1986–87 Washington Capitals season

The 1986–87 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 13th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1986–87 Washington Capitals
Division	2nd Patrick
Conference	Wales
1986–87 record	38–32–10
Goals for	285
Goals against	278
Team information
General manager	David Poile
Coach	Bryan Murray
Captain	Rod Langway
← 1985–86 1987–88 →

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Patrick Division^[1]

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Philadelphia Flyers	80	46	26	8	310	245	100
Washington Capitals	80	38	32	10	285	278	86
New York Islanders	80	35	33	12	279	281	82
New York Rangers	80	34	38	8	307	323	76
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	30	38	12	297	290	72
New Jersey Devils	80	29	45	6	293	368	64

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1986–87 NHL records[2] Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total New Jersey — 2–5 4–3 2–4–1 4–3 1–6 13–21–1 N.Y. Islanders 5–2 — 3–3–1 3–4 5–0–2 2–3–2 18–12–2 N.Y. Rangers 3–4 3–3–1 — 4–3 3–2–2 4–3 17–15–3 Philadelphia 4–2–1 4–3 3–4 — 4–1–2 5–1–1 20–11–4 Pittsburgh 3–4 0–5–2 2–3–2 1–4–2 — 4–3 10–19–6 Washington 6–1 3–2–2 3–4 1–5–1 3–4 — 16–16–3 Vs. Adams Division 1986–87 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total New Jersey 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 1–2 0–1–2 4–7–4 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–1 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 2–1 5–7–3 N.Y. Rangers 2–1 2–1 0–3 0–2–1 2–1 6–8–1 Philadelphia 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–0–1 2–0–1 9–4–2 Pittsburgh 1–2 2–0–1 0–3 1–1–1 3–0 7–6–2 Washington 1–1–1 1–2 1–2 3–0 0–2–1 6–7–2 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total New Jersey 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 7–8–0 N.Y. Islanders 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–1–1 2–1 9–5–1 N.Y. Rangers 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 5–7–3 Philadelphia 2–0–1 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–1–1 9–4–2 Pittsburgh 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–0–2 1–2 8–5–2 Washington 1–1–1 2–0–1 2–0–1 2–0–1 2–1 9–2–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total New Jersey 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–0–1 0–3 5–9–1 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–1 0–2–1 1–2 1–2 1–1–1 3–9–2 N.Y. Rangers 1–2 0–3 2–0–1 2–1 1–2 6–8–1 Philadelphia 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 8–7–0 Pittsburgh 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0–2 1–2 5–8–2 Washington 1–2 2–1 0–3 3–0 1–1–1 7–7–1

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 9, 1986	4–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	0–1–0
2	L	October 11, 1986	1–6	Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	0–2–0
3	W	October 13, 1986	7–6 OT	@ New York Rangers (1986–87)	1–2–0
4	L	October 16, 1986	4–7	@ New York Islanders (1986–87)	1–3–0
5	L	October 18, 1986	2–4	Buffalo Sabres (1986–87)	1–4–0
6	W	October 20, 1986	5–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87)	2–4–0
7	T	October 21, 1986	4–4 OT	@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87)	2–4–1
8	W	October 24, 1986	8–2	Minnesota North Stars (1986–87)	3–4–1
9	W	October 25, 1986	2–1	New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	4–4–1
10	W	October 28, 1986	5–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87)	5–4–1
11	L	October 29, 1986	3–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87)	5–5–1
12	L	November 1, 1986	1–4	@ Calgary Flames (1986–87)	5–6–1
13	L	November 4, 1986	1–7	@ New York Islanders (1986–87)	5–7–1
14	W	November 5, 1986	3–2	Vancouver Canucks (1986–87)	6–7–1
15	W	November 8, 1986	3–2	Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87)	7–7–1
16	T	November 11, 1986	2–2 OT	@ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87)	7–7–2
17	T	November 12, 1986	2–2 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87)	7–7–3
18	L	November 14, 1986	1–4	Quebec Nordiques (1986–87)	7–8–3
19	L	November 16, 1986	2–6	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	7–9–3
20	L	November 18, 1986	5–6	Los Angeles Kings (1986–87)	7–10–3
21	T	November 21, 1986	3–3 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87)	7–10–4
22	L	November 22, 1986	4–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	7–11–4
23	T	November 26, 1986	2–2 OT	Boston Bruins (1986–87)	7–11–5
24	L	November 28, 1986	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	7–12–5
25	L	November 29, 1986	3–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87)	7–13–5
26	W	December 1, 1986	2–1 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87)	8–13–5
27	T	December 3, 1986	3–3 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87)	8–13–6
28	W	December 6, 1986	3–1	Montreal Canadiens (1986–87)	9–13–6
29	W	December 9, 1986	4–2	New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	10–13–6
30	L	December 10, 1986	2–8	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87)	10–14–6
31	L	December 14, 1986	1–3	New York Rangers (1986–87)	10–15–6
32	L	December 17, 1986	1–6	@ New York Rangers (1986–87)	10–16–6
33	L	December 19, 1986	4–6	@ New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	10–17–6
34	W	December 20, 1986	5–3	St. Louis Blues (1986–87)	11–17–6
35	W	December 26, 1986	2–1	New York Islanders (1986–87)	12–17–6
36	L	December 28, 1986	5–7	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87)	12–18–6
37	L	December 30, 1986	1–3	Hartford Whalers (1986–87)	12–19–6
38	W	January 1, 1987	4–3 OT	Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	13–19–6
39	L	January 3, 1987	1–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	13–20–6
40	W	January 5, 1987	6–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1986–87)	14–20–6
41	L	January 7, 1987	2–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	14–21–6
42	W	January 9, 1987	3–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	15–21–6
43	T	January 11, 1987	2–2 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	15–21–7
44	L	January 13, 1987	2–3	Winnipeg Jets (1986–87)	15–22–7
45	W	January 15, 1987	3–2	@ New York Islanders (1986–87)	16–22–7
46	W	January 17, 1987	6–1	@ Hartford Whalers (1986–87)	17–22–7
47	W	January 18, 1987	6–1	@ New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	18–22–7
48	W	January 20, 1987	6–3	New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	19–22–7
49	W	January 23, 1987	3–2	@ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87)	20–22–7
50	L	January 24, 1987	3–6	Buffalo Sabres (1986–87)	20–23–7
51	L	January 27, 1987	5–7	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	20–24–7
52	W	January 28, 1987	2–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87)	21–24–7
53	T	January 30, 1987	3–3 OT	New York Islanders (1986–87)	21–24–8
54	W	February 1, 1987	6–4	Winnipeg Jets (1986–87)	22–24–8
55	L	February 4, 1987	2–3	@ New York Rangers (1986–87)	22–25–8
56	L	February 6, 1987	2–5	Hartford Whalers (1986–87)	22–26–8
57	L	February 7, 1987	4–5 OT	New York Rangers (1986–87)	22–27–8
58	W	February 15, 1987	5–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87)	23–27–8
59	L	February 18, 1987	4–7	@ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87)	23–28–8
60	W	February 20, 1987	6–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87)	24–28–8
61	W	February 22, 1987	5–2	@ Calgary Flames (1986–87)	25–28–8
62	W	February 24, 1987	8–2	Detroit Red Wings (1986–87)	26–28–8
63	W	February 27, 1987	5–2	Edmonton Oilers (1986–87)	27–28–8
64	W	March 1, 1987	7–3	New York Rangers (1986–87)	28–28–8
65	W	March 3, 1987	3–2	New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	29–28–8
66	L	March 5, 1987	2–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	29–29–8
67	L	March 7, 1987	2–3 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1986–87)	29–30–8
68	L	March 10, 1987	3–6	Calgary Flames (1986–87)	29–31–8
69	W	March 13, 1987	10–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87)	30–31–8
70	T	March 14, 1987	3–3 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1986–87)	30–31–9
71	L	March 17, 1987	4–5	Los Angeles Kings (1986–87)	30–32–9
72	W	March 20, 1987	4–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87)	31–32–9
73	W	March 22, 1987	4–3	Boston Bruins (1986–87)	32–32–9
74	W	March 24, 1987	3–1	@ New York Islanders (1986–87)	33–32–9
75	T	March 27, 1987	2–2 OT	New York Islanders (1986–87)	33–32–10
76	W	March 29, 1987	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1986–87)	34–32–10
77	W	March 31, 1987	4–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87)	35–32–10
78	W	April 1, 1987	5–1	@ New York Rangers (1986–87)	36–32–10
79	W	April 4, 1987	3–2 OT	Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87)	37–32–10
80	W	April 5, 1987	6–5 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1986–87)	38–32–10

Playoffs

The 1987 playoff Capitals run was best known for the Easter Epic, when the Caps played the longest game 7 in their franchise history through four overtime periods. Unfortunately, they lost to the New York Islanders 3–2 in that game seven and lost the series 4–3.

April 8

New York Islanders

3–4

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 9

New York Islanders

3–1

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 11

Washington Capitals

2–0

New York Islanders

Nassau Coliseum

April 12

Washington Capitals

4–1

New York Islanders

Nassau Coliseum

April 14

New York Islanders

4–2

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 16

Washington Capitals

4–5

New York Islanders

Nassau Coliseum

April 18

New York Islanders

3–2

4OT

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

New York won series 4–3

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Larry Murphy	D	80	23	58	81	39	25	8	0	4
Mike Gartner	RW	78	41	32	73	61	1	5	6	10
Scott Stevens	D	77	10	51	61	283	13	2	0	0
Craig Laughlin	RW	80	22	30	52	67	-3	11	0	5
Gaetan Duchesne	LW	74	17	35	52	53	18	0	1	4
Dave Christian	RW	76	23	27	50	8	-5	5	0	2
Bobby Gould	RW	78	23	27	50	74	18	1	1	2
Greg Adams	LW	67	14	30	44	184	9	2	0	0
Michal Pivoňka	C	73	18	25	43	41	-19	4	0	2
Alan Haworth	C	50	25	16	41	43	3	9	0	2
Mike Ridley	C	40	15	19	34	20	-1	6	0	3
Rod Langway	D	78	2	25	27	53	11	0	0	1
Kevin Hatcher	D	78	8	16	24	144	-29	1	0	2
Kelly Miller	LW	39	10	12	22	26	10	3	1	0
Lou Franceschetti	RW	75	12	9	21	127	-9	0	0	1
David Jensen	C	46	8	8	16	12	-10	2	0	0
Bobby Carpenter	C	22	5	7	12	21	-7	4	0	0
Garry Galley	D	18	1	10	11	10	3	1	0	0
John Blum	D	66	2	8	10	133	1	0	0	0
Greg Smith	D	45	0	9	9	31	-6	0	0	0
John Barrett	D	55	2	2	4	43	-16	0	0	0
Pete Peeters	G	37	0	4	4	16	0	0	0	0
Gary Sampson	LW	25	1	2	3	4	-9	0	0	0
Jeff Greenlaw	LW	22	0	3	3	44	2	0	0	0
Yvon Corriveau	LW	17	1	1	2	24	-4	0	0	0
Ed Kastelic	W	23	1	1	2	83	-3	1	0	0
Paul Cavallini	D	6	0	2	2	8	-4	0	0	0
Stephen Leach	RW	15	1	0	1	6	-4	0	0	0
Yves Beaudoin	D	6	0	0	0	5	-4	0	0	0
Bob Crawford	RW	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Al Jensen	G	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Grant Martin	LW	9	0	0	0	4	-1	0	0	0
Bob Mason	G	45	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jim Thomson	RW	10	0	0	0	35	-2	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Bob Mason	2536	45	20	18	5	137	3.24	0	1247	1110	.890
Pete Peeters	2002	37	17	11	4	107	3.21	0	930	823	.885
Al Jensen	328	6	1	3	1	27	4.94	0	184	157	.853
Team:	4866	80	38	32	10	271	3.34	0	2361	2090	.885

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Mike Gartner	RW	7	4	3	7	14	0	0	0
Scott Stevens	D	7	0	5	5	19	0	0	0
Kelly Miller	LW	7	2	2	4	0	0	0	0
Larry Murphy	D	7	2	2	4	6	0	0	1
Greg Adams	LW	7	1	3	4	38	1	0	0
Dave Christian	RW	7	1	3	4	6	0	0	1
Gaetan Duchesne	LW	7	3	0	3	14	0	0	0
Mike Ridley	C	7	2	1	3	6	0	0	1
Bobby Gould	RW	7	0	3	3	8	0	0	0
Alan Haworth	C	6	0	3	3	7	0	0	0
Michal Pivonka	C	7	1	1	2	2	0	0	0
Kevin Hatcher	D	7	1	0	1	20	0	0	0
Ed Kastelic	W	5	1	0	1	13	1	0	0
Grant Martin	LW	1	1	0	1	2	0	0	0
John Blum	D	6	0	1	1	4	0	0	0
Rod Langway	D	7	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Lou Franceschetti	RW	7	0	0	0	23	0	0	0
Garry Galley	D	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
David Jensen	C	7	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Craig Laughlin	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bob Mason	G	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pete Peeters	G	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Greg Smith	D	7	0	0	0	11	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Bob Mason	309	4	2	2	9	1.75	1	143	134	.937
Pete Peeters	180	3	1	2	9	3.00	0	76	67	.882
Team:	489	7	3	4	18	2.21	1	219	201	.918

^[3]

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

Transactions

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Jeff Greenlaw	Canada	Canadian National Development Team
2	40	Steve Seftel	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OHL)
3	60	Shawn Simpson	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
3	61	Jim Hrivnak	Canada	Merrimack College (Hockey East)
4	82	Erin Ginnell	Canada	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
5	103	John Purves	Canada	Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
6	124	Stefan Nilsson	Sweden	Luleå HF (Sweden)
7	145	Peter Choma	Canada	Belleville Bulls (OHL)
8	166	Lee Davidson	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCHL)
9	187	Tero Toivola	Finland	Tappara (Finland)
10	208	Bob Babcock	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
11	229	John Schratz	Canada	Amherst Ramblers (MVLHL)
12	250	Scott McCrory	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
S2	22	Steve Cousins	Canada	University of Alberta (CIAU)

Farm teams

See also

• 1986–87 NHL season

References

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. "1986-87 Washington Capitals Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.

External links

• "1986–87 Washington Capitals Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2009.