What’s In The Cards For the Capitals? A Look At the 2023-24 Regular Season Schedule of the Washington Capitals

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Michael Fleetwood
Photo: Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals revealed their schedule for the upcoming, 2023-24 regular season, the first under the direction of new Head Coach Spencer Carbery. In this piece we will take a look at some key anecdotes and dates of the 82-game campaign ahead.

The Caps will play 82 games in a 187-day span, kicking off their season against their Metropolitan Division rival Pittsburgh Penguins on October 13, 2023.

MARCH AGAINST THE PENGUINS

The 2023-24 season opener will mark just the second time in the Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby era that the Caps and Pens have opened their regular season against one another (the other came in the first game of the 2016-17 season); in the Capitals’ 49-year history, they have faced Pittsburgh just six other times, in the first game of the 1975-76 season (4-2 loss), 1977-78 season (a 2-1 victory) 1986-87 season (5-4 loss), 1988-89 season (6-4 loss), 1990-91 season (a 7-4 loss), and the aforementioned 2016-17 season (3-2 shootout loss).

Cumulatively, the Capitals are 1-4-1 in their season-opening matchups against the Penguins.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND AGAIN

Whenever the Capitals’ schedule calls for a trip to play the western clubs, fans back in the DMV either catchup on game highlights and results the following morning, or stay up late with plenty of caffeine. This season, the cabinet will be full of just that as the Capitals make two, season-long, five-game Western swings.

The first string of games will come November 27-December 4, when the Caps take on the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, (defending Stanley Cup champion) Vegas Golden Knights, and Arizona Coyotes, with two, 10:30 PM ET starts, two 10:00 starts, and a 9 PM start. The second will come March 11-18, against the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames.

AS IS TRADITION…

The Capitals will once again hold their traditional game on Super Bowl Sunday, this time facing off against the Vancouver Canucks on February 11, 2024. Washington fell 4-1 on Super Bowl Sunday this past season against the San Jose Sharks. The Buffalo Sabres will be visiting Capital One Arena on the day before Thanksgiving (November 22, 2023), and the Edmonton Oilers come to town on Black Friday.

The club will also have time off during the annual NHL All-Star Game break, from January 28-February 4, 2024.

HOME SWEET HOME

While the Capitals will be away from Capital One Arena for extended periods this season, Alex Ovechkin and Co. will enjoy the sweet comforts of Washington faithful during four homestands of at least four games each (including two with five contests). The team finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 18-16-7, although went 12-5-5 when scoring first.
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The 2023 NHL Entry Draft kicks off the 2023 offseason, with the Capitals picking eighth overall. While who the team selects is yet to be determined, free agency and the shaping of next season’s roster has likely already been in motion.

By Michael Fleetwood

 

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself. Michael joined the NoVa Caps team in 2015, and is most proud of the growth of the NoVa Caps community in that time. An avid photographer, Michael resides in VA.
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