The 2003–04 Washington Capitals season was the Capitals's 30th season of play. The team finished in fifth and last-place in the Southeast Division, and fourteenth overall in the Eastern Conference, to miss the playoffs. Offseason Regular season On December 10, 2003, head coach Bruce Cassidy was fired after a disappointing 8–18–1–1 start to the season. Assistant coach Glen Hanlon was named his replacement. The Capitals were the most penalized team in the League, with 401 power-play opportunities against. They also scored the fewest short-handed goals in the League, with just 4. Final standings Schedule and results |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1||W||October 9, 2003||6–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2003–04) ||1–0–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |2||L||October 11, 2003||3–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||1–1–0–0 || |- align="center" |3||T||October 13, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||1–1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |4||L||October 14, 2003||1–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||1–2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |5||L||October 17, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2003–04) ||1–3–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |6||L||October 18, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2003–04) ||1–4–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |7||L||October 23, 2003||1–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||1–5–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |8||L||October 25, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||1–6–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |9||L||October 29, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04) ||1–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |10||W||October 31, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||2–7–1–0 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |11||L||November 1, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2003–04) ||2–8–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||November 4, 2003||5–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||3–8–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |13||L||November 6, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||3–9–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |14||L||November 8, 2003||2–3 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2003–04) ||3–10–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |15||L||November 10, 2003||2–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2003–04) ||3–11–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |16||W||November 12, 2003||7–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||4–11–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |17||L||November 14, 2003||2–5 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||4–12–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |18||W||November 15, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||5–12–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |19||L||November 20, 2003||2–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||5–13–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |20||OTL||November 22, 2003||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||5–13–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 24, 2003||4–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04) ||6–13–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |22||L||November 26, 2003||2–5 || align="left"|