NHL Record for Most Goals Against in a Season

Washington Capitals holds the NHL record with 446 goals against (1974-75).

Updated Oct 20, 5:58 PM ET after records.nhl.com

Top of the list

Most Goals Against, Season: the leaders
Rank	Team	Goals against	Season	Team	GP	Goals
1	Washington Capitals	446	1974-75	WSH	80	181
2	Detroit Red Wings	415	1985-86	DET	80	266
3	San Jose Sharks	414	1992-93	SJS	84	218
4	Quebec Nordiques	407	1989-90	QUE	80	240
5	Hartford Whalers	403	1982-83	HFD	80	261
6	Vancouver Canucks	401	1984-85	VAN	80	284
7	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	400	1980-81	WIN	80	246
8	Ottawa Senators	397	1993-94	OTT	84	201
9	Ottawa Senators	395	1992-93	OTT	84	202
10	Washington Capitals	394	1975-76	WSH	80	224
10	Pittsburgh Penguins	394	1982-83	PIT	80	257
12	Pittsburgh Penguins	390	1983-84	PIT	80	254
13	Los Angeles Kings	389	1985-86	LAK	80	284
14	Toronto Maple Leafs	387	1983-84	TOR	80	303
15	Toronto Maple Leafs	386	1985-86	TOR	80	311
16	Pittsburgh Penguins	385	1984-85	PIT	80	276
17	Toronto Maple Leafs	380	1981-82	TOR	80	298
18	Los Angeles Kings	376	1983-84	LAK	80	309
19	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	374	1983-84	WIN	80	340
19	New Jersey Devils	374	1985-86	NJD	80	300
21	Hartford Whalers	372	1980-81	HFD	80	292
21	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	372	1985-86	WIN	80	295

The full top 54

Most Goals Against, Season: NHL team records
Rank	Team	Goals against	Season	Team	GP	Goals
1	Washington Capitals	446	1974-75	WSH	80	181
2	Detroit Red Wings	415	1985-86	DET	80	266
3	San Jose Sharks	414	1992-93	SJS	84	218
4	Quebec Nordiques	407	1989-90	QUE	80	240
5	Hartford Whalers	403	1982-83	HFD	80	261
6	Vancouver Canucks	401	1984-85	VAN	80	284
7	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	400	1980-81	WIN	80	246
8	Ottawa Senators	397	1993-94	OTT	84	201
9	Ottawa Senators	395	1992-93	OTT	84	202
10	Washington Capitals	394	1975-76	WSH	80	224
10	Pittsburgh Penguins	394	1982-83	PIT	80	257
12	Pittsburgh Penguins	390	1983-84	PIT	80	254
13	Los Angeles Kings	389	1985-86	LAK	80	284
14	Toronto Maple Leafs	387	1983-84	TOR	80	303
15	Toronto Maple Leafs	386	1985-86	TOR	80	311
16	Pittsburgh Penguins	385	1984-85	PIT	80	276
17	Toronto Maple Leafs	380	1981-82	TOR	80	298
18	Los Angeles Kings	376	1983-84	LAK	80	309
19	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	374	1983-84	WIN	80	340
19	New Jersey Devils	374	1985-86	NJD	80	300
21	Hartford Whalers	372	1980-81	HFD	80	292
21	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	372	1985-86	WIN	80	295
23	Los Angeles Kings	369	1981-82	LAK	80	314
23	Hartford Whalers	369	1992-93	HFD	84	284
25	New Jersey Devils	368	1986-87	NJD	80	293
26	Toronto Maple Leafs	367	1980-81	TOR	80	322
27	Los Angeles Kings	365	1982-83	LAK	80	308
28	Chicago Blackhawks	363	1981-82	CHI	80	332
29	Colorado Rockies	362	1981-82	CLR	80	241
30	Los Angeles Kings	359	1987-88	LAK	80	318
30	Pittsburgh Penguins	359	1989-90	PIT	80	318
30	San Jose Sharks	359	1991-92	SJS	80	219
33	Toronto Maple Leafs	358	1984-85	TOR	80	253
33	Toronto Maple Leafs	358	1989-90	TOR	80	337
35	Detroit Red Wings	357	1984-85	DET	80	313
35	San Jose Sharks	357	1995-96	SJS	82	252
37	Winnipeg Jets (1979)	355	1988-89	WIN	80	300
38	Quebec Nordiques	354	1990-91	QUE	80	236
39	Kansas City Scouts	351	1975-76	KCS	80	190
39	Hartford Whalers	351	1981-82	HFD	80	264
39	Detroit Red Wings	351	1981-82	DET	80	270
42	New Jersey Devils	350	1983-84	NJD	80	231
43	St. Louis Blues	349	1981-82	STL	80	315
43	Chicago Blackhawks	349	1985-86	CHI	80	351
43	Minnesota North Stars	349	1987-88	MNS	80	242
43	Pittsburgh Penguins	349	1988-89	PIT	80	347
47	St. Louis Blues	348	1978-79	STL	80	249
48	New York Islanders	347	1972-73	NYI	78	170
49	New Jersey Devils	346	1984-85	NJD	80	264
50	Pittsburgh Penguins	345	1980-81	PIT	80	302
50	Calgary Flames	345	1981-82	CGY	80	334
50	Quebec Nordiques	345	1981-82	QUE	80	356
50	New York Rangers	345	1984-85	NYR	80	295
50	Toronto Maple Leafs	345	1987-88	TOR	80	273

Top 54 of 610 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.

About these records

Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.

Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.

Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most goals against in a season?

Washington Capitals holds the NHL record for most goals against in a season with 446 (1974-75).