The NHL makes it virtually impossible to compare historical standings anymore. This is a league, after all, that has changed how it awards standings points four times since the Capitals arrived in 1974. That won’t stop me from trying though. With Washington off to a 27-11-6 record and 60 points overall, what exactly does that mean in a historic context? Glad you asked. Until last year the best Caps team ever was the 1985-86 edition, which finished 50-23-7 and with 107 points. But that was an era where the NHL played 80 games – not 82 – and an overtime loss was actually, well, a loss. No shootouts, either. Just five minutes of extra hockey and if no one scored it was a tie game and both teams earned a point. Lose in overtime and you got nothing.
Since that was the league’s formula between 1983-84 and 1998-99 it seems the most legitimate. So I took five of the best teams in Caps history and found their record after 44 games – or what it would have been under those 1980s and 90s rules. I take away one point for a shootout win since that would have been a regular tie back in the day. A shootout loss I leave as is since it would have been a tie anyway under the old system. I take away a point for any overtime loss after 1999-2000.
1985-86
27-13-4, 58 points
Didn’t take away anything since this is the standings system I’m using. These Caps finished 50-23-7 with 107 points and would still hold the mark for best regular-season in franchise history except for the updated rules. Then again – they coughed up a 2-1 lead to the Rangers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I blame Craig Laughlin. You only want to emulate this team so much.
1984-85
25-12-7, 57 points
The middle version of three fine Caps team in the mid-80s. They were each legitimate Stanley Cup contenders – though goaltending was always an issue in the playoffs. This group recorded 101 points with a 46-25-9 record. It also started a long, long history of playoff disasters by blowing a 2-0 lead to the Islanders in the first round, which is nice.
1991-92
27-14-3, 57 points
The finest Caps team of the Dale Hunter era. Didn’t make it to 100 points, but ended up 45-27-8 with 98 points and was the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. Caps went up 3-1 on defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs and outscored them 16-5 in three victories, including a 7-2 win at the Igloo in Game 5. Series over, amIright? Yeah, not so much. You thought last year’s Game 7 loss hurt? Washington blew the series. Penguins went 12-2 the rest of the way en route to their second title in a row. No one else even touched them.
2008-09
25-15-4, 54 points (adjusted)
This team technically has the most points in franchise history with 108. But that includes two extra games played and too many points for overtime losses and shootout wins. Would have still managed 100 under the old formula. Still one of the best before hitting a wall in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Penguins, who again went on to win the Stanley Cup. Wait – am I repeating myself?
2009-10
24-15-5, 53 points (adjusted)
Close to last year’s pace. Adjusted standings have Caps with one less win and one more tie than that group. If they played Southeast Division teams every night they’d go an estimated 72-8. I’m joking, of course. (No, I’m not) But it will be hard under this system to push the current team past the 1985-86 Caps. It would take 26 wins over the next 36 games with three shootout losses. Or 27 wins with one shootout loss. That gets them to 108 points through 80 games – cutting off the final two so we stay there. As good as this team is, that’s still unlikely. See how good that 85-86 team was? Under my adjusted standings, only six Caps teams have recorded more than 50 points through 44 games. Here are the best.
Adjusted Standings – Caps through 44 games
1985-86 – 58 points (Lost to NY Rangers, second round, 6 games)
1991-92 – 57 (Lost to Pittsburgh, first round, 7 games)
1984-85 – 57 (Lost to NY Islanders, first round, 5 games)
2008-09 – 54 (Lost to Pittsburgh, second round, 7 games)
2009-10 – 53
1988-89 – 51 (Lost to Philadelphia, first round, 6 games)
1982-83 – 49 Missed playoffs
1992-93 – 48 (Lost to NY Islanders, first round, 6 games)
1997-98 – 48 (Lost to Detroit, Stanley Cup finals, 4 games)
2002-03 – 47 (Lost to Tampa Bay, first round, 6 games)
1995-96 – 47 (Lost to Pittsburgh, first round, 6 games)
2000-01 – 46 (Lost to Pittsburgh, first round, 6 games)
1999-00 – 45 (Lost to Pittsburgh, first round, 5 games)
1987-88 – 45 (Lost to New Jersey, second round, 7 games)
