1994–95 Washington Capitals season

The 1994–95 Washington Capitals season was the team's 21st season of play. After stumbling to a 3–10–5 record by February 28, the Capitals caught a break in bringing up 20-year-old rookie goaltender Jim Carey from the Portland Pirates for their March 2 game against the New York Islanders. The Capitals edged the Islanders 4–3 and Carey made 21 saves. Carey would finish his rookie season with an impressive 18–6–3 record, a 2.13 goals against average (GAA) and four shutouts. With the help of Carey's superb goaltending, Washington would go on to win 19 of their final 30 games and finish in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, with a 22–18–8 record for 52 points. Peter Bondra had an excellent season, leading all NHL skaters in goals (34) and shorthanded goals (6).

1994–95 Washington Capitals
Division3rd Atlantic
Conference6th Eastern
1994–95 record22–18–8
Home record15–6–3
Road record7–12–5
Goals for136
Goals against120
Team information
General managerDavid Poile
CoachJim Schoenfeld
CaptainDale Hunter
Alternate captainsCalle Johansson
Joe Juneau
Michal Pivonka
ArenaUSAir Arena
Average attendance14,158
Minor league affiliate(s)Portland Pirates
Hampton Roads Admirals
Team leaders
GoalsPeter Bondra (34)
AssistsJoe Juneau (38)
PointsPeter Bondra (43)
Joe Juneau
Penalty minutesCraig Berube (173)
Plus/minusJoe Reekie (+10)
WinsJim Carey (18)
Goals against averageJim Carey (2.13)

Off-season

Regular season

The Capitals tied the Buffalo Sabres for the most short-handed goals scored (13) and tied the St. Louis Blues for the fewest short-handed goals allowed (2) during the regular season.[1]

Final standings
Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
12Philadelphia Flyers482816415013260
25New Jersey Devils482218813612152
36Washington Capitals482218813612052
48New York Rangers482223313913447
59Florida Panthers482022611512746
612Tampa Bay Lightning481728312014437
713New York Islanders481528512615835

[2]

Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Quebec NordiquesNE483013518513465
2Philadelphia FlyersAT482816415013260
3Pittsburgh PenguinsNE482916318115861
4Boston BruinsNE482718315012757
5New Jersey DevilsAT482218813612152
6Washington CapitalsAT482218813612052
7Buffalo SabresNE482219713011951
8New York RangersAT482223313913447
9Florida PanthersAT482022611512746
10Hartford WhalersNE481924512714143
11Montreal CanadiensNE481823712514843
12Tampa Bay LightningAT481728312014437
13New York IslandersAT481528512615835
14Ottawa SenatorsNE48934511717423

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Capitals faced their old rivals from 1991, 1992 and 1994, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington had defeated Pittsburgh in the first round one year earlier and were hoping to do the same in 1995. The series started out well for the Capitals, as they defeated the Penguins 5–4 in the opening game. In Game 2, Washington held a 3–1 lead after two periods, but Pittsburgh scored four times in the third period to win 5–3 and tie the series at 1–1. Washington won Games 3 and 4 at home by identical scores of 6–2. The two teams skated to a 5–5 tie in Game 5, and with just 4:30 into the first overtime period, Luc Robitaille scored his fourth of the playoffs to keep the Penguins alive in the series. Peter Bondra, Dale Hunter, Jaromir Jagr and Kevin Stevens each scored twice in the game. Leading three games to two, the Capitals had a chance to eliminate the Penguins on home ice in Game 6, but goaltender Jim Carey struggled, allowing six goals on just 13 shots. Washington got only one shot (by Keith Jones) past Pittsburgh goaltender Ken Wregget, who made 30 saves. The Penguins went on to win the game 7–1 and tied the series at three games apiece. Jaromir Jagr, Luc Robitaille and Tomas Sandstrom each scored twice. In Game 7, Carey played better than he had in Game 6, stopping 15 of 17 shots, but Ken Wregget was solid again and stopped all 33 Washington shots to get the shutout. Troy Murray would add an empty-net goal to give Pittsburgh a 3–0 win and the series victory, four games to three. It was the second time in four years that the Penguins had defeated the Capitals after trailing 3–1 in a playoff series.

Schedule and results

Regular season
1994–95 regular season[4]
January: 1–3–1 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TJanuary 21, 19951–1 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1994–95)0–0–1Recap
2LJanuary 24, 19951–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)0–1–1Recap
3LJanuary 25, 19950–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)0–2–1Recap
4WJanuary 27, 19955–2New York Islanders (1994–95)1–2–1Recap
5LJanuary 29, 19951–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)1–3–1Recap
February: 2–7–4 (home: 2–2–1; road: 0–5–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
6LFebruary 2, 19950–1Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)1–4–1Recap
7WFebruary 4, 19953–2Florida Panthers (1994–95)2–4–1Recap
8LFebruary 7, 19951–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)2–5–1Recap
9LFebruary 8, 19954–5@ New York Rangers (1994–95)2–6–1Recap
10TFebruary 11, 19951–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (1994–95)2–6–2Recap
11LFebruary 13, 19953–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)2–7–2Recap
12LFebruary 15, 19952–4@ New Jersey Devils (1994–95)2–8–2Recap
13WFebruary 18, 19954–2Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)3–8–2Recap
14LFebruary 20, 19950–2New Jersey Devils (1994–95)3–9–2Recap
15TFebruary 23, 19955–5 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1994–95)3–9–3Recap
16TFebruary 25, 19953–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1994–95)3–9–4Recap
17TFebruary 26, 19951–1 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)3–9–5Recap
18LFebruary 28, 19952–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)3–10–5Recap
March: 11–2–2 (home: 6–1–2; road: 5–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
19WMarch 2, 19954–3@ New York Islanders (1994–95)4–10–5Recap
20WMarch 4, 19955–1Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)5–10–5Recap
21WMarch 5, 19954–2New York Rangers (1994–95)6–10–5Recap
22WMarch 7, 19953–1@ Boston Bruins (1994–95)7–10–5Recap
23TMarch 10, 19952–2 OTOttawa Senators (1994–95)7–10–6Recap
24WMarch 12, 19953–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)8–10–6Recap
25WMarch 13, 19953–0@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)9–10–6Recap
26LMarch 16, 19951–5@ Florida Panthers (1994–95)9–11–6Recap
27WMarch 18, 19954–1New York Rangers (1994–95)10–11–6Recap
28WMarch 20, 19955–0@ Hartford Whalers (1994–95)11–11–6Recap
29WMarch 21, 19951–0Ottawa Senators (1994–95)12–11–6Recap
30TMarch 25, 19952–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1994–95)12–11–7Recap
31LMarch 26, 19953–4 OTHartford Whalers (1994–95)12–12–7Recap
32WMarch 29, 19954–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)13–12–7Recap
33WMarch 31, 19956–4Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)14–12–7Recap
April: 7–6–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
34WApril 2, 19952–1Boston Bruins (1994–95)15–12–7Recap
35WApril 4, 19955–4@ New York Islanders (1994–95)16–12–7Recap
36LApril 8, 19951–3Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)16–13–7Recap
37LApril 11, 19951–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)16–14–7Recap
38LApril 12, 19951–2New Jersey Devils (1994–95)16–15–7Recap
39WApril 14, 19953–0Florida Panthers (1994–95)17–15–7Recap
40LApril 16, 19952–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)17–16–7Recap
41LApril 17, 19952–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)17–17–7Recap
42WApril 21, 19956–3Hartford Whalers (1994–95)18–17–7Recap
43WApril 22, 19952–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)19–17–7Recap
44LApril 24, 19954–5@ New York Rangers (1994–95)19–18–7Recap
45WApril 26, 19956–5New York Islanders (1994–95)20–18–7Recap
46WApril 28, 19955–1Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)21–18–7Recap
47TApril 30, 19952–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1994–95)21–18–8Recap
May: 1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
48WMay 2, 19957–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)22–18–8Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1995 Stanley Cup playoffs[4]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 6, 19955–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 8, 19953–5@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 10, 19956–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 12, 19956–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 14, 19955–6 OT@ Pittsburgh PenguinsCapitals lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 16, 19951–7Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LMay 18, 19950–3@ Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins win 4–3Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

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 Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12Peter BondraRW47349439247538010
90Joe JuneauC4453843−187268−22
20Michal PivonkaC461023333507145221
6Calle JohanssonD4652631−635731460
8Dmitri KhristichLW48121426041714540
22Steve KonowalchukLW461114257447257212
10Kelly MillerLW48101323567033−24
32Dale HunterC4581523−41017448024
26Keith JonesRW4014620−2657448−122
3Sylvain CoteD47514192537134−92
4Jim JohnsonD4701313643702238
24Mark TinordiD423912−5711000−22
9Dave PoulinC294592102000−10
17Sergei GoncharD31257422722482
29Joe ReekieD4816710977000−42
27Craig BerubeLW43246−51737000−329
25Rob PearsonRW32066−6963101017
2Ken KleeD23314241700014
36Mike Eagles†C1313428702214
14Pat PeakeC18044−612——————
41Jason AllisonC12213−36——————
34Martin GendronRW821332——————
28John SlaneyD16033−36——————
23Kevin KaminskiC27112−61025000−136
15Jeff NelsonC10101−22——————
31Rick Tabaracci‡G80112——————
44Igor Ulanov†D301132200004
18Randy Burridge‡LW200002——————
30Jim CareyG28000070004
35Byron DafoeG4000010000
37Olaf KolzigG14000420000

Goaltending
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
30Jim Carey281863654572.13.91341604724151254.19.8340358
37Olaf Kolzig14282305302.49.90207242102111.35.952044
35Byron Dafoe411180113.53.8630187100313.00.667020
31Rick Tabaracci‡8132147162.44.8910394—————————

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 NHL All-Rookie Team Jim Carey (Goaltender) [5]
League
(in-season)		 NHL Player of the Month Jim Carey (March) [6]
NHL Rookie of the Month Jim Carey (March) [6]

Milestones
Milestone Player Date Ref
600th assist Dale Hunter January 27, 1995 [7]

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft held at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.[8]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
110Nolan Baumgartner CanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)
115Alexander Kharlamov RussiaCSKA Moscow (Russia)
241Scott Cherrey CanadaNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)
493Matt Herr United StatesThe Hotchkiss School (USHS-CT)
5119Yanick Jean CanadaChicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
6145Dmitri Mekeshkin RussiaAvangard Omsk (Russia)
7171Dan Reja CanadaLondon Knights (OHL)
8197Chris Patrick United StatesKent School (USHS-CT)
9223John Tuohy United StatesSouth Kent School (USHS-CT)
10249Richard Zednik SlovakiaBanska Bystrica (Slovakia)
11275Sergei Tertyshny RussiaTraktor Chelyabinsk (Russia)

See also

References
  • "Washington Capitals 1994-95 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  • "1994-95 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  1. "1994-95 NHL Summary".
  2. Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  3. "1994-1995 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  4. "1994-95 Washington Capitals Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  5. "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  6. Hochberg, Len (April 2, 1995). "CAREY SNARES PIECE OF HISTORY". Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  7. Hochberg, Len (January 28, 1995). "CAPITALS BREAK ICE, GET FIRST WIN". Washington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2023. Captain Dale Hunter registered his 600th career assist.
  8. "1994 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
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