The Washington Capitals clinched the 16th and final Stanley Cup playoff spot despite a -37 goal differential, the worst since the 1990-91 season when the Whalers and Canucks had -38 and -72, respectively. This season, the Capitals were outscored in every period: 79-64 in the first, 85-80 in the second, 82-68 in the third, and 6-4 in overtime. The Capitals, along with LGRW, LetsGoPens, and LetsGoFlyers, who were eliminated, were active sellers at the trade deadline and remained in contention until the final 72 hours.
Crazy stat: The Capitals made the playoffs despite a minus-36 goal differential. They were outscored in every period this season; 79-64 in the first, 85-80 in the second, 82-68 in the third and 6-4 in overtime.
The Washington Capitals clinched a playoff berth with a -37 goal differential. That's the worst goal differential by a #StanleyCup Playoff-bound team since the Whalers (-38) & Canucks (-72) in 1990-91. š³š³š³ https://t.co/RvuGGdevTt
THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS (-37) HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE WORST GOAL DIFFERENTIAL EVER š¤Æ https://t.co/OJZHEhwLje
Washington Capitals clinch a playoff berth with a minus-37 goal differential.
#allcaps clinch the 16th and final #StanleyCup playoff spot with a -37 goal differential. #LGRW, #LetsGoPens and #LetsGoFlyers eliminated. Incredible drama. Three of those four teams sold at the deadline - incl. Caps - and still had a shot in the final 72 hours of the season.