2015–16 Washington Capitals season

The 2015–16 Washington Capitals season was the 42nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974. The season began its regular games on October 10, 2015, against the New Jersey Devils. This was the first of five consecutive Metropolitan Division titles for the Capitals. The 2015–16 Capitals team was the second one in franchise history to win the Presidents' Trophy, after the 2009–10 Capitals team. The Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs. However, they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, two games to four, by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 preseason game log: 5–0–2 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 2–0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Carolina 0–2 Washington Holtby 15,955 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 22 Washington 1–2 Boston OT Grubauer 16,460 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 24 Washington 4–3 Montreal SO Ellis 21,287 2–0–1 Recap 4 September 28 Washington 3–1 NY Islanders Peters –– 3–0–1 Recap 5 September 30 Washington 3–4 Carolina SO Peters 6,256 3–0–2 Recap 6 October 2 Boston 1–2 Washington SO Holtby 16,243 4–0–2 Recap 7 October 4 NY Islanders 2–6 Washington Holtby 16,073 5–0–2 Recap

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 8–2–0 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 4–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 10 New Jersey 3–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 13 San Jose 5–0 Washington Holtby 18,506 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 15 Chicago 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 17 Carolina 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 20 Washington 6–2 Calgary Holtby 18,303 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 22 Washington 3–2 Vancouver Holtby 18,188 5–1–0 10 Recap 7 October 23 Washington 7–4 Edmonton Grubauer 16,839 6–1–0 12 Recap 8 October 28 Pittsburgh 3–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 6–2–0 12 Recap 9 October 30 Columbus 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 7–2–0 14 Recap 10 October 31 Washington 2–1 Florida OT Grubauer 11,207 8–2–0 16 Recap November: 9–3–1 (Home: 6–1–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 3 Washington 2–5 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 8–3–0 16 Recap 12 November 5 Boston 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 9–3–0 18 Recap 13 November 7 Toronto 2–3 Washington SO Holtby 18,506 10–3–0 20 Recap 14 November 10 Washington 0–1 Detroit Holtby 20,027 10–4–0 20 Recap 15 November 12 Washington 5–2 Philadelphia Holtby 19,414 11–4–0 22 Recap 16 November 13 Calgary 3–2 Washington OT Grubauer 18,506 11–4–1 23 Recap 17 November 18 Washington 2–1 Detroit OT Holtby 20,027 12–4–1 25 Recap 18 November 19 Dallas 3–2 Washington Grubauer 18,506 12–5–1 25 Recap 19 November 21 Colorado 3–7 Washington Holtby 18,506 13–5–1 27 Recap 20 November 23 Edmonton 0–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 14–5–1 29 Recap 21 November 25 Winnipeg 3–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 15–5–1 31 Recap 22 November 27 Tampa Bay 2–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 16–5–1 33 Recap 23 November 28 Washington 4–2 Toronto Holtby 19,053 17–5–1 35 Recap December: 11–2–1 (Home: 5–0–0; Road: 6–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 3 Washington 3–2 Montreal Holtby 21,288 18–5–1 37 Recap 25 December 5 Washington 1–2 Winnipeg OT Holtby 15,294 18–5–2 38 Recap 26 December 8 Detroit 2–3 Washington SO Holtby 18,506 19–5–2 40 Recap 27 December 10 Washington 1–4 Florida Grubauer 12,810 19–6–2 40 Recap 28 December 12 Washington 2–1 Tampa Bay Holtby 19,092 20–6–2 42 Recap 29 December 14 Washington 4–1 Pittsburgh Holtby 18,520 21–6–2 44 Recap 30 December 16 Ottawa 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 22–6–2 46 Recap 31 December 18 Tampa Bay 3–5 Washington Grubauer 18,506 23–6–2 48 Recap 32 December 20 Washington 7–3 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 24–6–2 50 Recap 33 December 21 Washington 2–1 Carolina Grubauer 13,228 25–6–2 52 Recap 34 December 26 Montreal 1–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 26–6–2 54 Recap 35 December 28 Washington 2–0 Buffalo Holtby 19,070 27–6–2 56 Recap 36 December 30 Buffalo 2–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 28–6–2 58 Recap 37 December 31 Washington 2–4 Carolina Grubauer 14,134 28–7–2 58 Recap January: 7–1–2 (Home: 3–0–1; Road: 4–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 2 Washington 4–5 Columbus SO Holtby 17,170 28–7–3 59 Recap 39 January 5 Washington 3–2 Boston Holtby 17,565 29–7–3 61 Recap 40 January 7 Washington 4–1 NY Islanders Holtby 14,261 30–7–3 63 Recap 41 January 9 Washington 4–3 NY Rangers OT Holtby 18,006 31–7–3 65 Recap 42 January 10 Ottawa 1–7 Washington Grubauer 18,506 32–7–3 67 Recap 43 January 14 Vancouver 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 33–7–3 69 Recap 44 January 16 Washington 1–4 Buffalo Holtby 19,070 33–8–3 69 Recap 45 January 17 NY Rangers 2–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 34–8–3 71 Recap 46 January 19 Washington 6–3 Columbus Holtby 12,291 35–8–3 73 Recap – January 22 Anaheim Washington Game rescheduled to April 10 due to hazardous weather. – January 24 Pittsburgh Washington Game rescheduled to March 1 due to hazardous weather. 47 January 27 Philadelphia 4–3 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 35–8–4 74 Recap February: 10–4–0 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 4–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 48 February 2 Florida 5–2 Washington Grubauer 18,506 35–9–4 74 Recap 49 February 4 NY Islanders 2–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 36–9–4 76 Recap 50 February 6 Washington 3–2 New Jersey SO Holtby 16,514 37–9–4 78 Recap 51 February 7 Philadelphia 2–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 38–9–4 80 Recap 52 February 9 Washington 5–3 Nashville Holtby 17,113 39–9–4 82 Recap 53 February 11 Washington 4–3 Minnesota Holtby 19,213 40–9–4 84 Recap 54 February 13 Washington 3–4 Dallas Holtby 18,532 40–10–4 84 Recap 55 February 16 Los Angeles 1–3 Washington Grubauer 18,506 41–10–4 86 Recap 56 February 18 Washington 3–2 NY Islanders OT Holtby 15,795 42–10–4 88 Recap 57 February 20 New Jersey 3–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 43–10–4 90 Recap 58 February 22 Arizona 2–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 44–10–4 92 Recap 59 February 24 Montreal 4–3 Washington Grubauer 18,506 44–11–4 92 Recap 60 February 26 Minnesota 2–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 45–11–4 94 Recap 61 February 28 Washington 2–3 Chicago Holtby 22,218 45–12–4 94 Recap March: 9–4–2 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 4–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 1 Pittsburgh 2–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 46–12–4 96 Recap 63 March 2 Toronto 2–3 Washington Grubauer 18,506 47–12–4 98 Recap 64 March 4 NY Rangers 3–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 47–13–4 98 Recap 65 March 5 Washington 2–1 Boston OT Grubauer 17,565 48–13–4 100 Recap 66 March 7 Washington 2–1 Anaheim SO Holtby 17,174 49–13–4 102 Recap 67 March 9 Washington 3–4 Los Angeles OT Holtby 18,324 49–13–5 103 Recap 68 March 12 Washington 2–5 San Jose Grubauer 17,562 49–14–5 103 Recap 69 March 15 Carolina 1–2 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 50–14–5 105 Recap 70 March 18 Nashville 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 51–14–5 107 Recap 71 March 20 Washington 2–6 Pittsburgh Holtby 18,656 51–15–5 107 Recap 72 March 22 Washington 4–2 Ottawa Holtby 19,313 52–15–5 109 Recap 73 March 25 Washington 1–0 New Jersey OT Holtby 16,514 53–15–5 111 Recap 74 March 26 St. Louis 4–0 Washington Grubauer 18,506 53–16–5 111 Recap 75 March 28 Columbus 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 54–16–5 113 Recap 76 March 30 Washington 1–2 Philadelphia SO Holtby 19,850 54–16–6 114 Recap April: 2–2–2 (Home: 0–1–2; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 1 Washington 4–2 Colorado Holtby 18,049 55–16–6 116 Recap 78 April 2 Washington 0–3 Arizona Grubauer 17,125 55–17–6 116 Recap 79 April 5 NY Islanders 4–3 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 55–17–7 117 Recap 80 April 7 Pittsburgh 4–3 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 55–17–8 118 Recap 81 April 9 Washington 5–1 St. Louis Holtby 19,610 56–17–8 120 Recap 82 April 10 Anaheim 2–0 Washington Grubauer 18,506 56–18–8 120 RecapLegend:

Playoffs 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference First Round vs. (WC2) Philadelphia Flyers: Washington wins 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 14 Philadelphia 0–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 1–0 Recap 2 April 16 Philadelphia 1–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 2–0 Recap 3 April 18 Washington 6–1 Philadelphia Holtby 19,678 3–0 Recap 4 April 20 Washington 1–2 Philadelphia Holtby 19,692 3–1 Recap 5 April 22 Philadelphia 2–0 Washington Holtby 18,506 3–2 Recap 6 April 24 Washington 1–0 Philadelphia Holtby 19,925 4–2 Recap Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins: Pittsburgh wins 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 28 Pittsburgh 3–4 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 1–0 Recap 2 April 30 Pittsburgh 2–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 1–1 Recap 3 May 2 Washington 2–3 Pittsburgh Holtby 18,601 1–2 Recap 4 May 4 Washington 2–3 Pittsburgh OT Holtby 18,614 1–3 Recap 5 May 7 Pittsburgh 1–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 2–3 Recap 6 May 10 Washington 3–4 Pittsburgh OT Holtby 18,650 2–4 Recap Legend:

Player statistics Final stats Skaters

Regular season Player 82 20 57 77 27 32 79 50 21 71 21 53 75 20 50 70 17 36 82 22 30 52 15 36 80 26 25 51 16 34 74 17 29 46 12 16 82 20 20 40 0 22 56 8 31 39 16 14 79 17 21 38 4 12 82 5 27 32 10 38 82 8 21 29 8 26 82 7 16 23 3 163 82 4 17 21 14 26 57 8 9 17 0 24 72 2 14 16 12 16 41 3 7 10 11 24 43 3 4 7 0 50 ‡ 60 1 6 7 −7 16 55 1 5 6 8 21 39 2 3 5 −2 8 † 20 2 3 5 7 22 24 0 3 3 2 4 8 0 2 2 4 2 4 1 0 1 0 0 10 1 0 1 0 2 † 10 0 0 0 −1 28 2 0 0 0 −1 2 1 0 0 0 −1 2 9 0 0 0 −3 2 ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 3 0 0 0 −2 0

Playoffs Player 12 5 7 12 3 2 12 5 7 12 −2 4 12 2 9 11 3 8 12 6 4 10 2 11 12 3 4 7 −3 14 12 2 5 7 −2 2 12 3 0 3 1 2 12 0 3 3 3 6 12 1 1 2 −1 12 12 1 1 2 −4 8 12 0 2 2 3 6 12 1 0 1 −1 6 7 0 1 1 −1 4 11 0 1 1 0 2 12 0 1 1 −3 13 10 0 1 1 −3 2 6 0 0 0 −3 10 12 0 0 0 0 4 12 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 66 66 3841:11 48 9 7 141 2.20 1802 .922 3 0 1 6 22 16 1111:53 8 9 1 43 2.32 523 .918 0 0 0 2

Playoffs Player 12 12 732 6 6 2 21 1.72 363 .942 2 0 1 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Player suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Zach Sill Boarding on Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid during NHL Game No. 588 in Boston on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at 4:43 of the second period. 2 games $6,182.80 January 6, 2016 Marcus Johansson Illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey during NHL Game No. 601 in New York on Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 8:42 of the first period. 2 games $40,322.58 January 8, 2016

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL First Star of the Week October 26, 2015 NHL Second Star of the Week November 30, 2015 NHL Second Star of the Month December 1, 2015 NHL Second Star of the Week December 21, 2015 NHL All-Star game captain January 2, 2016 NHL Second Star of the Month January 4, 2016 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL First Star of the Week January 11, 2016 NHL All-Star game replacement selection January 28, 2016 NHL First Star of the Month February 1, 2016

Milestones