The 1982–83 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They qualified for the playoffs for the very first time in franchise history after eight frustrating seasons.
Offseason
Regular season
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
Regular season
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || October 6, 1982 || @ N.Y. Rangers || 5–4 || || Riggin || Madison Square Garden || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || October 9, 1982 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || October 10, 1982 || @ Philadelphia || 4–6 || || Moore || The Spectrum || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || October 13, 1982 || @ Toronto || 5–3 || || Parro || Maple Leaf Gardens || 2–2–0 || 4 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 || October 16, 19828:05p.m. EDT || Buffalo || 2–9 || || Parro || Capital Centre13,710 || 2–3–0 || 4 || L1 |- style="background:#fff;" | 6 || October 20, 19827:35p.m. EDT || Montreal || 3–3 || || Parro || Capital Centre12,849 || 2–3–1 || 5 || T1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || October 21, 19828:05p.m. EDT || @ N.Y. Islanders || 3–6 || || Riggin || Nassau Coliseum14,633 || 2–4–1 || 5 || L1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 || October 23, 19828:05p.m. EDT || Minnesota || 1–3 || || Parro || Capital Centre12,768 || 2–5–1 || 5 || L2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 || October 27, 1982 || @ Pittsburgh || 5–7 || || Parro || Pittsburgh Civic Arena || 2–6–1 || 5 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || October 30, 1982 || @ St. Louis || 6–5 || || Riggin || Checkerdome || 3–6–1 || 7 || |-
|- style="background:#fff;" | 11 || November 3, 19828:35p.m. EST || @ Chicago || 3–3 || || Riggin || Chicago Stadium13,864 || 3–6–2 || 8 || T1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || November 5, 1982 || St. Louis || 3–4 || || Riggin || Capital Centre || 3–7–2 || 8 || |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || November 7, 19827:05p.m. EST || Hartford || 6–2 || || Jensen || Capital Centre12,816 || 4–7–2 || 10 || W1 |- style="background:#fff;" | 14 || November 8, 19827:45p.m. EST || @ New Jersey || 2–2 || || Riggin || Brendan Byrne Arena10,273 || 4–7–3 || 11 || T1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || November 10, 19827:35p.m. EST || New Jersey || 3–0 || || Jensen || Capital Centre12,445 || 5–7–3 || 13 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || November 13, 19828:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 3–1 || || Jensen || Capital Centre14,131 || 6–7–3 || 15 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || November 16, 19827:35p.m. EST || Calgary || 5–3 || || Riggin || Capital Centre10,705 || 7–7–3 || 17 || W3 |- style="background:#fff;" | 18 || November 19, 1982 || @ Winnipeg || 3–3 || || Jensen || Winnipeg Arena || 7–7–4 || 18 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 19 || November 21, 1982 || @ Vancouver || 3–5 || || Riggin || Pacific Coliseum || 7–8–4 || 18 || |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || November 23, 19829:35p.m. EST || @ Calgary || 3–6 || || Jensen || Stampede Corral7,242 || 7–9–4 || 18 || L2 |- style="background:#fff;" | 21 || November 24, 19829:35p.m. EST || @ Edmonton || 3–3 || || Riggin || Northlands Coliseum17,498 || 7–9–5 || 19 || T1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || November 26, 1982 || Toronto || 5–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre || 8–9–5 || 21 || |- style="background:#fff;" | 23 || November 28, 19827:05p.m. EST || N.Y. Islanders || 3–3 || || Jensen || Capital Centre12,380 || 8–9–6 || 22 || T1 |-