| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1982–83 |
| Year: | 1982 |
| Team: | Washington Capitals |
| Record: | 39–25–16 |
| Divisionrank: | 3rd |
| Altcaptain: | None |
| Goalsfor: | 306 |
| Goalsagainst: | 283 |
The 1982–83 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They qualified for the playoffs for the very first time in franchise history after eight frustrating seasons.
|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || October 6, 1982 || @ N.Y. Rangers || 5–4 || || Riggin || Madison Square Garden || 1–0–0 || 2 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || October 9, 1982 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 1–1–0 || 2 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || October 10, 1982 || @ Philadelphia || 4–6 || || Moore || The Spectrum || 1–2–0 || 2 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 || October 13, 1982 || @ Toronto || 5–3 || || Parro || Maple Leaf Gardens || 2–2–0 || 4 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 || October 16, 1982
8:05p.m. EDT || Buffalo || 2–9 || || Parro || Capital Centre
13,710 || 2–3–0 || 4 || L1|- style="background:#fff;"| 6 || October 20, 1982
7:35p.m. EDT || Montreal || 3–3 || || Parro || Capital Centre
12,849 || 2–3–1 || 5 || T1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7 || October 21, 1982
8:05p.m. EDT || @ N.Y. Islanders || 3–6 || || Riggin || Nassau Coliseum
14,633 || 2–4–1 || 5 || L1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8 || October 23, 1982
8:05p.m. EDT || Minnesota || 1–3 || || Parro || Capital Centre
12,768 || 2–5–1 || 5 || L2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9 || October 27, 1982 || @ Pittsburgh || 5–7 || || Parro || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 2–6–1 || 5 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 10 || October 30, 1982 || @ St. Louis || 6–5 || || Riggin || Checkerdome || 3–6–1 || 7 |||-|- style="background:#fff;"| 11 || November 3, 1982
8:35p.m. EST || @ Chicago || 3–3 || || Riggin || Chicago Stadium
13,864 || 3–6–2 || 8 || T1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || November 5, 1982 || St. Louis || 3–4 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 3–7–2 || 8 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || November 7, 1982
7:05p.m. EST || Hartford || 6–2 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
12,816 || 4–7–2 || 10 || W1|- style="background:#fff;"| 14 || November 8, 1982
7:45p.m. EST || @ New Jersey || 2–2 || || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena
10,273 || 4–7–3 || 11 || T1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 || November 10, 1982
7:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 3–0 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
12,445 || 5–7–3 || 13 || W1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || November 13, 1982
8:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 3–1 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
14,131 || 6–7–3 || 15 || W2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || November 16, 1982
7:35p.m. EST || Calgary || 5–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
10,705 || 7–7–3 || 17 || W3|- style="background:#fff;"| 18 || November 19, 1982 || @ Winnipeg || 3–3 || || Jensen || Winnipeg Arena || 7–7–4 || 18 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 19 || November 21, 1982 || @ Vancouver || 3–5 || || Riggin || Pacific Coliseum || 7–8–4 || 18 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 20 || November 23, 1982
9:35p.m. EST || @ Calgary || 3–6 || || Jensen || Stampede Corral
7,242 || 7–9–4 || 18 || L2|- style="background:#fff;"| 21 || November 24, 1982
9:35p.m. EST || @ Edmonton || 3–3 || || Riggin || Northlands Coliseum
17,498 || 7–9–5 || 19 || T1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 || November 26, 1982 || Toronto || 5–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8–9–5 || 21 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 23 || November 28, 1982
7:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 3–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
12,380 || 8–9–6 || 22 || T1|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24 || December 2, 1982 || Pittsburgh || 5–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 9–9–6 || 24 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || December 4, 1982
8:05p.m. EST || Chicago || 4–2 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
10,885 || 10–9–6 || 26 || W2|- style="background:#fff;"| 26 || December 7, 1982 || Winnipeg || 3–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 10–9–7 || 27 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 27 || December 9, 1982
7:35p.m. EST || @ New Jersey || 6–4 || || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena
9,123 || 11–9–7 || 29 || W1|- style="background:#fff;"| 28 || December 10, 1982 || N.Y. Rangers || 4–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 11–9–8 || 30 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 || December 12, 1982
7:05p.m. EST || Boston || 4–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
10,435 || 12–9–8 || 32 || W1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30 || December 14, 1982
7:35p.m. EST || Los Angeles || 7–2 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
8,696 || 13–9–8 || 34 || W2|- style="background:#fff;"| 31 || December 16, 1982
8:35p.m. EST || @ Minnesota || 4–4 || || Riggin || Met Center
12,340 || 13–9–9 || 35 || T1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32 || December 18, 1982 || @ Pittsburgh || 3–1 || || Jensen || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 14–9–9 || 37 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 33 || December 19, 1982 || @ Philadelphia || 3–1 || || Jensen || The Spectrum || 15–9–9 || 39 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 34 || December 23, 1982
8:05p.m. EST || @ N.Y. Islanders || 5–1 || || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum
15,230 || 16–9–9 || 41 || W3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 35 || December 26, 1982 || Philadelphia || 3–6 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 16–10–9 || 41 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 36 || December 28, 1982 || Pittsburgh || 6–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 17–10–9 || 43 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 37 || December 30, 1982
7:35p.m. EST || @ Hartford || 4–4 || || Riggin || Hartford Civic Center
11,385 || 17–10–10 || 44 || T1|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 38 || January 1, 1983 || N.Y. Rangers || 2–7 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 17–11–10 || 44 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 39 || January 2, 1983 || @ Quebec || 7–4 || || Riggin || Quebec Coliseum || 18–11–10 || 46 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 40 || January 5, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || @ Detroit || 5–2 || || Jensen || Joe Louis Arena
11,676 || 19–11–10 || 48 || W2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 41 || January 6, 1983 || Toronto || 1–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 19–12–10 || 48 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 42 || January 8, 1983 || @ St. Louis || 3–3 || || Jensen || Checkerdome || 19–12–11 || 49 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 43 || January 11, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || Los Angeles || 7–9 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
9,422 || 19–13–11 || 49 || L1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 44 || January 14, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || @ Buffalo || 2–3 || || Jensen || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
11,646 || 19–14–11 || 49 || L2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 45 || January 15, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || Buffalo || 2–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
11,409 || 19–15–11 || 49 || L3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46 || January 18, 1983 || Philadelphia || 4–1 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 20–15–11 || 51 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 47 || January 19, 1983
8:35p.m. EST || @ Chicago || 6–4 || || Jensen || Chicago Stadium
17,482 || 21–15–11 || 53 || W2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 48 || January 21, 1983 || Quebec || 4–5 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 21–16–11 || 53 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 49 || January 23, 1983
1:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 3–1 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
8,839 || 22–16–11 || 55 || W1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50 || January 26, 1983 || @ Pittsburgh || 6–2 || || Riggin || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 23–16–11 || 57 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 51 || January 28, 1983 || Pittsburgh || 7–2 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 24–16–11 || 59 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 52 || January 29, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || @ Montreal || 3–3 || || Jensen || Montreal Forum
16,835 || 24–16–12 || 60 || T1|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 53 || February 1, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || Detroit || 5–2 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
9,314 || 25–16–12 || 62 || W1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 54 || February 3, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || Minnesota || 3–1 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
9,680 || 26–16–12 || 64 || W2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55 || February 5, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || New Jersey || 5–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
13,150 || 27–16–12 || 66 || W3|- style="background:#fff;"| 56 || February 6, 1983 || @ Quebec || 4–4 || || Riggin || Quebec Coliseum || 27–16–13 || 67 |||-style=background:#bbbfff|colspan="10"|35th All-Star Game in Uniondale, New York|- style="background:#fcc;"| 57 || February 10, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || @ N.Y. Islanders || 3–8 || || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum
15,055 || 27–17–13 || 67 || L1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 || February 13, 1983 || Winnipeg || 6–1 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 28–17–13 || 69 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 59 || February 16, 1983 || @ N.Y. Rangers || 4–5 || || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 28–18–13 || 69 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 60 || February 18, 1983 || @ Vancouver || 2–1 || || Riggin || Pacific Coliseum || 29–18–13 || 71 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 61 || February 19, 1983
10:35p.m. EST || @ Los Angeles || 3–3 || || Riggin || The Forum
14,087 || 29–18–14 || 72 || T1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 62 || February 23, 1983
9:35p.m. EST || @ Edmonton || 3–6 || || Jensen || Northlands Coliseum
17,498 || 29–19–14 || 72 || L1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 63 || February 24, 1983
9:35p.m. EST || @ Calgary || 4–2 || || Riggin || Stampede Corral
7,242 || 30–19–14 || 74 || W1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 64 || February 26, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || @ Montreal || 1–4 || || Riggin || Montreal Forum
16,988 || 30–20–14 || 74 || L1|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 65 || March 2, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || Edmonton || 3–5 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
18,130 || 30–21–14 || 74 || L2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 66 || March 3, 1983 || @ N.Y. Rangers || 4–3 || || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 31–21–14 || 76 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 67 || March 5, 1983 || Philadelphia || 4–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 32–21–14 || 78 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 68 || March 8, 1983
7:45p.m. EST || @ New Jersey || 5–4 || || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena
9,350 || 33–21–14 || 80 || W3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 69 || March 12, 1983
5:05p.m. EST || @ N.Y. Islanders || 2–6 || || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum
15,230 || 33–22–14 || 80 || L1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70 || March 13, 1983
1:35p.m. EST || Boston || 6–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
15,729 || 34–22–14 || 82 || W1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 71 || March 16, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || Hartford || 5–4 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
8,980 || 35–22–14 || 84 || W2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 72 || March 17, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || @ Boston || 2–1 || || Riggin || Boston Garden
13,179 || 36–22–14 || 86 || W3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73 || March 20, 1983 || @ Philadelphia || 3–2 || || Riggin || The Spectrum || 37–22–14 || 88 |||- style="background:#fff;"| 74 || March 23, 1983 || Vancouver || 1–1 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 37–22–15 || 89 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 75 || March 24, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 5–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
9,713 || 38–22–15 || 91 || W1|- style="background:#fff;"| 76 || March 26, 1983 || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 38–22–16 || 92 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 77 || March 27, 1983 || @ N.Y. Rangers || 4–5 || || Jensen || Madison Square Garden || 38–23–16 || 92 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 78 || March 30, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 1–7 || || Riggin || Capital Centre
17,848 || 38–24–16 || 92 || L2|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 79 || April 1, 1983
7:35p.m. EST || @ Detroit || 7–8 || || Jensen || Joe Louis Arena
13,609 || 38–25–16 || 92 || L3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 80 || April 3, 1983 || N.Y. Rangers || 3–0 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 39–25–16 || 94 |||-|-|
See main article: 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Capitals lost to the Islanders 3 games to 1.|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || April 6, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || @ N.Y. Islanders || 2–5 || || Riggin || Nassau Coliseum
15,230 || 0–1 |||- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || April 7, 1983
8:05p.m. EST || @ N.Y. Islanders || 4–2 || || Jensen || Nassau Coliseum
15,150 || 1–1 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || April 9, 1983
1:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 2–6 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
18,130 || 1–2 |||- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 || April 10, 1983
7:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 3–6 || || Jensen || Capital Centre
18,130 || 1–3 |||-|-|
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 80 | 31 | 50 | 81 | 71 | -21 | 12 | 0 | 2 | ||
| RW | 73 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 54 | -2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | ||
| C | 80 | 32 | 37 | 69 | 64 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4 | ||
| RW | 67 | 22 | 42 | 64 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| C | 74 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 34 | -5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| C | 73 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| RW | 75 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 41 | -7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | ||
| RW | 80 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 43 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| RW | 71 | 25 | 14 | 39 | 93 | -8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 68 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 20 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| LW | 77 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 52 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| D | 70 | 8 | 28 | 36 | 20 | -3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 80 | 3 | 29 | 32 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 80 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 10 | -12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| D | 73 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 59 | -4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 77 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 195 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 61 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 67 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C | 23 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 14 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LW | 39 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 47 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 70 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 275 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 10 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 19 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2358 | 40 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 135 | 3.44 | 1 | ||
| 2161 | 38 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 121 | 3.36 | 0 | ||
| 261 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 4.37 | 0 | ||
| 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 0 | ||
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 39 | 25 | 16 | 276 | 3.45 | 1 |
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 139 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 4.32 | 0 | ||
| 101 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4.75 | 0 | ||
| Team: | 240 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 4.50 | 0 |
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;
Washington's draft picks at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Scott Stevens | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | ||
| 3 | 58 | Milan Novy | Kladno (Czechoslovakia) | ||
| 5 | 89 | Dean Evason | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) | ||
| 6 | 110 | Ed Kastelic | London Knights (OHL) | ||
| 8 | 152 | Wally Schreiber | Regina Pats (WHL) | ||
| 9 | 173 | Jamie Reeve | Saskatoon Blades (SJHL) | ||
| 10 | 194 | Juha Nurmi | Tampere Tappara (Finland) | ||
| 11 | 215 | Wayne Prestage | Seattle Breakers (WHL) | ||
| 12 | 236 | Jon Holden | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | ||
| 12 | 247 | Marco Kallas | St. Louis Sting (NAJHL) |