The 2009–10 Washington Capitals season was the team's 36th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The season started with the 2009 NHL entry draft on June 26–27 with the Capitals holding the 24th selection in the draft. On December 28, 2009, the Capitals traded away captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for winger Jason Chimera. On January 5, 2010, Alexander Ovechkin was named the team's new captain, the unanimous choice of his teammates. Ovechkin became the first European, second-youngest and 14th overall captain in team history. From January 13 to February 7, 2010, Washington won 14-straight games. The Capitals eventually finished 2009-10 regular season first in the Eastern Conference and in the NHL with 121 points, securing their first ever President's Trophy while also becoming the first non-Original Six team to ever reach the 120-point plateau. The Capitals finished the regular season in first place in scoring, with 313 goals (excluding five shootout-winning goals). This was the highest total by an NHL team since the 1995–96 season. Seven Washington players reached the 20-goal mark. The Capitals also scored the most power-play goals in the league with 79, and had the best power-play percentage at 25.24% (79 for 313).

Ovechkin led the team with 109 points and finished as the league's third-highest goal scorer, despite playing nine games fewer than the league leaders. Fellow Capital's player Nicklas Bäckström finished the season with 101 points, the fourth-most in the NHL. Mike Green led all defensemen in points, finishing with 76. The Capitals also dominated the plus-minus category, with five players finishing in the top six in the league. Despite enjoying a top-ranked regular season, the Capitals were ousted by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs in 7 games. Their early post-season exit in 2010 was considered one of the biggest playoff upsets in NHL history.

Pre-season # Date Opponent Score Location 1 September 17 Buffalo Sabres W 4-3 (OT) HSBC Arena 2 September 19 Chicago Blackhawks W 3-2 (OT) United Center 3 September 21 Buffalo Sabres L 1-2 Verizon Center 4 September 23 Chicago Blackhawks W 6-2 Verizon Center 5 September 24 New York Rangers L 2-3 Madison Square Garden 6 September 27 New York Rangers W 4-3 Verizon Center

Regular season On December 28, the Capitals traded captain Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jason Chimera. On January 5, Alexander Ovechkin was named the team's new captain, the unanimous choice of his teammates.

From January 13 to February 7, 2010, Washington won 14-straight games.

By finishing the regular season with 121 points in the standings, the Capitals became the first non-Original Six team to ever reach the 120-point plateau.

The Capitals finished the regular season in first place in scoring, with 313 goals (excluding five shootout-winning goals). This was the highest total by an NHL team since the 1995–96 season. Seven Washington players reached the 20-goal mark. The Capitals also scored the most power-play goals in the league with 79, and had the best power-play percentage at 25.24% (79 for 313).

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || October 1 || Boston Bruins || 4 - 1 || TD Garden || 17,565 || 1-0-0 || 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 || October 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6 - 4 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 2-0-0 || 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffffff" | 3 || October 6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6 - 5 OT || Wachovia Center || 19,567 || 2-0-1 || 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 4 || October 8 || New York Rangers || 4 - 3 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 2-1-1 || 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 5 || October 10 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 - 2 || Joe Louis Arena || 19,122 || 2-2-1 || 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffffff" | 6 || October 12 || New Jersey Devils || 3 - 2 SO || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 2-2-2 || 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || October 15 || San Jose Sharks || 4 - 1 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 3-2-2 || 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || October 17 || Nashville Predators || 3 - 2 SO || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 4-2-2 || 10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || October 22 || Atlanta Thrashers || 5 - 4 || Philips Arena || 13,192 || 5-2-2 || 12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || October 24 || New York Islanders || 3 - 2 OT || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 11,541 || 6-2-2 || 14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || October 27 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4 - 2 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 7-2-2 || 16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || October 29 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4 - 3 || Philips Arena || 12,893 || 8-2-2 || 18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffffff" | 13 || October 30 || New York Islanders || 4 - 3 OT || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 8-2-3 || 19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 14 || November 1 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 4 - 5 OT || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 8-2-4 || 20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 15 || November 4 || New Jersey Devils || 2 - 3 || Prudential Center || 13,498 || 8-3-4 || 20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || November 6 || Florida Panthers ||4 - 1 || BankAtlantic Center ||15,877 || 9-3-4 || 22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 || November 7 || Florida Panthers || 7 - 4 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 10-3-4 || 24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || November 11 || New York Islanders ||5 - 4 SO || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 11-3-4 || 26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 || November 13 || Minnesota Wild ||3 - 1 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 12-3-4 || 28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || November 14 || New Jersey Devils || 2 - 5 || Prudential Center || 16,521 || 12-4-4 || 28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || November 17 || New York Rangers || 4 - 2 || Madison Square Garden ||18,200 || 13-4-4 || 30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 22 || November 20 || Montreal Canadiens || 2 - 3 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 13-5-4 || 30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 23 || November 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1 - 2 SO || Air Canada Centre ||19,455 || 13-5-5 || 31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 24 || November 23 || Ottawa Senators || 3 - 4 OT || Scotiabank Place ||16,210 || 13-5-6 || 32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 || November 25 || Buffalo Sabres || 2 - 0 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 14-5-6 || 34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || November 28 || Montreal Canadiens || 4 - 3 SO || Bell Centre ||21,273 || 15-5-6 || 36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 || November 30 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3 - 2 || RBC Center || 12,797 || 16-5-6 || 38

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 || December 3 || Florida Panthers || 6 - 2 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 17-5-6 || 40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 || December 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 8 - 2 || Wachovia Center ||19,789 || 18-5-6 || 42 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 || December 7 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3 - 0 || St. Pete Times Forum ||12,400 || 19-5-6 || 44 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 31 || December 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 0 - 3 || HSBC Arena ||17,982 || 19-6-6 || 44 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 || December 11 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4 - 3 OT || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 20-6-6 || 46 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 33 || December 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3 - 6 || Air Canada Centre ||19,316 || 20-7-6 || 46 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 || December 15 || Colorado Avalanche || 6 - 1 || Pepsi Center ||14,172 || 21-7-6 || 48 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 35 || December 18 || Vancouver Canucks || 2 - 3 || GM Place ||18,810 || 21-8-6 || 48 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || December 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 - 2 || Rexall Place ||16,839 || 22-8-6 || 50 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 || December 23 || Buffalo Sabres || 5 - 2 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 23-8-6 || 52 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 || December 26 || New Jersey Devils || 4 - 1 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 24-8-6 || 54 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 39 || December 28 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3 - 6 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 24-9-6 || 54 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 40 || December 30 || San Jose Sharks || 2 - 5 || HP Pavilion ||17,562 || 24-10-6 || 54

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 41 || January 2 || Los Angeles Kings || 1 - 2 || Staples Center ||18,118 || 24-11-6 || 54 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 || January 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 4 - 2 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 25-11-6 || 56 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || January 7 || Ottawa Senators || 5 - 2 || Verizon Center || 18,277 ||26-11-6 || 58 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 || January 9 || Atlanta Thrashers || 8 - 1 || Philips Arena || 16,767 ||27-11-6 || 60 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 45 || January 12 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4 - 7 || St. Pete Times Forum ||13,891 ||27-12-6 || 60 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || January 13 || Florida Panthers || 5 - 4 SO || BankAtlantic Center ||14,776 ||28-12-6 || 62 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 || January 15 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6 - 1 || Verizon Center ||18,277 ||29-12-6 || 64 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 || January 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5 - 3 || Verizon Center ||18,277 ||30-12-6 || 66 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || January 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 - 2 || Verizon Center ||18,277 ||31-12-6 || 68 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || January 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6 - 3 || Mellon Arena || 17,132 ||32-12-6 || 70 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 || January 23 || Phoenix Coyotes || 4 - 2 || Verizon Center || 18,277 ||33-12-6 || 72 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || January 26 || New York Islanders ||7 - 2 || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 12,549 ||34-12-6|| 74 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 || January 27 || Anaheim Ducks || 5 - 1 || Verizon Center || 18,277 ||35-12-6|| 76 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 || January 29 || Florida Panthers || 4 - 1 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 36-12-6|| 78 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || January 31 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3 - 2 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 37-12-6|| 80

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 || February 2 || Boston Bruins || 4 - 1 || TD Garden || 17,565 || 38-12-6|| 82 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 || February 4 || New York Rangers || 6 - 5 || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || 39-12-6|| 84 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 || February 5 || Atlanta Thrashers ||5 - 2 || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 40-12-6|| 86 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 || February 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins ||5 - 4 OT || Verizon Center ||18,277 || 41-12-6|| 88 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 60 || February 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 6 - 5 OT || Bell Centre || 21,273 || 41-12-7|| 89 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 61 || February 11 || Ottawa Senators || 6 - 5 || Scotiabank Place || 19,682 || 41-13-7 || 89 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" | 62 || February 13 || St. Louis Blues || 4 - 3 SO || Scottrade Center || 19,150 || 41-13-8|| 90

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 || March 3 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 - 1 || HSBC Arena ||18,690 || 42-13-8 || 92 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 || March 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5 - 4 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 43-13-8 || 94 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 || March 6 || New York Rangers || 2 - 0 || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 44-13-8 || 96 |- align="center" | 66 || March 8 || Dallas Stars || 4 - 3 SO || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 44-13-9 || 97 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 || March 10 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4 - 3 OT || Verizon Center || 18,277 || 45-13-9 || 99 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"