NHL tickets for the Washington Capitals

Question

Hello everyone

I will do visit Washington middle of October. I would like to visit the game of the Washington Capitals against Tampa Bay.

Regarding NFL tickets for the Commanders against the Bears on Mondayevening October 13th I already learned, that I should wait until 1-3 days before the game.

What about NHL; is it the same?

I am asking as the capacities of NHL stadiums are much smaller compared to football arenas.

I can find seats in the upper seat area between 40 and 80$. It would be great getting a ticket up to around 80$ for the middle upper area, so within the 2xx seats.

Being at the stadium 60min ahead is sufficient?

Many thanks

Answer

Great question — yes, buying NHL (Washington Capitals) tickets works a bit differently than for NFL, and your strategy to aim for ~$40–80 upper-seat tickets is reasonable, especially on the resale market. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect, risks, and whether 60 minutes early is enough.

1. Do NHL ticket prices drop close to game time?

Unlike big football games, many NHL games *do not sell out* completely, especially in upper-bowl seats. Because of that, resale prices often drop in the days or hours before puck drop, when ticket holders decide to unload their extra tickets.
Per SeatGeek, there’s often a “flash discount” effect: ticket prices commonly fall during the week of the game, and sometimes significantly in the last 24 hours.
That being said, there’s a risk: if the matchup is very attractive (or demand is higher than expected), ticket prices could go up, or the best cheap seats may already be gone.
Based on fan-reported behavior: many buyers wait until just before the game. On Reddit, for example, Caps fans say prices often “plummet within a few hours of the game.”

2. Is $40–80 for upper-bowl (200-level or 400-level equivalent) realistic?

The Capital One Arena for hockey has a seating capacity of about 18,500–18,600, which gives a decent number of upper-bowl seats.
SeatGeek’s seating guide calls out *upper bowl (400-level)* as a “much more affordable seating” area.
Because of the resale market, it’s possible to find tickets in your budget on resellers like SeatGeek, Vivid, Gametime, etc., especially if you’re flexible about where exactly in the upper belt you sit.

3. Is 60 minutes before puck drop enough time?

Yes — arriving 60 minutes early is generally sufficient for most Capitals games, especially for upper-deck seating. You’ll have enough time for entry, walking to your seats, and a quick purchase of food or merch if needed.
On resale platforms, many last-minute sellers list tickets in the 90–30 minute window before the game. If you’re refreshing apps like Gametime or SeatGeek, you may indeed find deals around that time.
That said, don’t wait until *right before puck drop* (like less than 10 minutes) if you're very picky about section or price — fewer good deals and fewer available seats remain then.

4. Risks / trade-offs of waiting vs buying early:

Waiting till game day: Might get a great deal, but you risk having to settle for less-desirable seats or possible resale platform fees. Also, if demand is unexpectedly high, you could miss out.
Buying now (well in advance): You lock in a seat and price, giving you peace of mind. However, you might pay a premium for popular games or specific seat locations, and you lose the chance to “snag last-minute drops.”

My recommendation (based on your situation):

Start by watching resale platforms now to see what prices are like for the 2xx (200-level) or 400-level sections for that October 13 game. Set alerts for price drops.
Plan to check again on the day of the game, starting ~2–3 hours before puck drop, and be ready to pounce if someone lists tickets in your price range.
If you want more assurance, you might buy a pair a day or two before, especially if you’re okay with not being super close to the ice.

In summary: yes, getting $40–$80 upper-deck tickets is quite possible, especially on the resale market. Waiting until game day can pay off, but there is some risk. Arriving 60 minutes before puck drop is typically fine, as long as you’re ready to use resale apps actively. Good luck — hope you score great tickets and have an awesome time!