2007–08 Washington Capitals season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2007-08
Team=Washington Capitals
Conference=Eastern
ConferenceRank=3rd
Division=Southeast
DivisionRank=1st
Record=43-31-8
HomeRecord=23-15-3
RoadRecord=20-16-5
GoalsFor=242
GoalsAgainst=231
GeneralManager=George McPhee
Coach=Glen Hanlon (Oct-Nov)
Bruce Boudreau (Nov-Apr)
Captain=Chris Clark
AltCaptain=Brian Sutherby (Oct-Nov)
Donald Brashear (Nov-Apr)
Alexander Ovechkin
Arena=Verizon Center
Attendance=15,473 (84.7%)
GoalsLeader=Alexander Ovechkin (65)
AssistsLeader=Nicklas Backstrom (55)
PointsLeader=Alexander Ovechkin (112)
PlusMinusLeader=Alexander Ovechkin (+28)
Viktor Kozlov (+28)
PIMLeader=Donald Brashear (119)
WinsLeader=Olaf Kolzig (25)
GAALeader=Cristobal Huet (1.63)
DivisionWin=Yes

The 2007-08 Washington Capitals season began on October 5, 2007. It was the Washington Capitals' 33rd season in the National Hockey League.

On November 22, coach Glen Hanlon was fired [NHL-worst Capitals fire Hanlon, promote Bruce Boudreau from AHL [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=344174&page=NewsPage&service=page] ] after starting the Capitals with a 6-14-1 record; the team's worst start since 1981-82. He was replaced by Bruce Boudreau on an interim basis until December 26, when Boudreau's position was made permanent. [Washington Capitals remove interim tag from coach Boudreau's resume [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=347706&page=NewsPage&service=page] ]

On March 21, LW Alexander Ovechkin scored his 60th goal of the season in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, becoming the first NHL player to accomplish the feat in twelve years, and tying Dennis Maruk's single-season franchise record. He would go on to break the record in the Capitals' next game, a 3-2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on March 25. On April 3, Ovechkin scored twice to break Luc Robitaille's single-season LW goal scoring record of 63 goals. Ovechkin finished the regular season with 65 goals and 112 points and is widely considered to be the favorite to win the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL's Most Valuable Player.

On April 5th, the Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 at home to clinch the franchise's third Southeast Division title and fourth division title overall. The Capitals became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after being ranked 14th or lower in the standings at the season's midpoint. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/05/AR2008040502708.html Coming All the Way Back - washingtonpost.com ] ] .

In the playoffs, the Capitals won their first game against the Philadelphia Flyers, but then lost three consecutive games to fall behing three games to one. They managed to win their next two games to force a game seven, but lost in overtime on a power play goal by Joffrey Lupul.

Regular season

eason standings

Division standings

Conference standings

Game log

October

Record: 5-6-0; Home: 2-3-0; Road: 3-3-0

January

Record: 9-4-0; Home: 7-1-0; Road: 2-3-0

April

Record: 3-0-0; Home: 3-0-0; Road: 0-0-0

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

Awards

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ee also

*2007-08 NHL season

References