The Capitals will be on the road playing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, November 27th, and much like Super Bowl Sunday, it’s been a tradition for the Caps to play a game the day before Thanksgiving.
The Capitals have played 45 games the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is nearly every year since their inaugural 1974-75 season. The lone exceptions are 1994 (lockout-shortened season), 1995, 2004 (lockout-cancelled season), 2012 (lockout-shortened season), and 2020 (COVID-shortened season).
Washington’s record the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is 25-11-7-2, which includes 34 games at home and 11 on the road (with the 12th being tonight). The Caps have also won their last eight games the day before Turkey Day since 2015.
UPDATE: The Capitals beat the Lightning 5-4 on Wednesday, November 27th, as they now improve to 26-11-7-2 on the day before Thanksgiving. The Caps have also won their last nine games the Wednesday before Turkey Day since 2015.
Here is the updated list:
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| 1974-11-27 | @ Minnesota North Stars | L 4-6 |
| 1975-11-26 | Los Angeles Kings | W 7-2 |
| 1976-11-24 | @ Atlanta Flames | L 2-6 |
| 1977-11-23 | Atlanta Flames | T 2-2 |
| 1978-11-22 | St. Louis Blues | L 1-3 |
| 1979-11-21 | @ Chicago Blackhawks | L 0-4 |
| 1980-11-26 | @ Detroit Red Wings | T 7-7 |
| 1981-11-25 | @ Minnesota North Stars | T 4-4 |
| 1982-11-24 | @ Edmonton Oilers | T 3-3 |
| 1983-11-23 | Chicago Blackhawks | T 2-2 |
| 1984-11-21 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | T 3-3 |
| 1985-11-27 | Montreal Canadiens | W 5-3 |
| 1986-11-26 | Boston Bruins | T 2-2 |
| 1987-11-25 | Boston Bruins | W 4-1 |
| 1988-11-23 | New York Islanders | W 7-6 |
| 1989-11-22 | New York Islanders | W 5-3 |
| 1990-11-21 | Toronto Maple Leafs | W 5-3 |
| 1991-11-27 | Montreal Canadiens | W 3-1 |
| 1992-11-25 | Boston Bruins | W 6-2 |
| 1993-11-24 | St. Louis Blues | W 5-2 |
| 1996-11-27 | Ottawa Senators | L 1-2 |
| 1997-11-26 | Montreal Canadiens | L 5-6 |
| 1998-11-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | W 5-4 |
| 1999-11-24 | @ Buffalo Sabres | L 2-5 |
| 2000-11-22 | Vancouver Canucks | W 3-2 OT |
| 2001-11-21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | W 3-2 |
| 2002-11-27 | Calgary Flames | W 4-2 |
| 2003-11-26 | @ Buffalo Sabres | L 2-5 |
| 2005-11-23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | L 3-4 SO |
| 2006-11-22 | Atlanta Thrashers | L 2-4 |
| 2007-11-21 | Atlanta Thrashers | L 1-5 |
| 2008-11-26 | Atlanta Thrashers | W 5-3 |
| 2009-11-25 | Buffalo Sabres | W 2-0 |
| 2010-11-24 | @ Carolina Hurricanes | W 3-2 |
| 2011-11-23 | Winnipeg Jets | W 4-3 |
| 2013-11-27 | Ottawa Senators | L 6-4 |
| 2014-11-26 | @ New York Islanders | L 2-3 OT |
| 2015-11-25 | Winnipeg Jets | W 5-3 |
| 2016-11-23 | St. Louis Blues | W 4-3 |
| 2017-11-22 | Ottawa Senators | W 5-2 |
| 2018-11-21 | Chicago Blackhawks | W 4-2 |
| 2019-11-27 | Florida Panthers | W 4-3 |
| 2021-11-24 | Montreal Canadiens | W 6-3 |
| 2022-11-23 | Philadelphia Flyers | W 3-2 OT |
| 2023-11-22 | Buffalo Sabres | W 4-3 OT |
| 2024-11-27 | @ Tampa Bay Lightning | W 5-4 |
