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.

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%).

Season standings

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Capitals reached the Conference Finals for the first time since 1990, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games before reaching the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in four games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- |1||October 1, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs <small>(1997–98)</small> ||1–0–0 || |- |2||October 3, 1997||6–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres <small>(1997–98)</small> ||2–0–0 || |- |3||October 4, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils <small>(1997–98)</small> ||3–0–0 || |- |4||October 8, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||4–0–0 || |- |5||October 9, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres <small>(1997–98)</small> ||4–1–0 || |- |6||October 11, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||5–1–0 || |- |7||October 15, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||6–1–0 || |- |8||October 24, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–1–0 || |- |9||October 22, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–2–0 || |- |10||October 23, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–2–1 || |- |11||October 25, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–3–1 || |- |12||October 29, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–4–1 || |- |13||October 31, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–4–2 || |-

|- |14||November 1, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils <small>(1997–98)</small> ||7–5–2 || |- |15||November 4, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||8–5–2 || |- |16||November 6, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||8–6–2 || |- |17||November 8, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||9–6–2 || |- |18||November 9, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||9–7–2 || |- |19||November 12, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||10–7–2 || |- |20||November 13, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres <small>(1997–98)</small> ||11–7–2 || |- |21||November 15, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens <small>(1997–98)</small> ||12–7–2 || |- |22||November 18, 1997||6–6 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche <small>(1997–98)</small> ||12–7–3 || |- |23||November 22, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||12–8–3 || |- |24||November 23, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||13–8–3 || |- |25||November 26, 1997||5–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens <small>(1997–98)</small> ||13–9–3 || |- |26||November 27, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators <small>(1997–98)</small> ||13–10–3 || |- |27||November 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||13–10–4 || |-

|- |28||December 2, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||14–10–4 || |- |29||December 5, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–10–4 || |- |30||December 7, 1997||4–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–11–4 || |- |31||December 10, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–11–5 || |- |32||December 12, 1997||4–6 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–12–5 || |- |33||December 13, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–12–6 || |- |34||December 16, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–12–7 || |- |35||December 18, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||15–13–7 || |- |36||December 20, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||16–13–7 || |- |37||December 23, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils <small>(1997–98)</small> ||16–13–8 || |- |38||December 26, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||16–14–8 || |- |39||December 27, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators <small>(1997–98)</small> ||16–15–8 || |- |40||December 29, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues <small>(1997–98)</small> ||17–15–8 || |-

|- |41||January 1, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim <small>(1997–98)</small> ||18–15–8 || |- |42||January 3, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||18–16–8 || |- |43||January 6, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs <small>(1997–98)</small> ||19–16–8 || |- |44||January 8, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||20–16–8 || |- |45||January 9, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||21–16–8 || |- |46||January 11, 1998||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings <small>(1997–98)</small> ||21–17–8 || |- |47||January 13, 1998||4–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators <small>(1997–98)</small> ||22–17–8 || |- |48||January 15, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||23–17–8 || |- |49||January 21, 1998||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning <small>(1997–98)</small> ||24–17–8 || |- |50||January 25, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||25–17–8 || |- |51||January 26, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||25–17–9 || |- |52||January 28, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||25–17–10 || |- |53||January 31, 1998||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–17–10 || |-

|- |54||February 1, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–18–10 || |- |55||February 4, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–18–11 || |- |56||February 7, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–19–11 || |- |57||February 25, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–20–11 || |- |58||February 28, 1998||2–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–21–11 || |-

|- |59||March 1, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–22–11 || |- |60||March 3, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–23–11 || |- |61||March 5, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||26–24–11 || |- |62||March 7, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||27–24–11 || |- |63||March 9, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames <small>(1997–98)</small> ||28–24–11 || |- |64||March 12, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||29–24–11 || |- |65||March 14, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators <small>(1997–98)</small> ||29–25–11 || |- |66||March 16, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||30–25–11 || |- |67||March 18, 1998||1–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||31–25–11 || |- |68||March 20, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils <small>(1997–98)</small> ||32–25–11 || |- |69||March 21, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils <small>(1997–98)</small> ||32–26–11 || |- |70||March 25, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||32–27–11 || |- |71||March 26, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames <small>(1997–98)</small> ||32–28–11 || |- |72||March 28, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks <small>(1997–98)</small> ||33–28–11 || |- |73||March 31, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||34–28–11 || |-

|- |74||April 2, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning <small>(1997–98)</small> ||35–28–11 || |- |75||April 4, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings <small>(1997–98)</small> ||36–28–11 || |- |76||April 6, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens <small>(1997–98)</small> ||36–28–12 || |- |77||April 8, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars <small>(1997–98)</small> ||36–29–12 || |- |78||April 11, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||36–30–12 || |- |79||April 13, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders <small>(1997–98)</small> ||37–30–12 || |- |80||April 14, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers <small>(1997–98)</small> ||38–30–12 || |- |81||April 18, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||39–30–12 || |- |82||April 19, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes <small>(1997–98)</small> ||40–30–12 || |-

|- | Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 22, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || April 24, 1998 || 3–4 2OT || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Series tied 1–1 || |- | 3 || April 26, 1998 || 3–2 2OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 28, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 3–1 || |- | 5 || May 1, 1998 || 0–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Capitals lead 3–2 || |- | 6 || May 3, 1998 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Capitals win 4–2 || |-

|- | 1 || May 7, 1998 || 4–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || May 9, 1998 || 6–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 2–0 || |- | 3 || May 11, 1998 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || May 13, 1998 || 2–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Capitals lead 3–1 || |- | 5 || May 15, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Capitals win 4–1 || |-

|- | 1 || May 23, 1998 || 0–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || May 25, 1998 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Series tied 1–1 || |- | 3 || May 28, 1998 || 4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || May 30, 1998 || 2–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 3–1 || |- | 5 || June 2, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Capitals lead 3–2 || |- | 6 || June 4, 1998 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Capitals win 4–2 || |-

|- | 1 || June 9, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || June 11, 1998 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 2–0 || |- | 3 || June 13, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 3–0 || |- | 4 || June 16, 1998 || 1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings win 4–0 || |-

|- | Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

• <small>Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing</small>
• <small> = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.</small>
• <small> = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.</small>

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

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.

Farm teams

Portland Pirates

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References