1985-86 Washington Capitals Game-by-Game Results
National Hockey League (NHL)
Team Record: 50-23-7 - 107 points
Finishing 2nd in the NHL's Patrick Division
Postseason: 5-4
Lost NHL division finals
Division Semi-Finals - Defeated New York Islanders 3-0
Division Finals - Lost to New York Rangers 4-2
Coach: Bryan Murray (50-23-7)
Location: Landover, Maryland
1985-86 Washington Capitals StatisticsTeam Record: 50-23-7 - 107 points
Finishing 2nd in the NHL's Patrick Division
Postseason: 5-4
Lost NHL division finals
Division Semi-Finals - Defeated New York Islanders 3-0
Division Finals - Lost to New York Rangers 4-2
Coach: Bryan Murray (50-23-7)
Location: Landover, Maryland
1985-86 Washington Capitals Roster
The Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League ended the 1985-86 season with a record of 50 wins and 23 losses and 7 ties for 107 points, finishing second in the NHL's Patrick Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 5-4.
The Capitals scored 315 goals and allowed 272. Dave Christian netted 41 goals for Washington, while Alan Haworth, Mike Gartner and Craig Laughlin each tallied 30 or more also. Bengt-Ake Gustafsson contributed 52 assists. Al Jensen earned 28 wins in front of the net for the squad, plus Pete Peeters added 15 or more wins, too. Al Jensen earned a 3.18 goals against average, pacing goaltenders with enough qualifying appearances.
Bryan Murray coached the team. The 1985-86 Washington Capitals lost in the NHL division finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 315
Regular Season Goals Against: 272
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 10, 1985 | Washington Capitals 2 at New York Rangers 4 | L | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | ||
| October 12, 1985 | Washington Capitals 1 at New Jersey Devils 4 | L | 0-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-2-0 | ||
| October 13, 1985 | Philadelphia Flyers 4 at Washington Capitals 2 | L | 0-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-3-0 | ||
| October 16, 1985 | Washington Capitals 6 at Toronto Maple Leafs 5 | W | 0-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-3-0 | OT | |
| October 18, 1985 | Washington Capitals 4 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | W | 0-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 2-3-0 | ||
| October 19, 1985 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Washington Capitals 2 | T | 0-1-1 | 2-2-0 | 2-3-1 | OT | |
| October 23, 1985 | Washington Capitals 2 at Calgary Flames 4 | L | 0-1-1 | 2-3-0 | 2-4-1 | ||
| October 25, 1985 | Washington Capitals 7 at Winnipeg Jets 7 | T | 0-1-1 | 2-3-1 | 2-4-2 | OT | |
| October 27, 1985 | Washington Capitals 4 at Chicago Black Hawks 2 | W | 0-1-1 | 3-3-1 | 3-4-2 | ||
| October 29, 1985 | St. Louis Blues 3 at Washington Capitals 6 | W | 1-1-1 | 3-3-1 | 4-4-2 | ||
| November 1, 1985 | New York Islanders 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 2-1-1 | 3-3-1 | 5-4-2 | ||
| November 2, 1985 | Washington Capitals 3 at New York Islanders 5 | L | 2-1-1 | 3-4-1 | 5-5-2 | ||
| November 5, 1985 | Chicago Black Hawks 4 at Washington Capitals 8 | W | 3-1-1 | 3-4-1 | 6-5-2 | ||
| November 6, 1985 | Washington Capitals 4 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1 | W | 3-1-1 | 4-4-1 | 7-5-2 | ||
| November 9, 1985 | Calgary Flames 5 at Washington Capitals 4 | L | 3-2-1 | 4-4-1 | 7-6-2 | ||
| November 12, 1985 | Edmonton Oilers 2 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 4-2-1 | 4-4-1 | 8-6-2 | ||
| November 15, 1985 | Vancouver Canucks 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 5-2-1 | 4-4-1 | 9-6-2 | ||
| November 16, 1985 | Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 2 | T | 5-2-1 | 4-4-2 | 9-6-3 | OT | |
| November 19, 1985 | Pittsburgh Penguins 3 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 6-2-1 | 4-4-2 | 10-6-3 | ||
| November 20, 1985 | Washington Capitals 3 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1 | W | 6-2-1 | 5-4-2 | 11-6-3 | ||
| November 23, 1985 | Quebec Nordiques 0 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 7-2-1 | 5-4-2 | 12-6-3 | ||
| November 27, 1985 | Montreal Canadiens 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 8-2-1 | 5-4-2 | 13-6-3 | ||
| November 29, 1985 | New York Rangers 5 at Washington Capitals 2 | L | 8-3-1 | 5-4-2 | 13-7-3 | ||
| November 30, 1985 | Washington Capitals 6 at New Jersey Devils 2 | W | 8-3-1 | 6-4-2 | 14-7-3 | ||
| December 5, 1985 | St. Louis Blues 2 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 9-3-1 | 6-4-2 | 15-7-3 | OT | |
| December 7, 1985 | Vancouver Canucks 1 at Washington Capitals 2 | W | 10-3-1 | 6-4-2 | 16-7-3 | ||
| December 10, 1985 | Toronto Maple Leafs 2 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 11-3-1 | 6-4-2 | 17-7-3 | ||
| December 14, 1985 | Washington Capitals 5 at Los Angeles Kings 4 | W | 11-3-1 | 7-4-2 | 18-7-3 | ||
| December 17, 1985 | Washington Capitals 4 at Vancouver Canucks 4 | T | 11-3-1 | 7-4-3 | 18-7-4 | OT | |
| December 18, 1985 | Washington Capitals 5 at Edmonton Oilers 2 | W | 11-3-1 | 8-4-3 | 19-7-4 | ||
| December 20, 1985 | Washington Capitals 4 at Winnipeg Jets 7 | L | 11-3-1 | 8-5-3 | 19-8-4 | ||
| December 22, 1985 | Washington Capitals 7 at Quebec Nordiques 5 | W | 11-3-1 | 9-5-3 | 20-8-4 | ||
| December 26, 1985 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 12-3-1 | 9-5-3 | 21-8-4 | ||
| December 28, 1985 | Chicago Black Hawks 7 at Washington Capitals 4 | L | 12-4-1 | 9-5-3 | 21-9-4 | ||
| December 29, 1985 | Washington Capitals 5 at New York Rangers 6 | L | 12-4-1 | 9-6-3 | 21-10-4 | ||
| January 1, 1986 | New York Rangers 0 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 13-4-1 | 9-6-3 | 22-10-4 | ||
| January 3, 1986 | Washington Capitals 3 at New Jersey Devils 2 | W | 13-4-1 | 10-6-3 | 23-10-4 | ||
| January 4, 1986 | New Jersey Devils 3 at Washington Capitals 9 | W | 14-4-1 | 10-6-3 | 24-10-4 | ||
| January 7, 1986 | Detroit Red Wings 3 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 15-4-1 | 10-6-3 | 25-10-4 | ||
| January 9, 1986 | Washington Capitals 0 at Philadelphia Flyers 4 | L | 15-4-1 | 10-7-3 | 25-11-4 | ||
| January 11, 1986 | Washington Capitals 3 at Minnesota North Stars 5 | L | 15-4-1 | 10-8-3 | 25-12-4 | ||
| January 14, 1986 | Calgary Flames 4 at Washington Capitals 3 | L | 15-5-1 | 10-8-3 | 25-13-4 | ||
| January 17, 1986 | Washington Capitals 4 at New Jersey Devils 3 | W | 15-5-1 | 11-8-3 | 26-13-4 | ||
| January 18, 1986 | Philadelphia Flyers 2 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 16-5-1 | 11-8-3 | 27-13-4 | ||
| January 21, 1986 | Minnesota North Stars 5 at Washington Capitals 7 | W | 17-5-1 | 11-8-3 | 28-13-4 | ||
| January 24, 1986 | New York Islanders 7 at Washington Capitals 5 | L | 17-6-1 | 11-8-3 | 28-14-4 | ||
| January 25, 1986 | Washington Capitals 6 at Minnesota North Stars 3 | W | 17-6-1 | 12-8-3 | 29-14-4 | ||
| January 28, 1986 | Washington Capitals 0 at Detroit Red Wings 7 | L | 17-6-1 | 12-9-3 | 29-15-4 | ||
| January 29, 1986 | Washington Capitals 2 at Toronto Maple Leafs 5 | L | 17-6-1 | 12-10-3 | 29-16-4 | ||
| February 1, 1986 | New Jersey Devils 4 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 18-6-1 | 12-10-3 | 30-16-4 | ||
| February 2, 1986 | Washington Capitals 5 at Hartford Whalers 4 | W | 18-6-1 | 13-10-3 | 31-16-4 | ||
| February 7, 1986 | Montreal Canadiens 2 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 19-6-1 | 13-10-3 | 32-16-4 | ||
| February 8, 1986 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 20-6-1 | 13-10-3 | 33-16-4 | OT | |
| February 12, 1986 | Washington Capitals 1 at Pittsburgh Penguins 8 | L | 20-6-1 | 13-11-3 | 33-17-4 | ||
| February 15, 1986 | Washington Capitals 4 at Los Angeles Kings 1 | W | 20-6-1 | 14-11-3 | 34-17-4 | ||
| February 18, 1986 | Washington Capitals 5 at New York Islanders 4 | W | 20-6-1 | 15-11-3 | 35-17-4 | ||
| February 19, 1986 | Washington Capitals 4 at Montreal Canadiens 4 | T | 20-6-1 | 15-11-4 | 35-17-5 | OT | |
| February 22, 1986 | Washington Capitals 1 at Philadelphia Flyers 3 | L | 20-6-1 | 15-12-4 | 35-18-5 | ||
| February 23, 1986 | Washington Capitals 1 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | L | 20-6-1 | 15-13-4 | 35-19-5 | ||
| February 25, 1986 | Detroit Red Wings 3 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 21-6-1 | 15-13-4 | 36-19-5 | OT | |
| February 27, 1986 | Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 1 | W | 21-6-1 | 16-13-4 | 37-19-5 | ||
| March 1, 1986 | New York Rangers 0 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 22-6-1 | 16-13-4 | 38-19-5 | ||
| March 2, 1986 | Washington Capitals 4 at New York Rangers 2 | W | 22-6-1 | 17-13-4 | 39-19-5 | ||
| March 4, 1986 | New Jersey Devils 2 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 23-6-1 | 17-13-4 | 40-19-5 | ||
| March 8, 1986 | Washington Capitals 6 at New York Islanders 2 | W | 23-6-1 | 18-13-4 | 41-19-5 | ||
| March 9, 1986 | New York Islanders 1 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 24-6-1 | 18-13-4 | 42-19-5 | ||
| March 11, 1986 | Pittsburgh Penguins 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 25-6-1 | 18-13-4 | 43-19-5 | ||
| March 13, 1986 | Washington Capitals 0 at Philadelphia Flyers 2 | L | 25-6-1 | 18-14-4 | 43-20-5 | ||
| March 15, 1986 | Washington Capitals 5 at St. Louis Blues 4 | W | 25-6-1 | 19-14-4 | 44-20-5 | ||
| March 17, 1986 | Washington Capitals 5 at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 | W | 25-6-1 | 20-14-4 | 45-20-5 | ||
| March 18, 1986 | Los Angeles Kings 5 at Washington Capitals 2 | L | 25-7-1 | 20-14-4 | 45-21-5 | ||
| March 21, 1986 | Winnipeg Jets 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 26-7-1 | 20-14-4 | 46-21-5 | ||
| March 23, 1986 | Philadelphia Flyers 5 at Washington Capitals 6 | W | 27-7-1 | 20-14-4 | 47-21-5 | ||
| March 25, 1986 | Boston Bruins 3 at Washington Capitals 6 | W | 28-7-1 | 20-14-4 | 48-21-5 | ||
| March 28, 1986 | New York Islanders 4 at Washington Capitals 3 | L | 28-8-1 | 20-14-4 | 48-22-5 | ||
| March 29, 1986 | Washington Capitals 6 at Hartford Whalers 6 | T | 28-8-1 | 20-14-5 | 48-22-6 | OT | |
| April 1, 1986 | Pittsburgh Penguins 3 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 29-8-1 | 20-14-5 | 49-22-6 | ||
| April 3, 1986 | Hartford Whalers 2 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 30-8-1 | 20-14-5 | 50-22-6 | ||
| April 5, 1986 | New York Rangers 4 at Washington Capitals 4 | T | 30-8-2 | 20-14-5 | 50-22-7 | OT | |
| April 6, 1986 | Washington Capitals 3 at Philadelphia Flyers 5 | L | 30-8-2 | 20-15-5 | 50-23-7 | ||
| April 9, 1986 | New York Islanders 1 at Washington Capitals 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| April 10, 1986 | New York Islanders 2 at Washington Capitals 5 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| April 12, 1986 | Washington Capitals 3 at New York Islanders 1 | W | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| April 17, 1986 | New York Rangers 4 at Washington Capitals 3 | L | 2-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-1-0 | OT | |
| April 19, 1986 | New York Rangers 1 at Washington Capitals 8 | W | 3-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 4-1-0 | ||
| April 21, 1986 | Washington Capitals 6 at New York Rangers 3 | W | 3-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 5-1-0 | ||
| April 23, 1986 | Washington Capitals 5 at New York Rangers 6 | L | 3-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 5-2-0 | OT | |
| April 25, 1986 | New York Rangers 4 at Washington Capitals 2 | L | 3-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 5-3-0 | ||
| April 27, 1986 | Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2 | L | 3-2-0 | 2-2-0 | 5-4-0 |
