Capitals 3, Maple Leafs 2 (SO)
Defenseman John Erskine tied the game in the second period and Mike Knuble scored the only goal of the shootout as the Washington Capitals clinched the Southeast Division with a 3-2 road triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
All-Star Alex Ovechkin recorded his 300th career goal and Michal Neuvirth made 19 saves for the Capitals, who moved two points ahead of Philadelphia for first place in the Eastern Conference. Washington has won 18 of its last 23 games overall and 10 of 12 on the road.
Nikolai Kulemin and Joffrey Lupul tallied, All-Star Phil Kessel extended his point streak to eight games with an assist and rookie James Reimer stopped 39 shots for Toronto. The Maple Leafs saw their three-game winning streak come to an end and officially were eliminated from the playoff race with Buffalo's victory over Tampa Bay earlier Tuesday.
Neither team was able to score over the first three rounds of the shootout and Lupul failed to convert on Toronto's fourth chance. Knuble then put a hard wrist shot past Reimer to give Washington the win.
Kulemin gave Toronto a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 5:37 of the first period, but Ovechkin forged a tie with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the session. During a two-man advantage, Washington's captain beat Reimer with a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle for his milestone goal.
Lupul scored 95 seconds into the second to put the Maple Leafs ahead. A fortunate bounce drew the Capitals even at 12:07 as Erskine's shot from the left point caromed off Toronto defenseman Luke Schenn and into the net.