Capitals win Metropolitan Division, beat Canadiens 2-1

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

Shea Weber scored for Montreal, which saw its playoff hopes dwindle with a game to go. Despite beating other division leaders in their last two games, the Canadiens entered Thursday even behind Columbus for the second and final wild card due to the regulation/overtime wins tiebreaker.

103 strays since Jan.

LLRIB responds after dangerous dog pack draws concerns in communities

9h ago

public safety

'We have sympathy for this individual': North Battleford church responds after bear spray incident

11h ago

carbon monoxide awareness

'Henry's Law': Saskatchewan strengthens carbon monoxide monitoring after boy's death

13h ago

Even on points, the Blue Jackets now have a game in hand, while the Carolina Hurricanes clinched at least the top wild card with their win over New Jersey.

Carey Price made 29 stops in the loss.

The Capitals’ two goals resulted directly from turnovers by the Canadiens.

Eller opened the scoring late in the first from from directly in front of net, after Carl Hagelin won the puck deep off a Canadiens player behind the goal line and fed Brett Connolly, who provided the final pass.

Weber tied it on the power play less than a minute later, but the Dowd put the Caps in front again less than three minutes after the first intermission, this time after Andre Burakovsky forced a turnover.

NOTES: The Capitals have won four consecutive division championships once before in franchise history, capturing the Southeast Division crown between the 2007-08 and 2010-11 seasons. . Weber is now one goal shy of his 100th on the power play in his career. . Washington avoided its first consecutive losses in regulation since dropping four in a row in January. . Montreal’s Phillip Danault picked up his 41st assist, moving within two of Max Domi for the team lead.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Host Toronto on Saturday.

Capitals: Host the New York Islanders on Saturday.

___

More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

Ian Quillen, The Associated Press