1985–86 Washington Capitals season


The Washington Capitals are a professional American ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.; in the 1985–86 season, the team finished with 107 points and won 50 games for the first time in franchise history, good enough for the third-best record in the National Hockey League. However, they were bounced out of the playoffs in the second round by the New York Rangers.
The 107 points scored by the Capitals in this season would not be surpassed until the 2008–09 season, when the team scored 108 points in the regular season.

Offseason

The Washington Capitals picked up Yvon Corriveau in the first round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

Regular season

The fifty wins which the Washington Capitals won during the regular season placed them second in the Patrick Division, after the Philadelphia Flyers, and earned them a berth in the playoffs, which would be the fourth consecutive time it had made the playoffs since the 1982–83 NHL season.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The 1985–86 NHL season was the fourth time the Washington Capitals had made the playoffs, and finally defeated the New York Islanders in a playoff series three games to none. However, the Capitals were eliminated by the New York Rangers four games to two in a best of seven series.

Patrick Division Semi-finals

New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 9New York1Washington 3
April 10New York2Washington 5
April 12Washington 3New York1

Washington wins best-of-five series 3–0

Patrick Divisional Finals

New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 17New York 4Washington3
April 19New York1Washington 8
April 21Washington 6New York3
April 23Washington5New York 6
April 25New York 4Washington2
April 27Washington1New York 2

New York Rangers wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
RW804142831531824
RW7435407563-51124
RW7530457543241004
RW70235275269846
C713439737236705
D78214465502812
C80272956105-12703
LW7818385615224302
D731538531650302
LW801128393910013
RW79191938267035
LW478162410-4203
D616162236-8303
RW7671421131-4002
D79910191196101
D71117186127100
D6239122721000
LW191452-3001
C302134-4000
C2512316-5000
D501231275000
D14033123000
D14033103000
RW1111220000
C510101000
LW60110-1000
G4401140000
LW110116-5000
D40000-4000
LW20000-1000
W15000730000
G100000000
G3400080000
G700020000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASOSASVSV%
24374428931293.18211681039.890
202134191131133.351910797.876
3697231233.740133110.827
16110000.000551.000
Team:484380502372653.28322161951.880

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
RW9210124000
D9381112202
C9461011100
C954912201
RW94480100
LW943712010
RW943711000
D91566100
LW913427000
D921335001
D92139010
D91236100
RW912310001
LW81232100
LW40332000
D911219000
RW60110000
RW800015000
C40000000
G90002000
D300014000
C30000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
544954242.650253229.905
Team:544954242.650253229.905

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 and records

Roster

Washington's draft picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
119Yvon CorriveauToronto Marlboros
240John DrucePeterborough Petes
361Rob MurrayPeterborough Petes
482Bill HoulderNorth Bay Centennials
483Larry ShawPeterborough Petes
5103Claude DumasGranby Bisons
6124Doug StrombackKitchener Rangers
7145Jamie NadjiwanSudbury Wolves
8166Mark HaarmannOshawa Generals
9187Steve HollettSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
10208Dallas EakinsPeterborough Petes
11229Steve HrynewichOttawa 67's
12250Frank Di MuzioBelleville Bulls

Farm teams