Capitals move within a win of grabbing a playoff spot
John Carlson scored another big goal, Charlie Lindgren stopped all 16 shots he faced and the Washington Capitals moved another step closer to the playoffs by beating the Boston Bruins 2-0 on Monday night.
Nic Dowd sealed it with an empty-netter with 11.7 seconds left, and now a win at Philadelphia tonight would put Washington back in the playoffs, regardless of other results around the NHL. The Capitals, if they make it, would be the second wild card in the Eastern Conference after the New York Islanders clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Boston also still has something to play for in its regular-season finale tonight at home against Ottawa: the Atlantic Division title, with Florida just one point back in the standings. The Bruins could have wrapped it up by beating the Caps, but couldn't match the urgency of an opponent fighting for its playoff life.
OILERS 9, SHARKS 1 » Connor McDavid achieved something only three other people in the NHL have ever done.
The Edmonton Oilers captain, who missed his team's last three games with an undisclosed injury, recorded his 100th assist of the season in a blowout victory over visiting San Jose.
Wayne Gretzky did it 11 times, while Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux each got there once.
McDavid hit the milestone with 4:25 left in the second period against the Sharks. The captain outwaited a sprawling Sharks defender before softly passing the puck to forward Zach Hyman, who buried his 54th goal of the season to make it 9-1 for Edmonton.
McDavid scored his 32nd goal of the season 53 seconds into the first period.
RANGERS 4, SENATORS 0 » Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and New York beat visiting Ottawa to clinch the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record. Jack Roslovic, Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere also scored and Chris Kreider had two assists as the Rangers won their leaguebest 55th game and finished with 114 points — both franchise records — and will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
New York won for the fifth time in seven games and went 26-7-1 in their last 34 games. They previously won the Presidents' Trophy in 1991-92, 1993-94 — when they won the Stanley Cup for only time since 1940 — and 2014-15.
ISLANDERS 4, DEVILS 1 » Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist and the Patrick Royled Islanders clinched one of the two remaining playoff berths in the Eastern Conference with a victory at New Jersey. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle MacLean also scored as the Islanders secured third place in the Metropolitan Division and earned their fifth postseason berth in the six seasons.
RED WINGS 5, CANADIENS 4, OT » Lucas Raymond scored 4:35 into overtime after he tallied a game-tying goal with 1:17 left in regulation, lifting Detroit to a comeback win over visiting Montreal. The Red Wings will make the playoffs if they win at Montreal and Washington loses at Philadelphia tonight.
PENGUINS 4, PREDATORS 2 » Sidney Crosby scored his 42nd goal and added an assist as Pittsburgh preserved its playoff hopes with a win over visiting Nashville. Pittsburgh remains one point behind Washington and Detroit for the Eastern Conference's second wild card.
SABRES 4, LIGHTNING 2 » Dylan Cozens scored twice and Buffalo concluded another disappointing season with a win at playoff-bound Tampa Bay.