1982–83 Washington Capitals season

The 1982–83 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They qualified for the playoffs for the very first time in franchise history after eight frustrating seasons.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- | 1 || || Washington || 5–4 || NY Rangers || Riggin || Madison Square Garden || 17,413 || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- | 2 || || Philadelphia || 3–2 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 17,704 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- | 3 || || Washington || 4–6 || Philadelphia || Moore || Spectrum || 16,790 || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- | 4 || || Washington || 5–3 || Toronto || Parro || Maple Leaf Gardens || 16,300 || 2–2–0 || 4 || |- | 5 || <br>8:05p.m. EDT || Buffalo || 9–2 || Washington || Parro || Capital Centre || 13,710 || 2–3–0 || 4 || |- | 6 || <br>7:35p.m. EDT || Montreal || 3–3 || Washington || Parro || Capital Centre || 12,849 || 2–3–1 || 5 || |- | 7 || <br>8:05p.m. EDT || Washington || 3–6 || NY Islanders || Riggin || Nassau Coliseum || 14,633 || 2–4–1 || 5 || |- | 8 || <br>8:05p.m. EDT || Minnesota || 3–1 || Washington || Parro || Capital Centre || 12,768 || 2–5–1 || 5 || |- | 9 || || Washington || 5–7 || Pittsburgh || Parro || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 6,916 || 2–6–1 || 5 || |- | 10 || || Washington || 6–5 || St. Louis || Riggin || Checkerdome || 10,689 || 3–6–1 || 7 || |-

|- | 11 || <br>8:35p.m. EST || Washington || 3–3 || Chicago || Riggin || Chicago Stadium || 13,864 || 3–6–2 || 8 || |- | 12 || || St. Louis || 4–3 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 14,337 || 3–7–2 || 8 || |- | 13 || <br>7:05p.m. EST || Hartford || 2–6 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 12,816 || 4–7–2 || 10 || |- | 14 || <br>7:45p.m. EST || Washington || 2–2 || New Jersey || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena || 10,273 || 4–7–3 || 11 || |- | 15 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 0–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 12,445 || 5–7–3 || 13 || |- | 16 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || NY Islanders || 1–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 14,131 || 6–7–3 || 15 || |- | 17 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Calgary || 3–5 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 10,705 || 7–7–3 || 17 || |- | 18 || || Washington || 3–3 || Winnipeg || Jensen || Winnipeg Arena || 11,555 || 7–7–4 || 18 || |- | 19 || || Washington || 3–5 || Vancouver || Riggin || Pacific Coliseum || 12,154 || 7–8–4 || 18 || |- | 20 || <br>9:35p.m. EST || Washington || 3–6 || Calgary || Jensen || Stampede Corral || 7,242 || 7–9–4 || 18 || |- | 21 || <br>9:35p.m. EST || Washington || 3–3 || Edmonton || Riggin || Northlands Coliseum || 17,498 || 7–9–5 || 19 || |- | 22 || || Toronto || 3–5 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 13,752 || 8–9–5 || 21 || |- | 23 || <br>7:05p.m. EST || NY Islanders || 3–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || <br>12,380 || 8–9–6 || 22 || |-

|- | 24 || || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8,827 || 9–9–6 || 24 || |- | 25 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Chicago || 2–4 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 10,885 || 10–9–6 || 26 || |- | 26 || || Winnipeg || 3–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8,612 || 10–9–7 || 27 || |- | 27 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 6–4 || New Jersey || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena || 9,123 || 11–9–7 || 29 || |- | 28 || || NY Rangers || 4–4 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 12,551 || 11–9–8 || 30 || |- | 29 || <br>7:05p.m. EST || Boston || 3–4 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 10,435 || 12–9–8 || 32 || |- | 30 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Los Angeles || 2–7 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8,696 || 13–9–8 || 34 || |- | 31 || <br>8:35p.m. EST || Washington || 4–4 || Minnesota || Riggin || Met Center || 12,340 || 13–9–9 || 35 || |- | 32 || || Washington || 3–1 || Pittsburgh || Jensen || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 8,250 || 14–9–9 || 37 || |- | 33 || || Washington || 3–1 || Philadelphia || Jensen || Spectrum || 16,849 || 15–9–9 || 39 || |- | 34 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 5–1 || NY Islanders || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum || 15,230 || 16–9–9 || 41 || |- | 35 || || Philadelphia || 6–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 16–10–9 || 41 || |- | 36 || || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 14,213 || 17–10–9 || 43 || |- | 37 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 4–4 || Hartford || Riggin || Hartford Civic Center || 11,385 || 17–10–10 || 44 || |-

|- | 38 || || NY Rangers || 7–2 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 13,766 || 17–11–10 || 44 || |- | 39 || || Washington || 7–4 || Quebec || Riggin || Quebec Coliseum || 15,258 || 18–11–10 || 46 || |- | 40 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 5–2 || Detroit || Jensen || Joe Louis Arena || 11,676 || 19–11–10 || 48 || |- | 41 || || Toronto || 3–1 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 10,801 || 19–12–10 || 48 || |- | 42 || || Washington || 3–3 || St. Louis || Jensen || Checkerdome || 12,563 || 19–12–11 || 49 || |- | 43 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Los Angeles || 9–7 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 9,422 || 19–13–11 || 49 || |- | 44 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 2–3 || Buffalo || Jensen || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 11,646 || 19–14–11 || 49 || |- | 45 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Buffalo || 4–2 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 11,409 || 19–15–11 || 49 || |- | 46 || || Philadelphia || 1–4 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 10,981 || 20–15–11 || 51 || |- | 47 || <br>8:35p.m. EST || Washington || 6–4 || Chicago || Jensen || Chicago Stadium || 17,482 || 21–15–11 || 53 || |- | 48 || || Quebec || 5–4 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 13,365 || 21–16–11 || 53 || |- | 49 || <br>1:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 1–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8,839 || 22–16–11 || 55 || |- | 50 || || Washington || 6–2 || Pittsburgh || Riggin || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 5,209 || 23–16–11 || 57 || |- | 51 || || Pittsburgh || 2–7 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 10,978 || 24–16–11 || 59 || |- | 52 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 3–3 || Montreal || Jensen || Montreal Forum || 16,835 || 24–16–12 || 60 || |-

|- | 53 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Detroit || 2–5 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 9,314 || 25–16–12 || 62 || |- | 54 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Minnesota || 1–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 9,680 || 26–16–12 || 64 || |- | 55 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || New Jersey || 4–5 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 13,150 || 27–16–12 || 66 || |- | 56 || || Washington || 4–4 || Quebec || Riggin || Quebec Coliseum || 15,232 || 27–16–13 || 67 || |-style=background:#bbbfff |colspan="11"|35th All-Star Game in Uniondale, New York |- | 57 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 3–8 || NY Islanders || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum || 15,055 || 27–17–13 || 67 || |- | 58 || || Winnipeg || 1–6 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 9,582 || 28–17–13 || 69 || |- | 59 || || Washington || 4–5 || NY Rangers || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 17,414 || 28–18–13 || 69 || |- | 60 || || Washington || 2–1 || Vancouver || Riggin || Pacific Coliseum || 15,183 || 29–18–13 || 71 || |- | 61 || <br>10:35p.m. EST || Washington || 3–3 || Los Angeles || Riggin || The Forum || 14,087 || 29–18–14 || 72 || T1 |- | 62 || <br>9:35p.m. EST || Washington || 3–6 || Edmonton || Jensen || Northlands Coliseum || 17,498 || 29–19–14 || 72 || |- | 63 || <br>9:35p.m. EST || Washington || 4–2 || Calgary || Riggin || Stampede Corral || 7,242 || 30–19–14 || 74 || |- | 64 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 1–4 || Montreal || Riggin || Montreal Forum || 16,988 || 30–20–14 || 74 || |-

|- | 65 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Edmonton || 5–3 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 30–21–14 || 74 || |- | 66 || || Washington || 4–3 || NY Rangers || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 17,411 || 31–21–14 || 76 || |- | 67 || || Philadelphia || 3–4 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 18,022 || 32–21–14 || 78 || |- | 68 || <br>7:45p.m. EST || Washington || 5–4 || New Jersey || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena || 9,350 || 33–21–14 || 80 || |- | 69 || <br>5:05p.m. EST || Washington || 2–6 || NY Islanders || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum || 15,230 || 33–22–14 || 80 || |- | 70 || <br>1:35p.m. EST || Boston || 4–6 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 15,729 || 34–22–14 || 82 || |- | 71 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Hartford || 4–5 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8,980 || 35–22–14 || 84 || |- | 72 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 2–1 || Boston || Riggin || Boston Garden || 13,179 || 36–22–14 || 86 || |- | 73 || || Washington || 3–2 || Philadelphia || Riggin || Spectrum || 17,147 || 37–22–14 || 88 || |- | 74 || || Vancouver || 1–1 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 11,401 || 37–22–15 || 89 || |- | 75 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 3–5 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 9,713 || 38–22–15 || 91 || |- | 76 || || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 13,775 || 38–22–16 || 92 || |- | 77 || || Washington || 4–5 || NY Rangers || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 17,391 || 38–23–16 || 92 || |- | 78 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || NY Islanders || 7–1 || Washington || Riggin || Capital Centre || 17,848 || 38–24–16 || 92 || |-

|- | 79 || <br>7:35p.m. EST || Washington || 7–8 || Detroit || Jensen || Joe Louis Arena || 13,609 || 38–25–16 || 92 || |- | 80 || || NY Rangers || 0–3 || Washington || Jensen || Capital Centre || 10,219 || 39–25–16 || 94 || |-

|- |

Playoffs

|- | 1 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 2–5 || NY Islanders || || Riggin || Nassau Coliseum || 15,230 || Islanders lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || <br>8:05p.m. EST || Washington || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum || 15,150 || Series tied 1–1 || |- | 3 || <br>1:05p.m. EST || NY Islanders || 6–2 || Washington || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Islanders lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || <br>7:05p.m. EST || NY Islanders || 6–3 || Washington || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Islanders win 3–1 || |-

|- |

Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Capitals lost to the Islanders 3 games to 1.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Goaltending

Playoffs

Scoring

Goaltending

<small>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 <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; </small>

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1982 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

See also

• 1982–83 NHL season

References