Ovechkin locks up scoring title, Capitals beat Devils
WASHINGTON » Alex Ovechkin scored twice to make it an NHL-leading 49 goals as the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Saturday night in each team’s regular-season finale.
Serenaded by chants of “We want 50,” Ovechkin wrapped up his seventh Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal-scorer and came one short of his eighth 50-goal season. Ovechkin scored for the third consecutive game and is the oldest player to lead the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito in 1974-75.
By beating the Devils in regulation, the Metropolitan Division-champion Capitals ensured they wouldn’t face them in the first round of the playoffs. Playing without MVP front-runner Taylor Hall, New Jersey fell to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and will open on the road against the Atlantic Division winner — either Boston or Tampa Bay. JETS 4, BLACKHAWKS 1 » Andrew Copp scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck set an NHL record for most wins in a season by an American goaltender and Winnipeg beat Chicago.
Jets and Blackhawks players wore the word “BRONCOS” on the back of their game jerseys in place of their own names to honor the victims and survivors of the fatal bus accident Friday involving Saskatchewan’s Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team. ISLANDERS 4, RED WINGS 3» John Tavares scored 3:16 into overtime as New York rallied for a victory over Detroit. PANTHERS 4, SABRES 3. » Florida was eliminated from playoff contention, even after Vincent Trocheck scored late in the third period to help hold off Buffalo.
The Panthers’ slim playoff hopes ended when the Flyers beat the Rangers 5-0 earlier in the day. HURRICANES 3, LIGHTNING 2 » Elias Lindholm scored 49 seconds into overtime, and Carolina prevented Tampa Bay from clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference by beating the Lightning. BRUINS 5, SENATORS 2» David Pastrnak and Tommy Wingels scored 51 seconds apart in the second period, and Boston beat Ottawa, preserving the Bruins’ chances for the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Anton Khudobin stopped 26 shots for the Bruins, who host Florida on Sunday night in a game postponed by a winter storm Jan. 4. Boston trails Tampa Bay, which lost in overtime at Carolina, by one point. MAPLE LEAFS 4, CANADIENS 2» Zach Hyman scored the winner early in the third period, Frederik Andersen made 31 saves to set a franchise mark with his 38th win of the season, and Toronto closed out its schedule with a victory over Montreal.
Auston Matthews scored his 34th goal to match his jersey number and added an assist for Toronto (49-26-7), which also set a club record for points in a season with 105.