2014–15 Washington Capitals season

The 2014–15 Washington Capitals season was the 41st season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.

Off-season Less than two weeks after the end of the Capitals' 2013–14 season, where the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007, the Washington Capitals announced that Head Coach Adam Oates was fired and general manager George McPhee would not have his contract with the team renewed.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/washington-capitals-fire-head-coach-and-long-time-gm/article18280953/ On May 26, 2014, the Capitals promoted Brian MacLellan to be senior vice president and general manager and named Barry Trotz their new head coach.

In July 2014, the Capitals signed several free agents, including former Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.

Playoffs

The Washington Capitals entered the playoffs as the Metropolitan Division's second seed. They defeated the New York Islanders in the first round, and were defeated by the New York Rangers in the second round.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2014 preseason game log: 5–3–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Buffalo 0–1 Washington Holtby 16,707 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 22 Washington 4–5 Philadelphia Grubauer 17,679 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 24 Washington 0–2 Boston Copley 17,215 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 26 Boston 4–5 Washington OT Peters 17,426 2–2–0 Recap 5 September 28 Washington 2–0 Montreal Holtby 21,287 3–2–0 Recap 6 October 1 Washington 1–6 Buffalo Holtby 18,228 3–3–0 Recap 7 October 2 Philadelphia 2–3 Washington SO Peters 16,765 4–3–0 Recap 8 October 5 Carolina 2–5 Washington Holtby 16,138 5–3–0 Recap

Regular season 2014–15 Game Log October: 4–3–2 (Home: 2–1–2; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Montreal 2–1 Washington SO Holtby 18,506 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 11 Washington 4–0 Boston Holtby 17,565 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 14 San Jose 6–5 Washington SO Peters 18,506 1–0–2 4 Recap 4 October 16 New Jersey 2–6 Washington Holtby 18,506 2–0–2 6 Recap 5 October 18 Florida 1–2 Washington SO Peters 18,506 3–0–2 8 Recap 6 October 22 Washington 2–3 Edmonton Holtby 16,839 3–1–2 8 Recap 7 October 25 Washington 3–1 Calgary Holtby 19,095 4–1–2 10 Recap 8 October 26 Washington 2–4 Vancouver Peters 18,427 4–2–2 10 Recap 9 October 29 Detroit 4–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 4–3–2 10 Recap November: 6–6–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Washington 3–4 Tampa Bay Holtby 19,119 4–4–2 10 Recap 11 November 2 Arizona 6–5 Washington Peters 18,506 4–5–2 10 Recap 12 November 4 Calgary 4–3 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 4–5–3 11 Recap 13 November 7 Washington 3–2 Chicago Holtby 21,892 5–5–3 13 Recap 14 November 8 Carolina 3–4 Washington OT Peters 18,506 6–5–3 15 Recap 15 November 11 Columbus 2–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 7–5–3 17 Recap 16 November 14 New Jersey 1–0 Washington Holtby 18,506 7–6–3 17 Recap 17 November 15 Washington 1–4 St. Louis Peters 19,339 7–7–3 17 Recap 18 November 18 Washington 2–1 Arizona OT Holtby 11,769 8–7–3 19 Recap 19 November 20 Washington 3–2 Colorado Holtby 16,476 9–7–3 21 Recap 20 November 22 Buffalo 2–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 9–8–3 21 Recap 21 November 26 Washington 2–3 NY Islanders OT Holtby 16,170 9–8–4 22 Recap 22 November 28 NY Islanders 2–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 10–8–4 24 Recap 23 November 29 Washington 2–6 Toronto Holtby 19,161 10–9–4 24 Recap December: 8–2–3 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 6–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 Vancouver 4–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 10–10–4 24 Recap 25 December 4 Washington 2–1 Carolina Holtby 10,783 11–10–4 26 Recap 26 December 6 Washington 4–1 New Jersey Holtby 15,230 12–10–4 28 Recap 27 December 9 Washington 5–3 Tampa Bay Holtby 17,109 13–10–4 30 Recap 28 December 11 Columbus 3–2 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 13–10–5 31 Recap 29 December 13 Tampa Bay 2–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 14–10–5 33 Recap 30 December 16 Washington 1–2 Florida SO Holtby 10,012 14–10–6 34 Recap 31 December 18 Washington 5–4 Columbus OT Holtby 13,722 15–10–6 36 Recap 32 December 20 Washington 4–0 New Jersey Holtby 14,776 16–10–6 38 Recap 33 December 22 Ottawa 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 17–10–6 40 Recap 34 December 23 Washington 2–4 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 17–11–6 40 Recap 35 December 27 Washington 3–0 Pittsburgh Holtby 18,663 18–11–6 42 Recap 36 December 29 Washington 3–4 NY Islanders OT Holtby 16,170 18–11–7 43 Recap January: 7–3–3 (Home: 6–0–1; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 1 (Winter Classic) Chicago 2–3 Washington Holtby 42,832 (at Nationals Park) 19–11–7 45 Recap 38 January 4 Florida 3–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 20–11–7 47 Recap 39 January 7 Washington 6–2 Toronto Holtby 19,047 21–11–7 49 Recap 40 January 8 Washington 2–3 Philadelphia OT Holtby 19,703 21–11–8 50 Recap 41 January 10 Detroit 1–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 22–11–8 52 Recap 42 January 12 Colorado 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 23–11–8 54 Recap 43 January 14 Philadelphia 0–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 24–11–8 56 Recap 44 January 16 Washington 3–4 Nashville Holtby 17,303 24–12–8 56 Recap 45 January 17 Washington 4–5 Dallas Peters 18,532 24–13–8 56 Recap 46 January 20 Edmonton 5–4 Washington SO Holtby 18,506 24–13–9 57 Recap 47 January 27 Washington 3–4 Columbus Holtby 16,514 24–14–9 57 Recap 48 January 28 Pittsburgh 0–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 25–14–9 59 Recap 49 January 31 Washington 0–1 Montreal OT Holtby 21,286 25–14–10 60 Recap February: 8–6–0 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 St. Louis 4–3 Washington Peters 18,506 25–15–10 60 Recap 51 February 3 Los Angeles 0–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 26–15–10 62 Recap 52 February 5 Washington 2–1 Ottawa Holtby 16,543 27–15–10 64 Recap 53 February 6 Anaheim 2–3 Washington SO Grubauer 18,506 28–15–10 66 Recap 54 February 8 Philadelphia 3–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 28–16–10 66 Recap 55 February 11 Washington 5–4 San Jose OT Holtby 16,956 29–16–10 68 Recap 56 February 14 Washington 1–3 Los Angeles Holtby 18,230 29–17–10 68 Recap 57 February 15 Washington 5–3 Anaheim Peters 17,252 30–17–10 70 Recap 58 February 17 Washington 3–1 Pittsburgh Holtby 18,663 31–17–10 72 59 February 19 Winnipeg 1–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 32–17–10 74 Recap 60 February 21 NY Islanders 2–3 Washington SO Holtby 18,506 33–17–10 76 Recap 61 February 22 Washington 2–3 Philadelphia Holtby 19,703 33–18–10 76 Recap 62 February 25 Pittsburgh 4–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 33–19–10 76 Recap 63 February 27 Washington 0–3 Carolina Holtby 13,415 33–20–10 76 Recap March: 9–5–0 (Home: 5–4–0; Road: 4–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Toronto 0–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 34–20–10 78 Recap 65 March 3 Washington 5–3 Columbus Holtby 16,514 35–20–10 80 Recap 66 March 5 Minnesota 2–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 35–21–10 80 Recap 67 March 7 Buffalo 1–6 Washington Holtby 18,506 36–21–10 82 Recap 68 March 11 NY Rangers 3–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 36–22–10 82 Recap 69 March 13 Dallas 4–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 36–23–10 82 Recap 70 March 15 Boston 0–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 37–23–10 84 Recap 71 March 16 Washington 4–3 Buffalo SO Holtby 19,070 38–23–10 86 Recap 72 March 19 Washington 3–2 Minnesota Holtby 19,044 39–23–10 88 Recap 73 March 21 Washington 0–3 Winnipeg Holtby 15,016 39–24–10 88 Recap 74 March 26 New Jersey 2–3 Washington OT Holtby 18,506 40–24–10 90 Recap 75 March 28 Nashville 4–3 Washington Peters 18,506 40–25–10 90 Recap 76 March 29 Washington 5–2 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 41–25–10 92 Recap 77 March 31 Carolina 2–4 Washington Holtby 18,506 42–25–10 94 Recap April: 3–1–1 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 2–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Washington 5–4 Montreal SO Holtby 21,286 43–25–10 96 Recap 79 April 4 Washington 3–4 Ottawa OT Holtby 16,543 43–25–11 97 Recap 80 April 5 Washington 2–1 Detroit Holtby 20,027 44–25–11 99 Recap 81 April 8 Boston 0–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 45–25–11 101 Recap 82 April 11 NY Rangers 4–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 45–26–11 101 RecapLegend:

Playoffs 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round vs. (M3) New York Islanders: Washington wins 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 15 NY Islanders 4–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 0–1 Recap 2 April 17 NY Islanders 3–4 Washington Grubauer 18,506 1–1 Recap 3 April 19 Washington 1–2 NY Islanders OT Holtby 16,170 1–2 Recap 4 April 21 Washington 2–1 NY Islanders OT Holtby 16,170 2–2 Recap 5 April 23 NY Islanders 1–5 Washington Holtby 18,506 3–2 Recap 6 April 25 Washington 1–3 NY Islanders Holtby 16,170 3–3 Recap 7 April 27 NY Islanders 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 4–3 Recap Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (M1) New York Rangers: Rangers win 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 30 Washington 2–1 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 1–0 Recap 2 May 2 Washington 2–3 NY Rangers Holtby 18,006 1–1 Recap 3 May 4 NY Rangers 0–1 Washington Holtby 18,506 2–1 Recap 4 May 6 NY Rangers 1–2 Washington Holtby 18,506 3–1 Recap 5 May 8 Washington 1–2 NY Rangers OT Holtby 18,006 3–2 Recap 6 May 10 NY Rangers 4–3 Washington Holtby 18,506 3–3 Recap 7 May 13 Washington 1–2 NY Rangers OT Holtby 18,006 3–4 Recap

Legend:

Player statistics Final stats Skaters

Regular season Player 81 53 28 81 10 58 82 18 60 78 5 40 82 12 43 55 11 28 82 20 27 47 6 10 72 10 35 45 15 34 82 21 22 43 11 53 80 11 26 37 10 24 82 19 15 34 −4 30 75 19 14 33 8 20 82 4 27 31 7 47 53 9 13 22 12 10 82 5 16 21 14 20 62 10 10 20 6 20 66 7 13 20 −2 24 77 7 12 19 −1 51 78 0 19 19 5 66 67 4 13 17 −1 172 † 18 4 3 7 −1 6 53 0 6 6 4 68 ‡ 35 0 5 5 1 10 39 1 3 4 −2 10 13 1 1 2 4 23 † 17 0 2 2 5 11 5 1 0 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0 4 0 0 0 1 4

Playoffs Player 14 5 4 9 −3 6 14 3 6 9 1 2 14 3 5 8 −3 2 14 5 2 7 4 8 14 3 4 7 4 4 14 1 5 6 3 4 14 1 4 5 0 4 14 2 2 4 0 6 14 1 3 4 2 2 14 0 4 4 −2 0 11 2 1 3 2 0 14 0 3 3 −3 10 14 1 1 2 1 0 14 0 2 2 5 8 14 0 2 2 −1 14 10 1 0 1 −5 2 14 0 1 1 −3 5 13 0 1 1 −2 25 4 0 0 0 −1 2 4 0 0 0 −1 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 73 72 4247 41 20 10 157 2.22 2044 .923 9 0 2 2 12 9 647 3 6 1 35 3.25 294 .881 0 0 0 0 1 1 65 1 0 0 2 1.85 25 .920 0 0 0 0 Playoffs Player 13 13 806 6 7 23 1.71 412 .944 1 0 1 0 1 1 60 1 0 3 3.00 21 .857 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Second Star of the Week January 5, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015 NHL First Star of the Month February 2, 2015 NHL Third Star of the Month March 1, 2015

Milestones