1990–91 Washington Capitals season

The 1990–91 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 17th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1990–91 Washington Capitals
Division	3rd Patrick
Conference	6th Wales
1990–91 record	37–36–7
Home record	21–14–5
Road record	16–22–2
Goals for	258
Goals against	258
Team information
General manager	David Poile
Coach	Terry Murray
Captain	Rod Langway
Alternate captains	Kevin Hatcher Dale Hunter
Arena	Capital Centre
Team leaders
Goals	Kevin Hatcher Kelly Miller (24)
Assists	Kevin Hatcher Michal Pivonka (50)
Points	Kevin Hatcher (74)
Penalty minutes	Alan May (264)
Plus/minus	Rod Langway (+12)
Wins	Don Beaupre (20)
Goals against average	Don Beaupre (2.64)

Offseason

The Capitals acquired Peter Zezel from St. Louis for Geoff Courtnall as their main move during the offseason.

Regular season

The Capitals had the best penalty-killing unit during the regular season, allowing the fewest power-play goals (44) and finishing with the NHL's best penalty-killing percentage (85.99%).

Final standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	41	33	6	342	305	88
New York Rangers	80	36	31	13	297	265	85
Washington Capitals	80	37	36	7	258	258	81
New Jersey Devils	80	32	33	15	272	264	79
Philadelphia Flyers	80	33	37	10	252	267	76
New York Islanders	80	25	45	10	223	290	60

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Wales Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Boston Bruins	ADM	80	44	24	12	299	264	100
2	Montreal Canadiens	ADM	80	39	30	11	273	249	89
3	Pittsburgh Penguins	PTK	80	41	33	6	342	305	88
4	New York Rangers	PTK	80	36	31	13	297	265	85
5	Washington Capitals	PTK	80	37	36	7	258	258	81
6	Buffalo Sabres	ADM	80	31	30	19	292	278	81
7	New Jersey Devils	PTK	80	32	33	15	272	264	79
8	Philadelphia Flyers	PTK	80	33	37	10	252	267	76
9	Hartford Whalers	ADM	80	31	38	11	238	276	73
10	New York Islanders	PTK	80	25	45	10	223	290	60
11	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	80	16	50	14	236	354	46

Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1990–91 regular season
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 L October 5, 1990 4–7 Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 0–1–0 2 W October 6, 1990 6–4 Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) 1–1–0 3 L October 10, 1990 2–4 @ New York Rangers (1990–91) 1–2–0 4 W October 12, 1990 3–1 Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) 2–2–0 5 L October 13, 1990 2–5 New York Rangers (1990–91) 2–3–0 6 L October 15, 1990 1–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) 2–4–0 7 L October 17, 1990 2–3 @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 2–5–0 8 W October 19, 1990 4–3 New York Islanders (1990–91) 3–5–0 9 W October 20, 1990 4–0 New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 4–5–0 10 W October 23, 1990 6–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 5–5–0 11 L October 25, 1990 2–3 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) 5–6–0 12 L October 27, 1990 4–9 @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) 5–7–0 13 W October 28, 1990 1–0 @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) 6–7–0 14 W October 30, 1990 2–1 @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) 7–7–0
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 15 W November 2, 1990 4–3 Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) 8–7–0 16 W November 3, 1990 5–2 @ New York Islanders (1990–91) 9–7–0 17 W November 6, 1990 4–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) 10–7–0 18 L November 10, 1990 2–4 Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) 10–8–0 19 L November 11, 1990 3–5 Boston Bruins (1990–91) 10–9–0 20 L November 14, 1990 3–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) 10–10–0 21 L November 16, 1990 3–4 Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) 10–11–0 22 L November 17, 1990 2–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) 10–12–0 23 W November 19, 1990 3–2 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) 11–12–0 24 W November 21, 1990 5–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) 12–12–0 25 W November 23, 1990 7–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 13–12–0 26 L November 24, 1990 2–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 13–13–0 27 W November 28, 1990 6–3 @ New York Rangers (1990–91) 14–13–0 28 L November 30, 1990 3–4 Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) 14–14–0
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 29 W December 1, 1990 3–1 @ New York Islanders (1990–91) 15–14–0 30 W December 5, 1990 3–1 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 16–14–0 31 W December 7, 1990 5–2 New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 17–14–0 32 L December 8, 1990 2–4 @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 17–15–0 33 W December 11, 1990 4–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 18–15–0 34 L December 15, 1990 2–3 Hartford Whalers (1990–91) 18–16–0 35 L December 17, 1990 3–5 @ New York Rangers (1990–91) 18–17–0 36 L December 19, 1990 2–3 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) 18–18–0 37 T December 20, 1990 3–3 OT @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) 18–18–1 38 L December 22, 1990 2–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) 18–19–1 39 L December 26, 1990 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 18–20–1 40 L December 28, 1990 3–5 New York Rangers (1990–91) 18–21–1 41 L December 29, 1990 3–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) 18–22–1
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 42 W January 1, 1991 4–3 New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 19–22–1 43 T January 4, 1991 3–3 OT Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 19–22–2 44 W January 5, 1991 5–3 @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) 20–22–2 45 W January 11, 1991 4–2 Calgary Flames (1990–91) 21–22–2 46 L January 12, 1991 1–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) 21–23–2 47 L January 15, 1991 3–7 @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) 21–24–2 48 L January 17, 1991 2–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) 21–25–2 49 W January 22, 1991 2–1 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) 22–25–2 50 L January 24, 1991 1–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 22–26–2 51 T January 25, 1991 2–2 OT Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) 22–26–3 52 W January 27, 1991 5–4 OT New York Islanders (1990–91) 23–26–3 53 L January 29, 1991 2–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 23–27–3 54 W January 31, 1991 4–3 OT @ New York Islanders (1990–91) 24–27–3
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 55 L February 2, 1991 2–4 Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) 24–28–3 56 W February 5, 1991 5–3 Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) 25–28–3 57 W February 8, 1991 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) 26–28–3 58 W February 10, 1991 5–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 27–28–3 59 L February 15, 1991 2–8 @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) 27–29–3 60 L February 16, 1991 2–4 @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) 27–30–3 61 L February 18, 1991 2–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) 27–31–3 62 W February 22, 1991 3–2 New York Rangers (1990–91) 28–31–3 63 T February 24, 1991 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) 28–31–4 64 L February 25, 1991 1–5 @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 28–32–4 65 T February 27, 1991 4–4 OT @ New York Rangers (1990–91) 28–32–5
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 66 W March 2, 1991 3–2 New York Islanders (1990–91) 29–32–5 67 T March 5, 1991 3–3 OT Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) 29–32–6 68 W March 8, 1991 2–1 @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) 30–32–6 69 W March 10, 1991 5–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) 31–32–6 70 L March 12, 1991 2–3 Hartford Whalers (1990–91) 31–33–6 71 W March 14, 1991 5–3 Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) 32–33–6 72 W March 16, 1991 6–0 Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 33–33–6 73 L March 19, 1991 1–2 St. Louis Blues (1990–91) 33–34–6 74 W March 21, 1991 6–2 @ New York Islanders (1990–91) 34–34–6 75 W March 22, 1991 3–1 Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) 35–34–6 76 T March 24, 1991 3–3 OT Boston Bruins (1990–91) 35–34–7 77 L March 26, 1991 2–4 Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) 35–35–7 78 W March 28, 1991 3–0 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) 36–35–7 79 W March 30, 1991 4–0 New Jersey Devils (1990–91) 37–35–7 80 L March 31, 1991 2–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) 37–36–7
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Round 1: (P2) New York Rangers vs. (P3) Washington Capitals

April 3

Washington Capitals

1–2

New York Rangers

Madison Square Garden

April 5

Washington Capitals

3–0

New York Rangers

Madison Square Garden

April 7

New York Rangers

6–0

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 9

New York Rangers

2–3

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 11

Washington Capitals

5–4

OT

New York Rangers

Madison Square Garden

April 13

New York Rangers

2–4

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

Washington won series 4–2

Round 2: (P1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (P3) Washington Capitals

April 17

Washington Capitals

4–2

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

April 19

Washington Capitals

6–7

OT

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

April 21

Pittsburgh Penguins

3–1

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 23

Pittsburgh Penguins

3–1

Washington Capitals

Capital Centre

April 25

Washington Capitals

1–4

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

Pittsburgh won series 4–1

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Kevin Hatcher	D	79	24	50	74	69	-10	9	2	3
Mike Ridley	C	79	23	48	71	26	9	6	5	4
Michal Pivonka	C	79	20	50	70	34	3	6	0	4
John Druce	RW	80	22	36	58	46	4	7	1	4
Calle Johansson	D	80	11	41	52	23	-2	2	1	2
Kelly Miller	LW	80	24	26	50	29	10	4	2	3
Dale Hunter	C	76	16	30	46	234	-22	9	0	2
Dino Ciccarelli	RW	54	21	18	39	66	-17	2	0	2
Stephen Leach	RW	68	11	19	30	99	-9	4	0	1
Peter Bondra	RW	54	12	16	28	47	-10	4	0	1
Dmitri Khristich	LW/C	40	13	14	27	21	-1	1	0	0
Mikhail Tatarinov	D	65	8	15	23	82	-4	3	1	1
Bob Rouse	D	47	5	15	20	65	-7	1	0	0
Nick Kypreos	LW	79	9	9	18	196	-4	0	0	3
Dave Tippett	LW	61	6	9	15	24	-13	0	0	2
Al Iafrate	D	30	6	8	14	124	-1	0	1	1
Tim Bergland	RW	47	5	9	14	21	-1	0	0	0
Peter Zezel	C	20	7	5	12	10	-13	6	0	0
Alan May	RW	67	4	6	10	264	-10	0	0	0
Rod Langway	D	56	1	7	8	24	12	0	0	0
Bob Joyce	LW	17	3	3	6	8	3	0	0	1
Mike Lalor	D	68	1	5	6	61	-23	0	0	0
Ken Sabourin	D	28	1	4	5	81	6	0	0	0
Chris Felix	D	8	0	4	4	0	0	0	0	0
Rob Murray	C	17	0	3	3	19	0	0	0	0
Jeff Greenlaw	LW	10	2	0	2	10	1	0	0	1
Alfie Turcotte	C	6	1	1	2	0	-1	0	0	1
John Purves	RW	7	1	0	1	0	-3	0	0	1
Joel Quenneville	D	9	1	0	1	0	-8	0	0	0
Mark Ferner	D	7	0	1	1	4	-2	0	0	0
Bobby Babcock	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Don Beaupre	G	45	0	0	0	18	0	0	0	0
Jim Hrivnak	G	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
John Kordic	RW	7	0	0	0	101	1	0	0	0
Mike Liut	G	35	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ken Lovsin	D	1	0	0	0	0	-2	0	0	0
Steve Maltais	LW	7	0	0	0	2	-1	0	0	0
Kent Paynter	D	1	0	0	0	15	0	0	0	0
Reggie Savage	C	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Steve Seftel	LW	4	0	0	0	2	-2	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Don Beaupre	2572	45	20	18	3	113	2.64	5	1095	982	.897
Mike Liut	1834	35	13	16	3	114	3.73	0	786	672	.855
Jim Hrivnak	432	9	4	2	1	26	3.61	0	226	200	.885
Team:	4838	80	37	36	7	253	3.14	5	2107	1854	.880

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Dale Hunter	C	11	1	9	10	41	0	0	0
Dino Ciccarelli	RW	11	5	4	9	22	3	0	2
Calle Johansson	D	10	2	7	9	8	1	0	0
Mike Ridley	C	11	3	4	7	8	1	0	1
Kelly Miller	LW	11	4	2	6	6	0	1	0
Kevin Hatcher	D	11	3	3	6	8	2	0	0
Michal Pivonka	C	11	2	3	5	8	0	0	0
Dave Tippett	LW	10	2	3	5	8	0	0	0
Al Iafrate	D	10	1	3	4	22	0	0	1
Dmitri Khristich	LW/C	11	1	3	4	6	0	0	0
Mike Lalor	D	10	1	2	3	22	0	0	0
Stephen Leach	RW	9	1	2	3	8	0	0	0
Tim Bergland	RW	11	1	1	2	12	0	0	0
John Druce	RW	11	1	1	2	7	1	0	0
Alan May	RW	11	1	1	2	37	0	0	1
Rod Langway	D	11	0	2	2	6	0	0	0
Don Beaupre	G	11	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Peter Bondra	RW	4	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Nick Kypreos	LW	9	0	1	1	38	0	0	0
Jeff Greenlaw	LW	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Mike Liut	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kent Paynter	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ken Sabourin	D	11	0	0	0	34	0	0	0
Neil Sheehy	D	2	0	0	0	19	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Don Beaupre	624	11	5	5	29	2.79	1	294	265	.901
Mike Liut	48	2	0	1	4	5.00	0	30	26	.867
Team:	672	11	5	6	33	2.95	1	324	291	.898

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1990 NHL entry draft held at the BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	9	John Slaney	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
2	30	Rod Pasma	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
3	51	Chris Long	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
4	72	Randy Pearce	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
5	93	Brian Sakic	Canada	Tri-City Americans (WHL)
5	94	Mark Ouimet	Canada	University of Michigan (CCHA)
6	114	Andrei Kovalev	Soviet Union	Dynamo Moscow (USSR)
7	135	Roman Kontsek	Czechoslovakia	Dukla Trencin (Czechoslovakia)
8	156	Peter Bondra	Soviet Union	VSZ Kosice (Czechoslovakia)
8	159	Steve Martell	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
9	177	Ken Klee	United States	Bowling Green State University (CCHA)
10	198	Mike Boback	United States	Providence College (Hockey East)
11	219	Alan Brown	Canada	Colgate University (ECAC)
12	240	Todd Hlushko	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
S	14	Martin Jiranek	Canada	Bowling Green State University (CCHA)

See also

• 1990–91 NHL season