Caps top Penguins to clinch division crown

The Washington Capitals still run the Metropolitan Division. During the regular season anyway.

Philipp Grubauer made 36 saves and Washington celebrated star Alex Ovechkin’s 1,000th career regular season game by clinching their third straight division title with a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.

Ovechkin was held without a point but it hardly mattered. T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov and Tom Wilson scored for Washington while Grubauer kept the NHL’s best power play in check as the Capitals assured themselves homeice advantage through the first two rounds of the postseason.

DUCKS 4, AVALANCHE 3 >> Ondrej Kase scored at the 1:34 mark of overtime as Anaheim rallied to beat Colorado. Adam Henrique and Ryan Kesler scored in the third period to tie the game for the Ducks, who trailed 3-1 after two periods.

PREDATORS 4, LIGHTNING 1 >> Filip Forsberg had two goals and an assist to lead Nashville, which moved closer to clinching the Presidents’ Trophy with the league’s best record. Tampa Bay played the final two periods without Steven Stamkos, who left the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury. FLYERS 4, BRUINS 3 >> Claude Giroux scored his second goal with 1:21 left in overtime and Philadelphia beat Boston. Travis Konecny added a dazzling goal and an assist, Nolan Patrick also scored and Petr Mrazek made 36 saves for the Flyers.

DEVILS 2, CANADIENS >> Taylor Hall scored a shorthanded goal late in the third period to lift New Jersey over Montreal. Nico Hischier tied the score early in the third and Keith Kinkaid stopped 25 shots in his sixth consecutive start.

ANTIPIN SUFFERS CONCUSSION>> The Buffalo Sabres say Victor Antipin suffered a concussion and a broken nose when he was boarded in Saturday’s game against Nashville. According to the Sabres, Antipin also suffered cuts to his face and dental injuries when he was hit by Predators forward Scott Hartnell. Antipin was taken off the ice on a stretcher.