2017–18 Washington Capitals season

The 2017–18 Washington Capitals season was the 43rd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.[2] They played their home games at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. They were led by head coach Barry Trotz in his fourth season as coach of the Capitals. The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in organization history, defeating the inaugural-season Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals.

2017–18 Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup champions
Eastern Conference champions
Metropolitan Division champions
Division1st Metropolitan
Conference3rd Eastern
2017–18 record49–26–7
Home record28–11–2
Road record21–15–5
Goals for259
Goals against239
Team information
General managerBrian MacLellan
CoachBarry Trotz
CaptainAlexander Ovechkin
Alternate captainsNicklas Backstrom
Brooks Orpik
ArenaCapital One Arena
Average attendance18,774[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Hershey Bears (AHL)
South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsAlexander Ovechkin (49)
AssistsEvgeny Kuznetsov (56)
PointsAlexander Ovechkin (87)
Penalty minutesTom Wilson (187)
Plus/minusMatt Niskanen (+24)
WinsBraden Holtby (34)
Goals against averagePhilipp Grubauer (2.35)

The team finished the regular season with 105 points, winning the Metropolitan Division for the third year in a row. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they lost the first two games of their first round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets before winning the next four games to advance to the Conference Semi-finals against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, who ended the Capitals' playoffs each of the previous two years.[3][4] The Capitals defeated the Penguins in six games to advance the Eastern Conference Finals, their first trip to a conference championship series since 1998.[5] The Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games, after overcoming a 3-2 series deficit following a Game 5 loss for the first time in franchise history, with goaltender Braden Holtby posting shutouts in both Games 6 and 7 in the process, to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1998, when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.[6][7] The Capitals faced the first-year Vegas Golden Knights and defeated them in five games to earn the organization's first ever Stanley Cup,[8][9] while becoming the 100th Stanley Cup champions since 1914. Alexander Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.[10]

Standings
Metropolitan Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Washington Capitals 82 49 26 7 46 259 239 +20 105
2 x – Pittsburgh Penguins 82 47 29 6 45 272 250 +22 100
3 x – Philadelphia Flyers 82 42 26 14 40 251 243 +8 98
4 x – Columbus Blue Jackets 82 45 30 7 39 242 230 +12 97
5 x – New Jersey Devils 82 44 29 9 39 248 244 +4 97
6 Carolina Hurricanes 82 36 35 11 33 228 256 −28 83
7 New York Islanders 82 35 37 10 32 264 296 −32 80
8 New York Rangers 82 34 39 9 31 231 268 −37 77
Source: National Hockey League[11]
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Preseason

The Capitals' preseason schedule was released on June 7, 2017.[12]

2017 preseason game log: 2–5–0 (Home: 0–3–0; Road: 2–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecord
1September 18@ New Jersey Devils1–40–1–0
2September 20@ Montreal Canadiens4–21–1–0
3September 22St. Louis Blues0–41–2–0
4September 23Carolina Hurricanes1–41–3–0
5September 27New Jersey Devils1–41–4–0
6September 29@ Carolina Hurricanes1–31–5–0
7October 1@ St. Louis Blues4–32–5–0

Regular season

The team released its regular season schedule on June 22, 2017.[13]

2017–18 game log
October: 5–6–1, 11 points (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 4–3–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 5@ Ottawa5–4SOHoltbyCanadian Tire Centre17,0091–0–02Recap
2October 7Montreal6–1HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5062–0–04Recap
3October 9@ Tampa Bay3–4OTGrubauerAmalie Arena19,0922–0–15Recap
4October 11Pittsburgh2–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5062–1–15Recap
5October 13@ New Jersey5–2HoltbyPrudential Center13,4583–1–17Recap
6October 14@ Philadelphia2–8GrubauerWells Fargo Center19,8173–2–17Recap
7October 17Toronto0–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5063–3–17Recap
8October 20@ Detroit4–3OTHoltbyLittle Caesars Arena19,5154–3–19Recap
9October 21Florida1–4GrubauerCapital One Arena18,5064–4–19Recap
10October 26@ Vancouver2–6HoltbyRogers Arena18,2934–5–19Recap
11October 28@ Edmonton5–2HoltbyRogers Place18,3475–5–111Recap
12October 29@ Calgary1–2GrubauerScotiabank Saddledome18,3275–6–111Recap
November: 9–5–0, 18 points (Home: 7–2–0; Road: 2–3–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
13November 2NY Islanders4–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5066–6–113Recap
14November 4@ Boston3–2HoltbyTD Garden17,5657–6–115Recap
15November 6Arizona3–2OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,5068–6–117Recap
16November 7@ Buffalo1–3GrubauerKeyBank Center17,1468–7–117Recap
17November 10Pittsburgh4–1HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5069–7–119Recap
18November 12Edmonton2–1SOHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50610–7–121Recap
19November 14@ Nashville3–6HoltbyBridgestone Arena17,11310–8–121Recap
20November 16@ Colorado2–6GrubauerPepsi Center15,07010–9–121Recap
21November 18Minnesota3–1HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50611–9–123Recap
22November 20Calgary1–4HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50611–10–123Recap
23November 22Ottawa5–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50612–10–125Recap
24November 24Tampa Bay3–1GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50613–10–127Recap
25November 25@ Toronto4–2HoltbyAir Canada Centre19,40414–10–129Recap
26November 30Los Angeles2–5HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50614–11–129Recap
December: 10–2–2, 22 points (Home: 8–0–0; Road: 2–2–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
27December 2Columbus4–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50615–11–131Recap
28December 4San Jose4–1GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50616–11–133Recap
29December 6Chicago6–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50617–11–135Recap
30December 8NY Rangers4–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50618–11–137Recap
31December 11@ NY Islanders1–3HoltbyBarclays Center11,05318–12–137Recap
32December 12Colorado5–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50619–12–139Recap
33December 14@ Boston5–3HoltbyTD Garden17,56520–12–141Recap
34December 16Anaheim3–2OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50621–12–143Recap
35December 19@ Dallas4–3OTHoltbyAmerican Airlines Center18,11222–12–145Recap
36December 22@ Arizona2–3OTGrubauerGila River Arena10,90422–12–246Recap
37December 23@ Vegas0–3HoltbyT-Mobile Arena18,02522–13–246Recap
38December 27@ NY Rangers0–1SOGrubauerMadison Square Garden18,00622–13–347Recap
39December 28Boston4–3SOHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50623–13–349Recap
40December 30New Jersey5–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50624–13–351Recap
January: 6–2–2, 14 points (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
41January 2@ Carolina5–4OTHoltbyPNC Arena11,98925–13–353Recap
42January 7St. Louis4–3OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50626–13–355Recap
43January 9Vancouver3–1GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50627–13–357Recap
44January 11Carolina1–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50627–14–357Recap
45January 12@ Carolina4–3GrubauerPNC Arena16,23928–14–359Recap
46January 18@ New Jersey3–4OTHoltbyPrudential Center14,16328–14–460Recap
47January 19Montreal2–3GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50628–15–460Recap
48January 21Philadelphia1–2OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50628–15–561Recap
49January 25@ Florida4–2HoltbyBB&T Center14,03329–15–563Recap
50January 31Philadelphia5–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50630–15–565Recap
February: 6–6–2, 14 points (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–4–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
51February 2@ Pittsburgh4–7HoltbyPPG Paints Arena18,65230–16–565Recap
52February 4Vegas3–4GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50630–17–565Recap
53February 6@ Columbus3–2HoltbyNationwide Arena16,41931–17–567Recap
54February 9Columbus4–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50632–17–569Recap
55February 11Detroit4–5OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50632–17–670Recap
56February 13@ Winnipeg3–4OTHoltbyBell MTS Place15,32132–17–771Recap
57February 15@ Minnesota5–2GrubauerXcel Energy Center19,02733–17–773Recap
58February 17@ Chicago1–7HoltbyUnited Center22,06633–18–773Recap
59February 19@ Buffalo3–2GrubauerKeyBank Center18,22834–18–775Recap
60February 20Tampa Bay2–4HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50634–19–775Recap
61February 22@ Florida2–3HoltbyBB&T Center15,31234–20–775Recap
62February 24Buffalo5–1GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50635–20–777Recap
63February 26@ Columbus1–5HoltbyNationwide Arena17,38635–21–777Recap
64February 27Ottawa3–2GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50636–21–779Recap
March: 10–4–0, 20 points (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 5–3–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
65March 3Toronto5–2HoltbyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium29,516
(outdoors)		37–21–781Recap
66March 6@ Anaheim0–4HoltbyHonda Center15,91037–22–781Recap
67March 8@ Los Angeles1–3GrubauerStaples Center18,23037–23–781Recap
68March 10@ San Jose2–0GrubauerSAP Center17,56238–23–783Recap
69March 12Winnipeg3–2OTGrubauerCapital One Arena18,50639–23–785Recap
70March 15@ NY Islanders7–3GrubauerBarclays Center10,74040–23–787Recap
71March 16NY Islanders6–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50641–23–789Recap
72March 18@ Philadelphia3–6GrubauerWells Fargo Center19,68741–24–789Recap
73March 20Dallas4–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50642–24–791Recap
74March 22@ Detroit1–0GrubauerLittle Caesars Arena19,51543–24–793Recap
75March 24@ Montreal6–4GrubauerBell Centre21,30244–24–795Recap
76March 26@ NY Rangers4–2GrubauerMadison Square Garden18,00645–24–797Recap
77March 28NY Rangers3–2OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,50646–24–799Recap
78March 30Carolina1–4HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50646–25–799Recap
April: 3–1–0, 6 points (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 2–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
79April 1@ Pittsburgh3–1GrubauerPPG Paints Arena18,63947–25–7101Recap
80April 2@ St. Louis4–2HoltbyScottrade Center18,84148–25–7103Recap
81April 5Nashville3–4GrubauerCapital One Arena18,50648–26–7103Recap
82April 7New Jersey5–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,50649–26–7105Recap

  Win (2 Points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs
Main article: 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs

The Capitals endured hardships during their first successful Stanley Cup run through 24 games, and simultaneously became the second Stanley Cup champion to trail at least once in all four playoff rounds (1990–91 Pittsburgh Penguins) and the fourth to drop the first two games of the first series at home (2001–02 Detroit Red Wings, 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes, and 2010–11 Boston Bruins). This also makes such run the third-longest Stanley Cup run, tied with four other runs.[14]

2018 Stanley Cup playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets: Washington won 4–2
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 12Columbus3–4OTGrubauerCapital One Arena18,5060–1Recap
2April 15Columbus4–5OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,5060–2Recap
3April 17@ Columbus3–22OTHoltbyNationwide Arena19,3371–2Recap
4April 19@ Columbus4–1HoltbyNationwide Arena19,3952–2Recap
5April 21Columbus4–3OTHoltbyCapital One Arena18,5063–2Recap
6April 23@ Columbus6–3HoltbyNationwide Arena18,6674–2Recap
Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins: Washington won 4–2
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 26Pittsburgh2–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5060–1Recap
2April 29Pittsburgh4–1HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5061–1Recap
3May 1@ Pittsburgh4–3HoltbyPPG Paints Arena18,6342–1Recap
4May 3@ Pittsburgh1–3HoltbyPPG Paints Arena18,6502–2Recap
5May 5Pittsburgh6–3HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5063–2Recap
6May 7@ Pittsburgh2–1OTHoltbyPPG Paints Arena18,6214–2Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning: Washington won 4–3
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 11@ Tampa Bay4–2HoltbyAmalie Arena19,0921–0Recap
2May 13@ Tampa Bay6–2HoltbyAmalie Arena19,0922–0Recap
3May 15Tampa Bay2–4HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5062–1Recap
4May 17Tampa Bay2–4HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5062–2Recap
5May 19@ Tampa Bay2–3HoltbyAmalie Arena19,0922–3Recap
6May 21Tampa Bay3–0HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5063–3Recap
7May 23@ Tampa Bay4–0HoltbyAmalie Arena19,0924–3Recap
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (P1) Vegas Golden Knights: Washington won 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 28@ Vegas4–6HoltbyT-Mobile Arena18,5750–1Recap
2May 30@ Vegas3–2HoltbyT-Mobile Arena18,7021–1Recap
3June 2Vegas3–1HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5062–1Recap
4June 4Vegas6–2HoltbyCapital One Arena18,5063–1Recap
5June 7@ Vegas4–3HoltbyT-Mobile Arena18,5294–1Recap

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Final Stats[15]

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular season[15]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Braden Holtby54543,067:48341641532.991,648.9070002
Philipp Grubauer35281,864:4815103732.35953.9233010
Playoffs
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Braden Holtby23221385:45167502.16639.9222012
Philipp Grubauer22105:230184.5549.8370000

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Statistics reflect time with the Capitals only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Statistics reflect time with the Capitals only.

Transactions

The Capitals have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades
DateDetailsRef
July 3, 2017 (2017-07-03) To New Jersey Devils
Marcus Johansson		 To Washington Capitals
FLA's 2nd-round pick in 2018
TOR's 3rd-round pick in 2018		 [16]
February 9, 2018 (2018-02-09) To New York Rangers
John Albert
Hubert Labrie		 To Washington Capitals
Adam Chapie
Joe Whitney		 [17]
February 19, 2018 (2018-02-19) To Chicago Blackhawks
Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2018		 To Washington Capitals
Michal Kempny		 [18]
February 21, 2018 (2018-02-21) To Montreal Canadiens
5th-round draft pick in 2019		 To Washington Capitals
Jakub Jerabek		 [19]
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