It feels like the Capitals clinched the Southeast Division title weeks ago. But with just six games left in the regular season there is still a little work to do before another banner is added to the collection at Verizon Center.
The red-hot Carolina Hurricanes (42-28-7, 91 points) are just close enough to make things interesting for Washington (46-23-7, 99 points). Because the Hurricanes earned seven standings points in six games against the Caps this season, they would actually win a tiebreaker for the division title.
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Of course, for that scenario to happen the Caps would have to finish 1-5 over the final two weeks and Carolina would need to win all five of its remaining games — unlikely at best. The two teams do not play each other again, but the Hurricanes do have four of those games at RBC Center in Raleigh.
“We obviously want to be the best,” said Caps defenseman Mike Green. “As long as we play the way we can — like [Friday night against Tampa Bay] — then we’ll usually win games.”
Even this late in the regular season, teams throughout the NHL are still jockeying for Stanley Cup playoff position. The Caps need just three points — a win and an overtime/shootout loss — to clinch a second consecutive Southeast Division title. A victory Wednesday night vs. the New York Islanders — the Eastern Conference’s worst team — and a Carolina loss the next day against the New York Rangers also would work.
Washington enters the week in second place in the Eastern Conference. But the third-place New Jersey Devils (47-24-4, 98 points) have one extra game left and could jump the Caps with a win Monday night at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers.
And while a playoff spot has been officially secured, Washington has no clue who it will face in the first round. Prior to Sunday night’s games, only six points separated fourth-place Philadelphia (41-23-10, 92 points) and eighth-place Montreal (38-27-10, 86 points) with both Florida (37-28-11, 85 points) and Buffalo (37-30-8, 82 points) trying to force their way into the mix. The Caps could end up playing any of them.
“We have six games left,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said
after Friday’s 5-3 win over Tampa. “And I think they finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
