| NHL season | Capitals season | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason |
| Finish | GP | W | L | T | OT | Pts | GF | GA | GP | W | L | OT | GF | GA | Result |
| 1974–75 | 1974–75 | Wales | Norris | 5th | 80 | 8 | 67 | 5 | — | 21 | 181 | 446 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1975–76 | 1975–76 | Wales | Norris | 5th | 80 | 11 | 59 | 10 | — | 32 | 224 | 394 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1976–77 | 1976–77 | Wales | Norris | 4th | 80 | 24 | 42 | 14 | — | 62 | 221 | 307 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1977–78 | 1977–78 | Wales | Norris | 5th | 80 | 17 | 49 | 14 | — | 48 | 195 | 321 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1978–79 | 1978–79 | Wales | Norris | 4th | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | — | 63 | 273 | 338 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1979–80 | 1979–80 | Campbell | Patrick | 5th | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | — | 67 | 261 | 293 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1980–81 | 1980–81 | Campbell | Patrick | 5th | 80 | 26 | 36 | 18 | — | 70 | 286 | 317 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1981–82 | 1981–82 | Wales | Patrick | 5th | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | — | 65 | 319 | 338 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1982–83 | 1982–83 | Wales | Patrick | 3rd | 80 | 39 | 25 | 16 | — | 94 | 306 | 283 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — | 11 | 19 | Lost division semifinals to New York Islanders, 1–3 |
| 1983–84 | 1983–84 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 48 | 27 | 5 | — | 101 | 308 | 226 | 8 | 4 | 4 | — | 28 | 25 | Won division semifinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 3–0Lost division finals to New York Islanders, 1–4 |
| 1984–85 | 1984–85 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | — | 101 | 322 | 240 | 5 | 2 | 3 | — | 12 | 14 | Lost division semifinals to New York Islanders, 2–3 |
| 1985–86 | 1985–86 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 50 | 23 | 7 | — | 107 | 315 | 272 | 9 | 5 | 4 | — | 36 | 24 | Won division semifinals vs. New York Islanders, 3–0Lost division finals to New York Rangers, 2–4 |
| 1986–87 | 1986–87 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | — | 86 | 285 | 278 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 19 | 19 | Lost division semifinals to New York Islanders, 3–4 |
| 1987–88 | 1987–88 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | — | 85 | 281 | 249 | 14 | 7 | 7 | — | 54 | 50 | Won division semifinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–3Lost division finals to New Jersey Devils, 3–4 |
| 1988–89 | 1988–89 | Wales | Patrick↑ | 1st | 80 | 41 | 29 | 10 | — | 92 | 305 | 259 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 18 | 25 | Lost division semifinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 2–4 |
| 1989–90 | 1989–90 | Wales | Patrick | 3rd | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | — | 78 | 284 | 275 | 15 | 8 | 7 | — | 49 | 48 | Won division semifinals vs. New Jersey Devils, 4–2Won division finals vs. New York Rangers, 4–1Lost conference finals to Boston Bruins, 0–4 |
| 1990–91 | 1990–91 | Wales | Patrick | 3rd | 80 | 37 | 36 | 7 | — | 81 | 258 | 258 | 11 | 5 | 6 | — | 29 | 35 | Won division semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–2Lost division finals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 |
| 1991–92 | 1991–92 | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | — | 98 | 330 | 275 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 27 | 25 | Lost division semifinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
| 1992–93 | 1992–93 [a] | Wales | Patrick | 2nd | 84 | 43 | 34 | 7 | — | 93 | 325 | 286 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 15 | 23 | Lost division semifinals to New York Islanders, 2–4 |
| 1993–94 | 1993–94 | Eastern[b] | Atlantic | 3rd | 84 | 39 | 35 | 10 | — | 88 | 277 | 263 | 11 | 5 | 6 | — | 32 | 32 | Won conference quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–2Lost conference semifinals to New York Rangers, 1–4 |
| 1994–95 | 1994–95[c] | Eastern | Atlantic | 2nd | 48 | 22 | 18 | 8 | — | 52 | 136 | 120 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 10 | 17 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
| 1995–96 | 1995–96 | Eastern | Atlantic | 4th | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | — | 89 | 234 | 204 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 17 | 21 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
| 1996–97 | 1996–97 | Eastern | Atlantic | 5th | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | — | 75 | 214 | 231 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1997–98 | 1997–98 | Eastern‡ | Atlantic | 3rd | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | — | 92 | 219 | 202 | 21 | 12 | 9 | — | 53 | 44 | Won conference quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–2Won conference semifinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–1Won conference finals vs. Buffalo Sabres, 4–2Lost Stanley Cup Final to Detroit Red Wings, 0–4 |
| 1998–99 | 1998–99 | Eastern | Southeast[g] | 3rd | 82 | 31 | 45 | 6 | — | 68 | 200 | 218 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 1999–2000 | 1999–2000 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 44 | 24 | 12 | 2[d] | 102 | 227 | 194 | 5 | 1 | 4 | — | 6 | 15 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–4 |
| 2000–01 | 2000–01 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 41 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 96 | 233 | 211 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 10 | 14 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
| 2001–02 | 2001–02 | Eastern | Southeast | 2nd | 82 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 85 | 228 | 240 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | 2002–03 | Eastern | Southeast | 2nd | 82 | 39 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 92 | 224 | 220 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 15 | 14 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Tampa Bay Lightning, 2–4 |
| 2003–04 | 2003–04 | Eastern | Southeast | 5th | 82 | 23 | 46 | 10 | 3 | 59 | 186 | 253 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 2004–05[e] | 2004–05 | Eastern | Southeast | Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout |
| 2005–06 | 2005–06 | Eastern | Southeast | 5th | 82 | 29 | 41 | —[f] | 12 | 70 | 237 | 306 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | 2006–07 | Eastern | Southeast | 5th | 82 | 28 | 40 | — | 14 | 70 | 235 | 286 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | 2007–08 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 43 | 31 | — | 8 | 94 | 242 | 231 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 20 | 23 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 3–4 |
| 2008–09 | 2008–09 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 50 | 24 | — | 8 | 108 | 272 | 245 | 14 | 7 | 7 | — | 41 | 38 | Won conference quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–3Lost conference semifinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
| 2009–10 | 2009–10 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 54 | 15 | — | 13 | 121# | 318 | 233 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 22 | 20 | Lost conference quarterfinals to Montreal Canadiens, 3–4 |
| 2010–11 | 2010–11 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 82 | 48 | 23 | — | 11 | 107 | 224 | 197 | 9 | 4 | 5 | — | 23 | 24 | Won conference quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–1Lost conference semifinals to Tampa Bay Lightning, 0–4 |
| 2011–12 | 2011–12 | Eastern | Southeast | 2nd | 82 | 42 | 32 | — | 8 | 92 | 222 | 230 | 14 | 7 | 7 | — | 28 | 30 | Won conference quarterfinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–3Lost conference semifinals to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
| 2012–13[h] | 2012–13 | Eastern | Southeast↑ | 1st | 48 | 27 | 18 | — | 3 | 57 | 149 | 130 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 13 | 15 | Lost conference quarterfinals to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
| 2013–14 | 2013–14 | Eastern | Metropolitan[i] | 5th | 82 | 38 | 30 | — | 14 | 90 | 235 | 240 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Did not qualify |
| 2014–15 | 2014–15 | Eastern | Metropolitan | 2nd | 82 | 45 | 26 | — | 11 | 101 | 242 | 203 | 14 | 7 | 7 | — | 28 | 28 | Won first round vs. New York Islanders, 4–3 Lost second round to New York Rangers, 3–4 |
| 2015–16 | 2015–16 | Eastern | Metropolitan↑ | 1st | 82 | 56 | 18 | — | 8 | 120# | 252 | 193 | 12 | 6 | 6 | — | 29 | 22 | Won first round vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2Lost second round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 2–4 |
| 2016–17 | 2016–17 | Eastern | Metropolitan↑ | 1st | 82 | 55 | 19 | — | 8 | 118# | 263 | 182 | 13 | 7 | 6 | — | 36 | 34 | Won first round vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–2Lost second round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4 |
| 2017–18† | 2017–18 | Eastern‡ | Metropolitan↑ | 1st | 82 | 49 | 26 | — | 7 | 105 | 259 | 239 | 24 | 16 | 8 | — | 86 | 61 | Won first round vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 4–2Won second round vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 4–2Won conference finals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–3Won Stanley Cup Final vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 4–1 |
| 2018–19 | 2018–19 | Eastern | Metropolitan↑ | 1st | 82 | 48 | 26 | — | 8 | 104 | 278 | 249 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 20 | 21 | Lost first round to Carolina Hurricanes, 3–4 |
| 2019–20 | 2019–20 | Eastern | Metropolitan↑ | 1st | 69 | 41 | 20 | — | 8 | 90 | 240 | 215 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 24 | Finished third in seeding round-robin (1–1–1)Lost first round to New York Islanders, 1–4 |
| 2020–21 | 2020–21 | — | East | 2nd | 56 | 36 | 15 | — | 5 | 77 | 191 | 163 | 5 | 1 | 4 | — | 10 | 16 | Lost first round to Boston Bruins, 1–4 |
| 2021–22 | 2021–22 | Eastern | Metropolitan | 4th | 82 | 44 | 26 | — | 12 | 100 | 275 | 245 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 19 | 20 | Lost first round to Florida Panthers, 2–4 |
