2006–07 Washington Capitals season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2006–07
Year:	2006
Team:	Washington Capitals
Conferencerank:	14th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	28–40–14
Homerecord:	17–17–7
Roadrecord:	11–23–7
Goalsfor:	235
Goalsagainst:	286
Altcaptain:	Brian Sutherby Dainius Zubrus (Oct-Feb) Alexander Ovechkin (Feb-Apr)
Goalsleader:	Alexander Ovechkin (46)
Assistsleader:	Alexander Ovechkin (46)
Pointsleader:	Alexander Ovechkin (92)
Plusminusleader:	Boyd Gordon (+10)
Pimleader:	Donald Brashear (156)
Winsleader:	Olaf Kolzig (22)
Gaaleader:	Brent Johnson (3.61)

The 2006–07 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals' 33rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL), and the last one in which they used their blue, black and bronze color scheme. For the third consecutive season, the Capitals failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Regular season

December 15, 2006 - Ovechkin gets the second hat trick of his career by scoring all three goals of a 3–2 overtime victory against the Atlanta Thrashers. The third goal is scored just six seconds into overtime, tying Mats Sundin and David Legwand for the fastest regular-season overtime goal ever scored.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || October 5 || Washington || 2 – 5 || NY Rangers || || Kolzig || 18,200 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 7 || Carolina || 2 – 5 || Washington || || Kolzig || 16,622 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- align="center"| 3 || October 12 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Johnson || 18,064 || 1–1–1 || 3 || |- align="center"| 4 || October 14 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || Washington || OT || Kolzig || 11,995 || 1–1–2 || 4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 5 || October 18 || Florida || 2 – 5 || Washington || || Kolzig || 10,125 || 2–1–2 || 6 || |- align="center"| 6 || October 19 || Washington || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || SO || Johnson || 12,719 || 2–1–3 || 7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || October 21 || Tampa Bay || 6 – 4 || Washington || || Kolzig || 13,327 || 2–2–3 || 7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 8 || October 25 || Washington || 5 – 3 || Colorado || || Kolzig || 17,047 || 3–2–3 || 9 || |- align="center"| 9 || October 27 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || SO || Kolzig || 18,630 || 3–2–4 || 10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 10 || October 28 || Washington || 0 – 4 || Edmonton || || Johnson || 16,839 || 3–3–4 || 10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 11 || October 30 || Washington || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Kolzig || 19,289 || 4–3–4 || 12 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 12 || November 3 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || Washington || || Kolzig || 12,834 || 4–4–4 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 13 || November 4 || Washington || 5 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Johnson || 19,564 || 5–4–4 || 14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 14 || November 6 || Ottawa || 3 – 4 || Washington || OT || Johnson || 10,845 || 6–4–4 || 16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 15 || November 9 || Washington || 0 – 5 || Carolina || || Johnson || 18,639 || 6–5–4 || 16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 16 || November 11 || NY Rangers || 1 – 3 || Washington || || Kolzig || 16,263 || 7–5–4 || 18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 17 || November 13 || Washington || 4 – 1 || Florida || || Kolzig || 12,108 || 8–5–4 || 20 || |- align="center"| 18 || November 15 || Boston || 3 – 2 || Washington || SO || Kolzig || 10,878 || 8–5–5 || 21 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 19 || November 17 || Carolina || 4 – 1 || Washington || || Kolzig || 12,683 || 8–6–5 || 21 || |- align="center"| 20 || November 18 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Boston || OT || Johnson || 16,837 || 8–6–6 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 21 || November 22 || Atlanta || 4 – 2 || Washington || || Kolzig || 11,284 || 8–7–6 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 22 || November 24 || Toronto || 7 – 1 || Washington || || Johnson || 14,892 || 8–8–6 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 23 || November 25 || Washington || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || || Kolzig || 13,214 || 8–9–6 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 24 || November 28 || Washington || 5 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Kolzig || 18,874 || 9–9–6 || 24 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 25 || November 30 || Dallas || 3 – 4 || Washington || || Kolzig || 10,912 || 10–9–6 || 26 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 26 || December 2 || Buffalo || 4 – 7 || Washington || || Kolzig || 17,162 || 11–9–6 || 28 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 27 || December 6 || Ottawa || 2 – 6 || Washington || || Kolzig || 10,926 || 12–9–6 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 28 || December 8 || Anaheim || 6 – 1 || Washington || || Kolzig || 12,269 || 12–10–6 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 29 || December 9 || Washington || 5 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Johnson || 19,211 || 13–10–6 || 32 || |- align="center"| 30 || December 11 || Pittsburgh || 5 – 4 || Washington || SO || Kolzig || 14,793 || 13–10–7 || 33 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 31 || December 15 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Johnson || 16,920 || 14–10–7 || 35 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 32 || December 16 || Philadelphia || 1 – 4 || Washington || || Kolzig || 15,021 || 15–10–7 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 33 || December 19 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 4 || Washington || || Kolzig || 10,417 || 15–11–7 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 34 || December 22 || New Jersey || 4 – 1 || Washington || || Johnson || 13,744 || 15–12–7 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 35 || December 23 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Toronto || || Kolzig || 19,488 || 16–12–7 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 36 || December 26 || Washington || 3 – 6 || Buffalo || || Johnson || 18,690 || 16–13–7 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 37 || December 27 || Montreal || 4 – 1 || Washington || || Kolzig || 15,609 || 16–14–7 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 38 || December 29 || Washington || 3 – 4 || New Jersey || || Kolzig || 16,297 || 16–15–7 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 39 || December 30 || Washington || 1 – 4 || NY Rangers || || Kolzig || 18,200 || 16–16–7 || 39 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 40 || January 1 || Phoenix || 3 – 2 || Washington || || Kolzig || 12,579 || 16–17–7 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 41 || January 4 || Montreal || 1 – 5 || Washington || || Kolzig || 11,287 || 17–17–7 || 41 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 42 || January 6 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Washington || OT || Kolzig || 15,642 || 18–17–7 || 43 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 43 || January 9 || Philadelphia || 2 – 6 || Washington || || Kolzig || 13,143 || 19–17–7 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 44 || January 11 || Washington || 4 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Kolzig || 18,804 || 19–18–7 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 45 || January 13 || Washington || 3 – 7 || Florida || || Kolzig || 15,061 || 19–19–7 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 46 || January 16 || Washington || 2 – 5 || Ottawa || || Johnson || 18,810 || 19–20–7 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 47 || January 18 || Washington || 5 – 2 || Carolina || || Kolzig || 16,285 || 20–20–7 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 48 || January 20 || Florida || 4 – 1 || Washington || || Kolzig || 13,877 || 20–21–7 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 49 || January 26 || Washington || 2 – 6 || Carolina || || Johnson || 18,044 || 20–22–7 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 50 || January 27 || Carolina || 3 – 7 || Washington || || Kolzig || 16,924 || 21–22–7 || 49 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 51 || January 30 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Ottawa || || Kolzig || 19,178 || 21–23–7 || 49 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 52 || February 1 || Washington || 3 – 6 || Florida || || Kolzig || 11,300 || 21–24–7 || 49 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 53 || February 3 || Washington || 0 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || Kolzig || 17,132 || 21–25–7 || 49 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 54 || February 4 || NY Islanders || 1 – 2 || Washington || SO || Kolzig || 12,508 || 22–25–7 || 51 || |- align="center"| 55 || February 6 || Boston || 3 – 2 || Washington || SO || Kolzig || 15,273 || 22–25–8 || 52 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 56 || February 8 || Los Angeles || 3 – 4 || Washington || OT || Kolzig || 15,527 || 23–25–8 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 57 || February 10 || NY Rangers || 5 – 2 || Washington || || Kolzig || 18,277 || 23–26–8 || 54 || |- align="center"| 58 || February 15 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Tampa Bay || SO || Johnson || 18,744 || 23–26–9 || 55 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 59 || February 18 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Pittsburgh || || Johnson || 17,132 || 23–27–9 || 55 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 60 || February 20 || Washington || 3 – 5 || Montreal || || Johnson || 21,273 || 23–28–9 || 55 || |- align="center"| 61 || February 21 || San Jose || 3 – 2 || Washington || SO || Johnson || 13,622 || 23–28–10 || 56 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 62 || February 24 || Washington || 4 – 2 || New Jersey || || Johnson || 14,301 || 24–28–10 || 58 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 63 || February 25 || New Jersey || 3 – 2 || Washington || || Johnson || 14,585 || 24–29–10 || 58 || |- align="center"| 64 || February 27 || Florida || 6 – 5 || Washington || OT || Johnson || 10,979 || 24–29–11 || 59 || |-|- align="center"| 65 || March 1 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 4 || Washington || SO || Johnson || 10,462 || 24–29–12 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 66 || March 3 || NY Islanders || 6 – 2 || Washington || || Johnson || 16,453 || 24–30–12 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 67 || March 6 || Washington || 1 – 2 || Toronto || || Cassivi || 19,531 || 24–31–12 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 68 || March 9 || Carolina || 3 – 0 || Washington || || Johnson || 13,970 || 24–32–12 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 69 || March 10 || Washington || 2 – 5 || NY Islanders || || Johnson || 15,764 || 24–33–12 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 70 || March 12 || Washington || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Johnson || 14,041 || 24–34–12 || 60 || |- align="center"| 71 || March 15 || Washington || 3 – 4 || Boston || SO || Kolzig || 15,091 || 24–34–13 || 61 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 72 || March 16 || Toronto || 1 – 5 || Washington || || Kolzig || 16,281 || 25–34–13 || 63 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 73 || March 18 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 7 || Washington || || Kolzig || 14,274 || 26–34–13 || 65 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 74 || March 21 || Washington || 2 – 5 || Buffalo || || Kolzig || 18,690 || 26–35–13 || 65 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 75 || March 22 || Washington || 3 – 4 || Carolina || || Johnson || 18,740 || 26–36–13 || 65 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 76 || March 24 || Washington || 1 – 4 || Montreal || || Kolzig || 21,273 || 26–37–13 || 65 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 77 || March 27 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 3 || Washington || || Kolzig || 18,277 || 26–38–13 || 65 || |- align="center"| 78 || March 30 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Florida || OT || Johnson || 15,712 || 26–38–14 || 66 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 79 || March 31 || Washington || 2 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Kolzig || 20,064 || 26–39–14 || 66 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 80 || April 3 || Florida || 0 – 1 || Washington || || Kolzig || 16,311 || 27–39–14 || 68 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 81 || April 4 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || || Johnson || 18,783 || 28–39–14 || 70 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 82 || April 7 || Buffalo || 2 – 0 || Washington || || Kolzig || 18,277 || 28–40–14 || 70 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.

	Regular season
	Player
8		LW	82	46	46	92	−19	52
28		LW	77	38	35	73	−7	90
17		RW	74	30	24	54	−10	66
9		C	60	20	32	52	−16	50
18		LW	64	16	16	32	−13	22
15		C	71	7	22	29	10	14
2		D	72	3	25	28	−11	44
24		C	64	8	18	26	−11	46
27		RW	66	7	13	20	−17	44
21		C	73	8	10	18	−2	29
20		RW	32	6	12	18	−4	16
16		C	69	7	10	17	−9	78
44		D	68	1	16	17	−14	63
6		D	52	4	12	16	4	27
10		RW	57	4	9	13	−5	47
87		LW	77	4	9	13	1	156
26		D	78	3	10	13	3	106
52		D	70	2	10	12	−10	36
38		C	41	3	7	10	−2	28
23		D	30	2	7	9	5	24
43		LW	29	4	4	8	−6	8
3		D	18	2	6	8	−3	12
47		D	26	3	4	7	3	42
4		D	29	1	6	7	−13	69
13		C	18	0	6	6	−2	2
39		C	9	2	2	4	−4	2
14		RW	14	2	1	3	3	8
37		G	54	0	3	3		10
55		D	38	0	3	3	5	16
22		RW	10	1	1	2	3	2
1		G	30	0	1	1		4
35		G	4	0	0	0		0
51		D	2	0	0	0	−1	2
29		D	1	0	0	0	−1	0
25		C	5	0	0	0	−2	2

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
37		54	22	24	6	1771	159	3.00	.910	1	3184
1		30	6	15	7	894	99	3.62	.889	0	1644
35		4	0	1	1	58	6	2.60	.897	0	139

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL First All-Star Team	Alexander Ovechkin (Left Wing)	^[4]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Alexander Ovechkin	^[5]
	NHL Third Star of the Week	Alexander Ovechkin (December 10)	^[6]
	NHL YoungStars Game selection	Mike Green	^[7]

Transactions

Trades

July 12, 2006	To Washington Capitals Richard Zednik	To Montreal Canadiens 3rd round pick in 2007
February 1, 2007	To Washington Capitals Milan Jurcina	To Boston Bruins 4th round pick in 2008
February 25, 2007	To Washington Capitals 2nd round pick in 2007	To New York Islanders Richard Zednik
February 26, 2007	To Washington Capitals Andy Hedlund 6th round pick in 2008	To Ottawa Senators Lawrence Nycholat
February 27, 2007	To Washington Capitals Jiri Novotny 1st round pick in 2007	To Buffalo Sabres Dainius Zubrus Timo Helbling
February 27, 2007	To Washington Capitals Conditional draft pick	To Los Angeles Kings Jamie Heward

Free agents acquired

Player	Former team	Date
D Brian Pothier	Ottawa Senators	July 1, 2006^[8]
F Donald Brashear	Philadelphia Flyers	July 14, 2006^[9]
	New York Islanders

Free agents lost

Player	New team	Date
	Los Angeles Kings	July 4, 2006^[10]
	Dallas Stars	July 5, 2006^[11]
	Philadelphia Flyers
	San Jose Sharks
	San Jose Sharks

Draft picks

Washington's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[12]

Round		Player	NHL team	College/junior/club team (league)
1	4	Nicklas Backstrom (C)	Washington Capitals	Brynas IF (Elitserien)
1	23	Semyon Varlamov (G)	Washington Capitals (from Nashville)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russian Superleague)
2	34	Michal Neuvirth (G)	Washington Capitals	Sparta Praha (Czech Extraliga)
2	35	Francois Bouchard (RW)	Washington Capitals (from Boston)	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
2	52	Keith Seabrook (D)	Washington Capitals (from Anaheim)	Burnaby Express (BCHL)
4	97	Oskar Osala (LW)	Washington Capitals	Mississauga IceDogs (OHL)
4	122	Luke Lynes (C/LW)	Washington Capitals (from Detroit)	Brampton Battalion (OHL)
5	127	Maxime Lacroix (LW)	Washington Capitals	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
6	157	Brent Gwidt (C)	Washington Capitals	Lakeland (USHS-WI)
6	177	Mathieu Perreault (C)	Washington Capitals (from Buffalo)	Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)

References

Web site: Washington Capitals 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 31, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 31, 2024.

Notes and References

Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues Box Score — December 30, 1995.
Web site: Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks Box Score — March 9, 2006.
Web site: Washington Capitals at Atlanta Thrashers Box Score — December 15, 2006.
Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . August 4, 2024.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007 . NHL.com . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417032251/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28972 . April 17, 2023.
Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Week . Hockey-Reference.com . August 4, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Young Stars Rosters . TSN.ca . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070202221737/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=8902&hubname= . February 2, 2007.
Web site: Colagelo . Mick . 2006-07-02 . Pothier off to Washington . 2024-01-22 . New Bedford Standard-Times . en-US.
Web site: 2006-07-14 . Caps sign Brashear to provide protection . 2024-01-22 . Washington Times.
Web site: 2006-07-04 . Willsie turns career season into two-year deal with Kings . 2024-01-22 . ESPN.com . en.
Web site: 2006-07-05 . Stars sign veteran forwards Halpern, Barnaby . 2024-01-22 . ESPN.com . en.
Web site: 2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 22, 2024.