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Christopher Boan has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Are Washington Capitals On Their Way To Their Best Season Ever?
What was supposed to be a rebuilding season in the Nationâs Capital has suddenly become one to remember for fans of the Washington Capitals. The Caps are atop the Eastern Conference with 80 points with the NHL taking a break for the 4-Nations Face-Off.
Despite the teamâs form, oddsmakers from DraftKings Virginia Sportsbook have Washington down as a +1400 longshot to win the clubâs second Stanley Cup this spring. That ties the Colorado Avalanche and league-leading Winnipeg Jets for eighth in the 32-team league, well behind the Edmonton Oilers (+600), Carolina Hurricanes (+650) and defending champion Florida Panthers (+800).
How does this Washington Capitals team stack up in franchise history? BetVirginia.com, where the best Virginia sports betting promos reside, compared the 2024-25 Washington Capitals to the best teams in franchise history. These seasons are in order by points percentage.
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Best Seasons in Capitals History
Season | Points, Point % | Playoff result |
2009-10 | 121 (82 games), .738 | Lost first round |
2015-16 | 120 (82 games), .732 | Lost second round |
2024-25* | 80 (55 games), .727 | TBD |
2016-17 | 118 (82 games), .720 | Lost second round |
2020-21 | 77 (56 games), .688 | Lost first round |
1985-86 | 107 (80 games), .669 | Lost second round |
2008-09 | 108 (82 games), .659 | Lost second round |
2019-20 | 90 (69 games), .652 | Lost first round |
2010-11 | 107 (82 games), .652 | Lost second round |
2017-18 | 105 (82 games), .640 | Won Stanley Cup |
*Statistics through Feb. 14
This story is part of the Virginia sports betting coverage at BetVirginia.
So far, Washingtonâs .727 points percentage is on pace to be the third-best figure in the clubâs half-century run in D.C., ranking behind the 2009-10 (.738) and 2015-16 (.732) teams that flamed out in the NHL playoffs. This seasonâs Caps remain on pace for 119 points and only trail the Winnipeg Jets (81 points in 56 games) by a point in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.
Note that a couple of the seasons on this list were shortened because of COVID-19 restrictions. The NHL adopted an 82-game regular-season schedule in the 1995-96 season.
Where This Yearâs Capitals Team Ranks
So far, the Capitalsâ season-long point total of 80 points through 55 games is on track to put the team third all-time in terms of points percentage (points earned out of the maximum possible).
Oddsmakers did not see this resurgence coming; just before the season, BetMGM Sportsbook Virginia had +6600 odds on coach Spencer Carberyâs team to win the Stanley Cup.
This seasonâs pace is just ahead of the 2016-17 squad that had a .720 percentage before flaming out in the second round of the postseason.
Washingtonâs lone Stanley Cup championship team in 2017-18 finished with 105 points, posting a year-end points percentage of .640 to rank 10th in franchise history. But theyâre the ones that finally brought the big trophy to D.C., speaking to the randomness of the sportâs postseason through the years.
For now, Washington will look to pick up another two points after the 4 Nations break when the Capitals visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 22. Caesars Virginia Sportsbook lists the Caps at +500 odds to win the East and advance to the Stanley Cup final. That's tied second behind the Hurricanes (+325) and on par with the Panthers.
USA Today photo by Geoff Burke
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