The 1996–97 Washington Capitals season was the team's 23rd season of play. The Capitals finished fifth in the division, and ninth in the conference, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. It was their last full season playing at USAir Arena.

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|1||L||October 5, 1996||2–5 || align="left"|  Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||0–1–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|2||L||October 8, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||0–2–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|3||W||October 11, 1996||6–2 || align="left"|  Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–2–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|4||L||October 12, 1996||3–4 || align="left"|  Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||1–3–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|5||L||October 18, 1996||1–4 || align="left"|  Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||1–4–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|6||L||October 19, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||1–5–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|7||W||October 23, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||2–5–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|8||W||October 26, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||3–5–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|9||L||October 28, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||3–6–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|10||W||October 30, 1996||4–2 || align="left"|  Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||4–6–0 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|11||W||November 1, 1996||4–2 || align="left"|  Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||5–6–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|12||L||November 2, 1996||1–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–7–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|13||W||November 6, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||6–7–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|14||L||November 7, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||6–8–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|15||W||November 9, 1996||3–2 || align="left"|  New York Rangers (1996–97) ||7–8–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|16||L||November 12, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||7–9–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|17||W||November 14, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||8–9–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|18||W||November 15, 1996||3–1 || align="left"|  Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||9–9–0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|19||W||November 18, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–9–0 || 
|- align="center"
|20||T||November 19, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||10–9–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|21||W||November 22, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||11–9–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|22||W||November 23, 1996||4–3 || align="left"|  New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||12–9–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|23||L||November 27, 1996||1–2 || align="left"|  Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||12–10–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|24||L||November 29, 1996||0–2 || align="left"|  New York Islanders (1996–97) ||12–11–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|25||W||November 30, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||13–11–1 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|26||L||December 4, 1996||0–2 || align="left"|  Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||13–12–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|27||L||December 6, 1996||3–5 || align="left"|  Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||13–13–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|28||L||December 7, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||13–14–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|29||L||December 11, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||13–15–1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|30||L||December 13, 1996||4–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–16–1 || 
|- align="center"
|31||T||December 14, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||13–16–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|32||L||December 17, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||13–17–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|33||W||December 20, 1996||3–2 || align="left"|  San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||14–17–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|34||L||December 21, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||14–18–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|35||W||December 23, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||15–18–2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|36||L||December 26, 1996||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||15–19–2 || 
|- align="center"
|37||T||December 28, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"|  Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||15–19–3 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|38||L||December 30, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||15–20–3 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|39||W||January 1, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"|  Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||16–20–3 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|40||W||January 3, 1997||3–0 || align="left"|  Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||17–20–3 || 
|- align="center"
|41||T||January 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whal