Upcoming Washington Capitals dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
From the worst first season to a Stanley Cup
The Washington Capitals play home games at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., and the NHL regular season there runs from October into April. The franchise joined the NHL in 1974 as an expansion team, alongside the Kansas City Scouts, and its first season is still a benchmark for futility: an 8–67–5 record, 21 points and a .131 winning percentage, the worst in league history.
The club spent its first two decades at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, and moved downtown in 1997. Washington reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1998 and was swept by the Detroit Red Wings. The breakthrough came in 2018, when the Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games for the franchise's first championship and the city's first major professional title since the 1992 Super Bowl.
Ted Leonsis's Monumental Sports and Entertainment owns the team and the arena. The Capitals play in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and their sharpest rivalries are with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers.
Where to sit at Capital One Arena for hockey
Capital One Arena opened on December 2, 1997, as MCI Center, became Verizon Center in 2006 and took its current name in 2017. It seats 18,573 for hockey across three main levels: the 100 level (the lower bowl, sections 100–121), the 200 level (club seating, sections 200–229) and the 400 level (the upper bowl).
- Center ice, 100 level. Sections 100, 101, 110–112 and 121 line the red line. The Capitals bench sits between sections 100 and 121 and the visitors' bench between 100 and 101, so section 100 puts you behind both. These seats carry the strongest demand.
- The attack-twice end. The Capitals shoot twice at the net in front of sections 105 and 106, and once at the net in front of sections 116 and 117. Lower-level seats at the 105–106 end give the best close-up view of Washington's offense for two periods, usually for less than center ice.
- The penalty boxes. Both boxes sit in front of section 111. Row 1 in sections 110 and 112, beside the boxes, is a fun close-up seat; directly behind the boxes in section 111, the glass and the people inside block the view.
- 200-level club. A higher, wider angle with club amenities. Center-ice club sections show plays develop across the whole sheet.
- 400 level. The least expensive seats. Center-ice 400-level sections are the budget choice for watching systems and special teams; the top rows behind the goals are the ones to skip.
Rows 2 through 7 of the lower bowl, right behind the glass, look close on a seating chart but often deal with obstruction and distortion. A seat ten or more rows up in the same section usually sees more of the game.
The schedule and the games that sell first
The NHL schedule has a fixed shape: preseason in late September, an 82-game regular season from October to mid-April with 41 home dates, and the playoffs from late April into June. The Capitals share the arena with the NBA's Washington Wizards, so home games are spread around a busy building calendar.
- Penguins games. The rivalry with Pittsburgh, a division opponent only a few hours away, produces some of the most in-demand dates of the season.
- Flyers and Rangers games. Both are a short train ride away, so visiting fans fill a share of the building.
- Weekend and holiday games. Saturday nights and holiday-week dates sell faster than early-week games.
- Milestone nights. Games tied to a major individual milestone or a ceremony draw casual fans and push prices up quickly.
- Playoff games. Postseason games are the hardest tickets in the city, and prices swing with each result.
Weeknight games against Western Conference opponents usually have the deepest inventory and the best chance at a lower-bowl seat.
Metro, entry and gameday downtown
Capital One Arena sits at 601 F Street NW in the Chinatown and Penn Quarter neighborhood, directly above Gallery Place–Chinatown station, which serves the Red, Green and Yellow lines. For most fans, Metro is the easiest way in and out. Driving is possible, but garages close to the arena fill up and downtown traffic is slow after games.
The arena is in the middle of a large renovation that began in 2024, with completion targeted for the 2027–28 season, so entrances, concourses and amenities may change between visits. As of the 2025–26 season, check bag size limits and entry rules at capitalonearena.com before you go.
The surrounding blocks are full of restaurants and bars, and many fans meet nearby before puck drop. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Following the Capitals on the road
Washington's Metropolitan Division schedule keeps many road games along the Northeast Corridor. Philadelphia, Newark, New York and Pittsburgh are reachable by train or a short drive, so a road game against the Flyers, Devils, Rangers or Penguins is the easiest away trip for Capitals fans.
The Ovechkin era and other milestones
- 1974–75. The expansion season sets the NHL's record for the lowest winning percentage.
- 1997. The Capitals leave Landover for the new downtown arena, then called MCI Center.
- 1998. The first trip to the Stanley Cup Final ends in a sweep by Detroit.
- 2004. Washington drafts Alex Ovechkin first overall.
- June 2018. The Capitals beat Vegas in five games to win the Stanley Cup, after winning Games 3 and 4 at home. Ovechkin wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
- April 6, 2025. Ovechkin scores his 895th career goal, a power-play goal against the New York Islanders, passing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.
The Capitals have retired four numbers: 5, 7, 11 and 32. The team's mascot is Slapshot, a bald eagle. For the official schedule, see nhl.com/capitals.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Washington Capitals play?
The Capitals play at Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW in downtown Washington. The arena opened in 1997 and seats 18,573 for hockey.
Which end do the Capitals shoot at twice?
Seating guides place the Capitals' attack-twice net in front of sections 105 and 106. Washington shoots once at the net in front of sections 116 and 117.
What Metro stop is closest to Capital One Arena?
Gallery Place–Chinatown, on the Red, Green and Yellow lines, is directly beneath the arena.
When did the Capitals win the Stanley Cup?
Washington won its first Stanley Cup in 2018, beating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. The team had also reached the Final in 1998.
Is Capital One Arena under construction?
A major renovation began in 2024, with completion targeted for the 2027–28 season. Games continue during the work, but entrances and amenities may change, so check the arena's site before you go.