF-jr. (Allsvenskan)
8 200 Pierre-Luc Therrien G  Canada Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
9 226 Matt Oikawa RW  Canada St. Lawrence University (NCAA)

Farm teams

Portland Pirates

See also

References
  • "Washington Capitals 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  • "1997-98 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  1. "1997-98 NHL Summary".
  2. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  3. "1997-98 Washington Capitals Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  4. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1998". NHL.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. "Oates scores 1,000th point in Caps' win". New Bedford Standard-Times. October 9, 1997. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. "Avalanche buries Blues, 4-1". Deseret News. November 9, 1997. Retrieved July 9, 2023. At Landover, Md., Phil Housley became the second American-born player in NHL history to score 1,000 points, tallying an assist as the Washington Capitals beat the Edmonton Oilers.
  7. "Battle of Best Ends Up Even". Los Angeles Times. January 10, 1998. Retrieved July 9, 2023. Washington 4, Philadelphia 1--The Capitals' Dale Hunter assisted on the three second-period goals, giving the 18-year veteran 682 assists to go with 318 goals for 1,000 points, as Washington won at home.
  8. "1997 NHL Draft". NHL. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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