2023–24 Washington Capitals season

The 2023–24 Washington Capitals season was the 50th season (49th season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.

The Capitals returned to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2013–14 season (and only the second time since 2006–07), ending their eight-season playoff streak, and attempted to win the team's second Stanley Cup and their first since 2018. The Capitals clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on April 16, 2024, following a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 91 point total is the lowest point to make the playoffs in the east since the 2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers and the 2009–10 Montreal Canadiens. During the playoffs, the Capitals faced a first round sweep by the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, marking the first occurrence of such an event in franchise history.

Standings Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results Preseason The preseason schedule was released on June 21, 2023.

|- style="background:#fff;" | 1 || September 24 || Buffalo || 4–3 || Washington || SO || Stevenson || Capital One Arena || 12,638 || 0–0–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || September 28 || Detroit || 3–4 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 12,746 || 1–0–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || September 30 || Washington || 2–5 || Detroit || || Shepard || Little Caesars Arena || 11,050 || 1–1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || October 3 || Washington || 5–4 || Boston || OT || Kuemper || TD Garden || 17,565 || 2–1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || October 5 || Washington || 4–2 || Columbus || || Lindgren || Nationwide Arena || 11,491 || 3–1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 || October 7 || Columbus || 4–2 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 12,961 || 3–2–1

|- style="text-align:center;" ||Legend:

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || October 13 || Pittsburgh || 4–0 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || October 16 || Calgary || 2–3 || Washington || SO || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 16,489 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || October 18 || Washington || 1–6 || Ottawa || || Kuemper || Canadian Tire Centre || 15,021 || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 4 || October 21 || Washington || 2–3 || Montreal || OT || Kuemper || Bell Centre || 21,105 || 1–2–1 || 3 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 || October 24 || Toronto || 4–1 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 16,641 || 1–3–1 || 3 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || October 25 || Washington || 6–4 || New Jersey || || Shepard || Prudential Center || 16,117 || 2–3–1 || 5 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || October 27 || Minnesota || 2–3 || Washington || SO || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 16,602 || 3–3–1 || 7 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || October 29 || San Jose || 1–3 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 15,856 || 4–3–1 || 9 ||

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 || November 2 || NY Islanders || 3–0 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 16,209 || 4–4–1 || 9 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || November 4 || Columbus || 1–2 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 5–4–1 || 11 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 11 || November 8 || Florida || 4–3 || Washington || OT || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 16,104 || 5–4–2 || 12 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || November 10 || Washington || 4–2 || New Jersey || || Lindgren || Prudential Center || 16,514 || 6–4–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || November 11 || Washington || 4–1 || NY Islanders || || Shepard || UBS Arena || 16,519 || 7–4–2 || 16 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || November 14 || Vegas || 0–3 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 16,598 || 8–4–2 || 18 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || November 18 || Columbus || 3–4 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 9–4–2 || 20 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || November 22 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Washington || OT || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 10–4–2 || 22 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 17 || November 24 || Edmonton || 5–0 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 10–5–2 || 22 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 18 || November 27 || Washington || 1–2 || San Jose || || Kuemper || SAP Center || 10,759 || 10–6–2 || 22 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || November 29 || Washington || 2–1 || Los Angeles || || Lindgren || Crypto.com Arena || 18,145 || 11–6–2 || 24 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 || November 30 || Washington || 5–4 || Anaheim || || Kuemper || Honda Center || 14,336 || 12–6–2 || 26 ||

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 21 || December 2 || Washington || 1–4 || Vegas || || Kuemper || T-Mobile Arena || 18,140 || 12–7–2 || 26 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || December 4 || Washington || 0–6 || Arizona || || Kuemper || Mullett Arena || 4,600 || 12–8–2 || 26 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 23 || December 7 || Dallas || 5–4 || Washington || SO || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 15,850 || 12–8–3 || 27 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || December 9 || NY Rangers || 0–4 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 13–8–3 || 29 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || December 10 || Washington || 4–2 || Chicago || || Kuemper || United Center || 18,258 || 14–8–3 || 31 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 26 || December 14 || Washington || 3–4 || Philadelphia || SO || Lindgren || Wells Fargo Center || 18,557 || 14–8–4 || 32 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 || December 16 || Washington || 1–3 || Nashville || || Lindgren || Bridgestone Arena || 17,267 || 14–9–4 || 32 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || December 17 || Washington || 2–1 || Carolina || SO || Kuemper || PNC Arena || 18,700 || 15–9–4 || 34 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 || December 20 || NY Islanders || 2–3 || Washington || OT || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 16–9–4 || 36 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || December 21 || Washington || 3–2 || Columbus || OT || Lindgren || Nationwide Arena || 18,172 || 17–9–4 || 38 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 31 || December 23 || Tampa Bay || 2–1 || Washington || SO || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 17–9–5 || 39 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || December 27 || Washington || 1–5 || NY Rangers || || Kuemper || Madison Square Garden || 18,006 || 17–10–5 || 39 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 33 || December 29 || Washington || 1–5 || NY Islanders || || Kuemper || UBS Arena || 17,255 || 17–11–5 || 39 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 34 || December 30 || Nashville || 3–2 || Washington || SO || Shepard || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 17–11–6 || 40 ||

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || January 2 || Washington || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || || Kuemper || PPG Paints Arena || 18,190 || 18–11–6 || 42 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || January 3 || New Jersey || 6–3 || Washington || || Shepard || Capital One Arena || 17,156 || 18–12–6 || 42 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 37 || January 5 || Carolina || 6–2 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 18–13–6 || 42 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || January 7 || Los Angeles || 3–4 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 19–13–6 || 44 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 39 || January 11 || Seattle || 4–1 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 17,935 || 19–14–6 || 44 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || January 13 || NY Rangers || 2–3 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 20–14–6 || 46 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 || January 14 || Washington || 1–2 || NY Rangers || || Lindgren || Madison Square Garden || 18,006 || 20–15–6 || 46 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || January 16 || Anaheim || 0–2 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 15,961 || 21–15–6 || 48 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || January 18 || St. Louis || 2–5 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 17,909 || 22–15–6 || 50 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 44 || January 20 || Washington || 0–3 || St. Louis || || Lindgren || Enterprise Center || 18,096 || 22–16–6 || 50 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || January 23 || Washington || 3–5 || Minnesota || || Kuemper || Xcel Energy Center || 18,437 || 22–17–6 || 50 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || January 24 || Washington || 2–6 || Colorado || || Lindgren || Ball Arena || 18,136 || 22–18–6 || 50 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 47 || January 27 || Washington || 4–5 || Dallas || OT || Lindgren || American Airlines Center || 18,532 || 22–18–7 || 51 ||

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 48 || February 6 || Montreal || 5–2 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 16,959 || 22–19–7 || 51 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 || February 8 || Washington || 2–4 || Florida || || Kuemper || Amerant Bank Arena || 17,645 || 22–20–7 || 51 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || February 10 || Washington || 3–0 || Boston || || Lindgren || TD Garden || 17,850 || 23–20–7 || 53 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 51 || February 11 || Vancouver || 3–2 || Washington || OT || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 23–20–8 || 54 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 52 || February 13 || Colorado || 6–3 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 17,878 || 23–21–8 || 54 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || February 17 || Washington || 4–3 || Montreal || || Kuemper || Bell Centre || 21,105 || 24–21–8 || 56 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || February 20 || New Jersey || 2–6 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 17,232 || 25–21–8 || 58 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 || February 22 || Washington || 5–3 || Tampa Bay || || Lindgren || Amalie Arena || 19,092 || 26–21–8 || 60 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 56 || February 24 || Washington || 2–3 || Florida || OT || Lindgren || Amerant Bank Arena || 19,887 || 26–21–9 || 61 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 || February 26 || Ottawa || 3–6 || Washington || || Kuemper || Capital One Arena || 17,296 || 27–21–9 || 63 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 58 || February 27 || Washington || 3–8 || Detroit || || Lindgren || Little Caesars Arena || 19,515 || 27–22–9 || 63 ||

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || March 1 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 28–22–9 || 65 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 60 || March 3 || Arizona || 5–2 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 28–23–9 || 65 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || March 7 || Washington || 6–0 || Pittsburgh || || Lindgren || PPG Paints Arena || 17,093 || 29–23–9 || 67 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || March 9 || Chicago || 1–4 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 30–23–9 || 69 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 || March 11 || Washington || 0–3 || Winnipeg || || Lindgren || Canada Life Centre || 13,716 || 30–24–9 || 69 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 64 || March 13 || Washington || 2–7 || Edmonton || || Kuemper || Rogers Place || 18,347 || 30–25–9 || 69 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 65 || March 14 || Washington || 2–1 || Seattle || || Lindgren || Climate Pledge Arena || 17,151 || 31–25–9 || 71 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 || March 16 || Washington || 2–1 || Vancouver || || Lindgren || Rogers Arena || 18,859 || 32–25–9 || 73 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || March 18 || Washington || 5–2 || Calgary || || Lindgren || Scotiabank Saddledome || 16,793 || 33–25–9 || 75 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 68 || March 20 || Toronto || 7–3 || Washington || || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 17,727 || 33–26–9 || 75 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 69 || March 22 || Carolina || 6–7 || Washington || SO || Lindgren || Capital One Arena || 18,573 || 34–26–9 || 77 ||