2020–21 Washington Capitals season explained

League:NHL
Season:2020–21
Year:2020
Team:Washington Capitals
Division:East
Divisionrank:2nd
Record:36–15–5
Homerecord:17–8–3
Roadrecord:19–7–2
Goalsfor:191
Goalsagainst:163
Generalmanager:Brian MacLellan
Coach:Peter Laviolette[1]
Captain:Alexander Ovechkin
Altcaptain:Nicklas Backstrom
John Carlson
Arena:Capital One Arena
Minorleague:Hershey Bears (AHL)
South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Goalsleader:Alexander Ovechkin (24)
Assistsleader:Nicklas Backstrom (38)
Pointsleader:Nicklas Backstrom (53)
Plusminusleader:Dmitry Orlov (+16)
Pimleader:Tom Wilson (96)
Winsleader:Vitek Vanecek (21)
Gaaleader:Craig Anderson (2.13)

The 2020–21 Washington Capitals season was the 47th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.[2] This was the first season for Peter Laviolette as head coach of the Capitals[3] after their former head coach Todd Reirden was fired from the team on August 23, 2020.[4] On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Capitals would play this season in the East Division and would play against only the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On April 29, the Capitals clinched a playoff berth after a 5–4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.[5] As a result of the Capitals winning in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers while the Penguins won in regulation against the Buffalo Sabres on May 8, the Penguins won the East division title,[6] and the Capitals failed to win the division for the first time since the 2014–15 season. They were eliminated from the playoffs in the First Round with a 3–1 loss to the Boston Bruins in game five on May 23.

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[7] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || January 14 || @ Buffalo || 6–4 || || Samsonov || 0 || 1–0–0 || 2 || [8] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || January 15 || @ Buffalo || 2–1 || || Vanecek || 0 || 2–0–0 || 4 || [9] |- style="background:#fff;"| 3 || January 17 || @ Pittsburgh || 3–4 || SO || Samsonov || 0 || 2–0–1 || 5 || [10] |- style="background:#fff;"| 4 || January 19 || @ Pittsburgh || 4–5 || OT || Vanecek || 0 || 2–0–2 || 6 || [11] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 5 || January 22 || Buffalo || 4–3 || SO || Vanecek || 0 || 3–0–2 || 8 || [12] |- style="background:#fff;"| 6 || January 24 || Buffalo || 3–4 || SO || Vanecek || 0 || 3–0–3 || 9 || [13] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 7 || January 26 || NY Islanders || 3–2 || || Vanecek || 0 || 4–0–3 || 11 || [14] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 8 || January 28 || NY Islanders || 6–3 || || Vanecek || 0 || 5–0–3 || 13 || [15] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 9 || January 30 || Boston || 4–3 || OT || Vanecek || 0 || 6–0–3 || 15 || [16] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10 || February 1 || Boston || 3–5 || || Vanecek || 0 || 6–1–3 || 15 || [17] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 11 || February 4 || @ NY Rangers || 2–4 || || Vanecek || 0 || 6–2–3 || 15 || [18] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || February 7 || Philadelphia || 4–7 || || Anderson || 0 || 6–3–3 || 15 || [19] |- style="background:#ccc;"| – || February 9 || Philadelphia || – || colspan="6"|Postponed due to COVID-19.[20] Rescheduled for April 13.[21] |- style="background:#ccc;"| – || February 11 || @ Buffalo || – || colspan="6"|Postponed due to COVID-19.[22] Rescheduled for March 15.[23] |- style="background:#ccc;"| – || February 13 || @ Buffalo || – || colspan="6"|Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 9.|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13 || February 14 || @ Pittsburgh || 3–6 || || Vanecek || 0 || 6–4–3 || 15 || [24] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 14 || February 16 || @ Pittsburgh || 3–1 || || Vanecek || 0 || 7–4–3 || 17 || [25] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 || February 18 || Buffalo || 3–1 || || Vanecek || 0 || 8–4–3 || 19 || [26] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 16 || February 20 || NY Rangers || 1–4 || || Vanecek || 0 || 8–5–3 || 19 || [27] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || February 21 || New Jersey || 4–3 || || Anderson || 0 || 9–5–3 || 21 || [28] |- style="background:#fff;"| 18 || February 23 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || OT || Vanecek || 0 || 9–5–4 || 22 || [29] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 || February 25 || Pittsburgh || 5–2 || || Vanecek || 0 || 10–5–4 || 24 || [30] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 20 || February 27 || @ New Jersey || 5–2 || || Vanecek || 0 || 11–5–4 || 26 || [31] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 21 || February 28 || @ New Jersey || 3–2 || || Samsonov || 0 || 12–5–4 || 28 || [32] |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 || March 3 || @ Boston || 2–1 || SO || Vanecek || 0 || 13–5–4 || 30 || [33] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 23 || March 5 || @ Boston || 1–5 || || Vanecek || 0 || 13–6–4 || 30 || [34] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 24 || March 7 || @ Philadelphia || 3–1 || || Samsonov || 3,023 || 14–6–4 || 32 || [35] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || March 9 || New Jersey || 5–4 || OT || Vanecek || 0 || 15–6–4 || 34 || [36] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 26 || March 11 || @ Philadelphia || 5–3 || || Samsonov || 2,807 || 16–6–4 || 36 || [37] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 27 || March 13 || @ Philadelphia || 5–4 || || Samsonov || 3,083 || 17–6–4 || 38 || [38] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 28 || March 15 || @ Buffalo || 6–0 || || Vanecek || 0 || 18–6–4 || 40 || [39] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 || March 16 || NY Islanders || 3–1 || || Samsonov || 0 || 19–6–4 || 42 || [40] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 30 || March 19 || NY Rangers || 2–1 || || Vanecek || 0 || 20–6–4 || 44 || [41] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 31 || March 20 || NY Rangers || 1–3 || || Samsonov || 0 || 20–7–4 || 44 || [42] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 32 || March 25 || New Jersey || 4–3 || || Vanecek || 0 || 21–7–4 || 46 || [43] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 33 || March 26 || New Jersey || 4–0 || || Samsonov || 0 || 22–7–4 || 48 || [44] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 34 || March 28 || NY Rangers || 5–4 || || Samsonov || 0 || 23–7–4 || 50 || [45] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 35 || March 30 || @ NY Rangers || 2–5 || || Vanecek || 1,761 || 23–8–4 || 50 || [46] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36 || April 1 || @ NY Islanders || 4–8 || || Samsonov || 1,400 || 23–9–4 || 50 || [47] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 37 || April 2 || @ New Jersey || 2–1 || OT || Vanecek || 3,600 || 24–9–4 || 52 || [48] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 38 || April 4 || @ New Jersey || 5–4 || || Samsonov || 3,600 || 25–9–4 || 54 || [49] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 39 || April 6 || @ NY Islanders || 0–1 || || Vanecek || 1,400 || 25–10–4 || 54 || [50] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 40 || April 8 || Boston || 2–4 || || Samsonov || 0 || 25–11–4 || 54 || [51] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 || April 9 || @ Buffalo || 4–3 || || Vanecek || — || 26–11–4 || 56 || [52] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || April 11 || @ Boston || 8–1 || || Vanecek || 2,191 || 27–11–4 || 58 || [53] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 43 || April 13 || Philadelphia || 6–1 || || Samsonov || 0 || 28–11–4 || 60 || [54] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 44 || April 15 || Buffalo || 2–5 || || Vanecek || 0 || 28–12–4 || 60 || [55] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 45 || April 17 || @ Philadelphia || 6–3 || || Samsonov || 3,430 || 29–12–4 || 62 || [56] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 46 || April 18 || @ Boston || 3–6 || || Vanecek || 2,191 || 29–13–4 || 62 || [57] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 47 || April 22 || @ NY Islanders || 1–0 || SO || Samsonov || 1,400 || 30–13–4 || 64 || [58] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 48 || April 24 || @ NY Islanders || 6–3 || || Samsonov || 1,400 || 31–13–4 || 66 || [59] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 49 || April 27 || NY Islanders || 1–0 || || Vanecek || 2,133 || 32–13–4 || 68 || [60] |- style="background:#fff;"| 50 || April 29 || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || OT || Vanecek || 2,133 || 32–13–5 || 69 || [61] |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 51 || May 1 || Pittsburgh || 0–3 || || Samsonov || 2,133 || 32–14–5 || 69 || [62] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 52 || May 3 || @ NY Rangers || 6–3 || || Vanecek || 1,800 || 33–14–5 || 71 || [63] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 53 || May 5 || @ NY Rangers || 4–2 || || Vanecek || 1,800 || 34–14–5 || 73 || [64] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 54 || May 7 || Philadelphia || 2–4 || || Vanecek || 2,133 || 34–15–5 || 73 || [65] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 55 || May 8 || Philadelphia || 2–1 || OT || Anderson || 2,133 || 35–15–5 || 75 || [66] |- style="background:#cfc;"| 56 || May 11 || Boston || 2–1 || || Vanecek || 2,133 || 36–15–5 || 77 || [67] |-|-|

Playoffs

See main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. |- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || May 15 || Boston || 3–2 || OT || Anderson || 5,333 || 1–0 || [68] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || May 17 || Boston || 3–4 || OT || Anderson || 5,333 || 1–1 || [69] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || May 19 || @ Boston || 2–3 || 2OT || Samsonov || 4,565 || 1–2 || [70] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 || May 21 || @ Boston || 1–4 || || Samsonov || 4,565 || 1–3 || [71] |- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 || May 23 || Boston || 1–3 || || Samsonov || 5,333 || 1–4 || [72] |-|-|

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season[73] ! Player! ! ! ! ! data-sort-type="number"
55 15 38 53 0 14
52 10 34 44 −5 12
53 22 21 43 −3 18
45 24 18 42 −7 12
47 13 20 33 +1 96
41 9 20 29 +7 18
46 3 24 27 +12 10
‡ 39 11 14 25 +9 8
44 8 15 23 −1 21
53 14 8 22 −1 14
51 8 14 22 +16 20
42 13 7 20 +7 12
56 2 17 19 +15 49
56 6 12 18 +7 66
56 6 10 16 +7 19
56 11 4 15 +4 31
53 2 12 14 +5 14
55 2 8 10 +5 44
‡ 36 3 6 9 −9 16
† 14 4 4 8 0 8
† 10 1 2 3 +1 7
20 1 2 3 −1 2
5 0 2 2 +2 0
6 0 1 1 −2 2
‡ 7 0 0 0 −3 2
1 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 −2 0
1 0 0 0 0 2
2 0 0 0 −1 0
Playoffs[74] ! Player! ! ! ! ! data-sort-type="number"
5 2 2 4 −2 2
5 1 3 4 −2 0
5 2 1 3 +2 4
5 0 3 3 −1 6
5 2 0 2 +1 4
5 1 1 2 −3 6
5 0 2 2 −2 6
5 0 2 2 0 6
5 1 0 1 −4 0
5 1 0 1 −4 2
3 0 1 1 0 4
5 0 1 1 −2 0
5 0 1 1 +1 0
4 0 1 1 0 0
3 0 0 0 −1 0
1 0 0 0 0 2
5 0 0 0 0 2
4 0 0 0 −2 4
5 0 0 0 +1 2
5 0 0 0 −2 2

Goaltenders

Regular season[75] ! Player! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
37 36 2,115:29 21 10 4 95 2.69 1,031 .908 2 0 0 0
19 18 1,092:49 13 4 1 49 2.69 499 .902 2 0 1 0
4 2 168:44 2 1 0 6 2.13 71 .915 0 0 0 0
Playoffs[76] ! Player! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
2 1 112:10 1 1 5 2.67 70 .929 0 0 0 0
3 3 200:55 0 3 10 2.99 99 .899 0 0 0 0
1 1 13:10 0 0 1 4.56 4 .750 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.

Draft picks

See also: List of Washington Capitals draft picks. Below are the Washington Capitals' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 6–7, 2020 the draft was held virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

RoundPlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
122Hendrix LapierreC CanadaChicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
4117Bogdan TrineyevRW RussiaDynamo Moscow 2 (MHL)
5148Bear HughesD United StatesSpokane Chiefs (WHL)
6179Garin BjorklundG CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
7211Oskar MagunssonLW SwedenMalmö Redhawks (SHL)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Capitals Name Peter Laviolette Head Coach . NHL.com . September 19, 2020 . September 15, 2020.
  2. Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2013. 2012. Triumph Books. 127. 978-1-60078-785-0.
  3. Web site: Peter Laviolette named head coach of Washington Capitals. Kaplan. Emily. ESPN Enterprises. September 15, 2020. ESPN.com. September 15, 2020.
  4. Web site: Reirden fired as Capitals coach after another loss in Eastern First Round. Gulitti. Tom. NHL Enterprises, L. P.. August 23, 2020. NHL.com. August 26, 2020.
  5. Web site: Penguins, Capitals each clinch playoff berth in OT game . NHL.com . April 29, 2021 . April 29, 2021.
  6. Web site: 2021-05-08 . Penguins Clinch East Division Title . 2021-05-08 . NHL.com.
  7. Web site: 2020-21 NHL schedule announced . NHL.com . December 26, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
  8. Web site: Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - January 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
  9. Web site: Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - January 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  10. Web site: Washington Capitals - Pittsburgh Penguins - January 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
  11. Web site: Washington Capitals - Pittsburgh Penguins - January 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
  12. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - January 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
  13. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - January 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
  14. Web site: New York Islanders - Washington Capitals - January 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
  15. Web site: New York Islanders - Washington Capitals - January 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  16. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - January 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
  17. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - February 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  18. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Rangers - February 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
  19. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals - February 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
  20. Web site: Flyers-Capitals postponed because of NHL COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . February 9, 2021 . February 9, 2021.
  21. Web site: NHL announces updates to the Capitals' regular-season schedule . NHL.com . February 28, 2021 . February 23, 2021.
  22. Web site: NHL postpones additional Devils, Sabres, Wild games due to COVID-19 . NHL.com . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021.
  23. Web site: NHL announces updates to the Capitals' regular-season schedule . NHL.com . February 17, 2021 . February 16, 2021.
  24. Web site: Washington Capitals - Pittsburgh Penguins - February 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
  25. Web site: Washington Capitals - Pittsburgh Penguins - February 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
  26. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - February 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  27. Web site: New York Rangers - Washington Capitals - February 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
  28. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Washington Capitals - February 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
  29. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals - February 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  30. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals - February 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
  31. Web site: Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils - February 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
  32. Web site: Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils - February 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  33. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - March 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  34. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - March 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  35. Web site: Washington Capitals - Philadelphia Flyers - March 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
  36. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Washington Capitals - March 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
  37. Web site: Washington Capitals - Philadelphia Flyers - March 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  38. Web site: Washington Capitals - Philadelphia Flyers - March 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
  39. Web site: Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - March 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  40. Web site: New York Islanders - Washington Capitals - March 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
  41. Web site: New York Rangers - Washington Capitals - March 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
  42. Web site: New York Rangers - Washington Capitals - March 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
  43. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Washington Capitals - March 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
  44. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Washington Capitals - March 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
  45. Web site: New York Rangers - Washington Capitals - March 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  46. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Rangers - March 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
  47. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Islanders - April 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  48. Web site: Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils - April 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
  49. Web site: Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils - April 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
  50. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Islanders - April 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
  51. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - April 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
  52. Web site: Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - April 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
  53. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - April 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  54. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals - April 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
  55. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - April 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  56. Web site: Washington Capitals - Philadelphia Flyers - April 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
  57. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - April 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  58. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Islanders - April 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
  59. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Islanders - April 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
  60. Web site: New York Islanders - Washington Capitals - April 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
  61. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals - April 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
  62. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals - May 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  63. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Rangers - May 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  64. Web site: Washington Capitals - New York Rangers - May 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  65. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals - May 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
  66. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals - May 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
  67. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  68. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  69. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
  70. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - May 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
  71. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - May 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
  72. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  73. Web site: 2020–21 Regular season – Washington Capitals Stats – Skaters . NHL.com . May 11, 2021.
  74. Web site: 2020–21 Playoffs – Washington Capitals Stats – Skaters . NHL.com . May 24, 2021.
  75. Web site: 2020–21 Regular season – Washington Capitals Stats – Goalies . NHL.com . May 11, 2021.
  76. Web site: 2020–21 Playoffs – Washington Capitals Stats – Goalies . NHL.com . May 24, 2021.

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