WASHINGTON (AP) — Fourth-liner Tom Wilson atoned for two penalties by scoring the winning goal early in the third period as the Washington Capitals clinched the Presidents’ Trophy by beating the Blue Jackets 4-1 Monday night.
The Capitals needed only a point to clinch the NHL’s best record this season and wrapped up home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs with seven games left. Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie also scored and Nicklas Backstrom added an empty-netter for Washington, which has an NHL-leading 113 points.
Goaltender Braden Holtby made 21 saves to earn his 46th win, two shy of Martin Brodeur’s single-season record.
Cam Atkinson scored for the Blue Jackets, who lost for the ninth time in their past 13 games. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 35 of the 38 shots he faced.