The 1987–88 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 14th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Regular season
The Capitals had the most shutouts in the league with six and were the least penalized team in the league, being short-handed only 394 times.
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || || Washington || 3–4 || Boston) || || Malarchuk || Boston Garden || 13,104 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || || Chicago || 4–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || || Washington || 5–6 || Buffalo || || Peeters || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || || Hartford || 2–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || || NY Rangers || 3–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || || Washington || 4–2 || NY Rangers || || Malarchuk || Madison Square Garden || || 4–2–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || || Washington || 4–1 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 5–2–0 || 10 ||
| 8 || || Montreal || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || || Washington || 3–2 || Vancouver || || Peeters || Pacific Coliseum || || 6–3–0 || 12 ||
| 10 || || Washington || 2–3 || Winnipeg || OT || Malarchuk || Winnipeg Arena || || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 || || Washington || 3–3 || Minnesota || OT || Malarchuk || Met Center || || 6–4–1 || 13 ||
| 12 || || Vancouver || 2–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 7–4–1 || 13 ||
| 13 || || Quebec || 4–1 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 7–5–1 || 13 ||
| 14 || || Washington || 1–4 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 16,347 || 7–6–1 || 13 ||
| 15 || || Washington || 3–4 || NY Islanders || OT || Malarchuk || Nassau Coliseum || || 7–7–1 || 15 ||
| 16 || || Washington || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || || Malarchuk || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 7–8–1 || 15 ||
| 17 || || Minnesota || 1–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 8–8–1 || 17 ||
| 18 || || Detroit || 1–0 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Center || 12,729 || 8–9–1 || 17 ||
| 19 || || Washington || 3–5 || Buffalo || || Peeters || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || || 8–10–1 || 17 ||
| 20 || || Washington || 4–3 || Hartford || || Malarchuk || Hartford Civic Center || || 9–10–1 || 19 ||
| 21 || || Boston || 1–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 15,844 || 10–10–1 || 21 ||
| 22 || || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 10–11–1 || 21 ||
| 23 || || Washington || 5–5 || Pittsburgh || OT || Malarchuk || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 10–11–2 || 22 ||
| 24 || || Edmonton || 2–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 17,342 || 11–11–2 || 24 ||
| 25 || || NY Islanders || 6–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk|| Capital Centre || || 11–12–2 || 24 ||
| 26 || || Los Angeles || 3–10 || Washington || || Malarchuk|| Capital Centre || || 12–12–2 || 26 ||
| 27 || || Calgary || 5–4 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 12–13–2 || 26 ||
| 28 || || Washington || 4–5 || Hartford || || Raymond || Hartford Civic Center || || 12–14–2 || 26 ||
| 29 || || Chicago || 1–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 13–14–2 || 28 ||
| 30 || || Washington || 3–5 || Toronto || || Peeters || Maple Leaf Gardens || || 13–15–2 || 28 ||
| 31 || || Washington || 1–6 || Detroit || || Malarchuk || Joe Louis Arena || 19,293 || 13–16–2 || 28 ||
| 32 || || Toronto || 2–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 14–16–2 || 30 ||
| 33 || || St. Louis || 1–1 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 14–16–3 || 31 ||
| 34 || || Washington || 2–1 || Quebec || || Peeters || Quebec Coliseum || || 15–16–3 || 33 ||
| 35 || || Washington || 2–2 || Montreal || OT || Peeters || Montreal Forum || || 15–16–4 || 34 ||
| 36 || || Philadelphia || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 15–17–4 || 34 ||
| 37 || || Washington || 4–4 || Toronto || OT || Malarchuk || Maple Leaf Gardens || || 15–17–5 || 35 ||
| 38 || || Washington || 4–3 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,040 || 16–17–5 || 37 ||
| 39 || || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 17–17–5 || 39 ||
| 40 || || Edmonton || 0–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 18–17–5 || 41 ||
| 41 || || Washington || 3–1 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 19–17–5 || 43 ||
| 42 || || NY Rangers || 4–8 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 20–17–5 || 45 ||
| 43 || || Washington || 2–8 || Calgary || || Peeters || Olympic Saddledome || || 20–18–5 || 45 ||
| 44 || || Washington || 2–3 || Edmonton || || Malarchuk || Northlands Coliseum || 16,315 || 20–19–5 || 45 ||
| 45 || || Washington || 8–3 || Los Angeles || || Malarchuk || The Forum || || 21–19–5 || 47 ||
| 46 || || Washington || 1–3 || St. Louis || || Malarchuk || St. Louis Arena || || 21–20–5 || 47 ||
| 47 || || Washington || 4–5 || Chicago || || Malarchuk || Chicago Stadium || || 21–21–5 || 47 ||
| 48 || || New Jersey || 4–6 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 12,501 || 22–21–5 || 49 ||
| 49 || || Buffalo || 3–3 || Washington || OT || || Capital Centre || || 22–21–6 || 50 ||
| 50 || || Winnipeg || 3–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 22–22–6 || 50 ||
| 51 || || Montreal || 3–4 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 23–22–6 || 52 ||
| 52 || || Philadelphia || 0–1 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 24–22–6 || 54 ||
| 53 || || Washington || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || OT || Peeters || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 24–23–6 || 54 ||
| 54 || || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 24–24–6 || 54 ||
| 55 || || NY Rangers || 3–0 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 24–25–6 || 54 ||
| 56 || || Washington || 5–3 || NY Rangers || || Peeters || Madison Square Garden || || 25–25–6 || 56 ||
| 57 || || NY Islanders || 2–6 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 26–25–6 || 58 ||
| 58 || || Calgary || 4–5 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 27–25–6 || 60 ||
| 59 || || Washington || 4–3 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 10,009 || 28–25–6 || 62 ||
| 60 || || Washington || 6–0 || Winnipeg || || Malarchuk || Winnipeg Arena || || 29–25–6 || 64 ||
| 61 || || Washington || 3–0 || Minnesota || || Malarchuk || Met Center || || 30–25–6 || 66 ||
| 62 || || Washington || 3–4 || Los Angeles || || Malarchuk || The Forum || || 30–26–6 || 66 ||
| 63 || || Washington || 3–0 || NY Islanders || || Malarchuk || Nassau Coliseum || || 31–26–6 || 68 ||
| 64 || || New Jersey || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 14,281 || 32–26–6 || 70 ||
| 65 || || Washington || 6–1 || New Jersey || || Malarchuk || Brendan Byrne Arena || 12,760 || 33–26–6 || 72 ||
| 66 || || Quebec || 2–6 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 34–26–6 || 74 ||
| 67 || || Vancouver || 2–7 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 35–26–6 || 76 ||
| 68 || || Washington || 2–5 || Philadelphia || || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || 35–27–6 || 76 ||
| 69 || || NY Rangers || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 35–28–6 || 76 ||
| 70 || || Washington || 3–0 || Boston || || Peeters || Boston Garden || 14,130 || 36–28–6 || 78 ||
| 71 || || Washington || 8–4 || NY Rangers || || Peeters || Madison Square Garden || || 37–28–6 || 80 ||
| 72 || || NY Islanders || 3–3 || Washington || OT || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 37–28–7 || 81 ||
| 73 || || New Jersey || 4–2 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 37–29–7 || 81 ||
| 73 || || New Jersey || 5–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || 37–30–7 || 81 ||
| 75 || || Washington || 1–7 || Pittsburgh || || Peeters || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || || 37–31–7 || 81 ||
| 76 || || Philadelphia || 3–5 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 38–31–7 || 83 ||
| 77 || || Detroit || 2–2 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || 38–31–8 || 84 ||
| 78 || || Washington || 3–7 || NY Islanders || || Peeters || Nassau Coliseum || ||38–32–8 || 84 ||
| 79 || || Pittsburgh || 7–6 || Washington || OT || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || || 38–33–8 || 84 ||
| 80 || || Washington || 2–2 || Philadelphia || OT || Peeters || Spectrum || || 38–33–9 || 85 ||
Playoffs
| 1 || || Philadelphia || 4–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Flyers lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || || Washington || 3–4 || Philadelphia || || Peeters || Spectrum || || Flyers lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || || Washington || 4–5 || Philadelphia || OT || Malarchuk || Spectrum || || Flyers lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || || Philadelphia || 2–5 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Flyers lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || || Washington || 7–2 || Philadelphia || || Peeters || Spectrum || || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Washington || OT || Peeters || Capital Centre || || Capitals win 4–3 ||
| 1 || || New Jersey || 1–3 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 16,710 || Capitals lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || || New Jersey || 5–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || || Washington || 4–10 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Devils lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || || Washington || 4–1 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || || New Jersey || 3–1 || Washington || || Malarchuk || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Devils lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || || Washington || 7–2 || New Jersey || || Peeters || Brendan Byrne Arena || 19,096 || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || || New Jersey || 3–2 || Washington || || Peeters || Capital Centre || 18,130 || Devils win 4–3 ||
Playoffs
Defenseman Garry Galley's crucial two-goal performance tied the regular season finale with Philadelphia, meant that Washington won the head-to-head tiebreaker and finished second in the Patrick Division, giving them home-ice advantage in their first-round match-up with the defending division and Wales Conference champion Flyers.
Philly showed a champion's mettle right away, though, stealing home ice away with a 4–2 victory in Game 1. Ron Hextall made 35 saves and Dave Poulin's 3rd period power play tally broke a 2–2 tie. Washington salvaged a split at home with a 5–4 triumph in Game 2. Despite letting in a quartet of Philly goals, Pete Peeters proved to be the final period hero, stopping 14 of 15 shots from a pressing Flyers attack.
Philadelphia then turned the tables back at their place, taking a pair of one-goal games, both of them high in drama for entirely different reasons. In Game 3, a 4–3 Flyers win, officials handed out 40 penalties, including 10 major/misconduct penalties. After the game Philly forward Rick Tocchet, who spent roughly half the contest in the penalty box, was quoted as saying, "There are 10 guys on that team that I'd like to kill."