Capitals clinch top seed with win over Rangers
WASHINGTON -- Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and an assist, Braden Holtby made 24 saves and the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday night to clinch their second straight Presidents' Trophy.
The Capitals (54-18-8), winners of the Metropolitan Division, secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and will have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin assisted on Justin Williams' power-play goal that made it 1-0 in the second period. Then at 5:42 of the third, Kuznetsov took a pass from Marcus Johansson on a two-on-one and fired over Henrik Lundqvist's right pad for his 19th goal of the season.
Holtby earned his ninth shutout of the season.
Closing with a flourish, the Capitals are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.
After posting the best regular-season mark a year ago, Washington lost 4-2 to the eventual Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. The Penguins are a potential second-round foe again this season.
Lundqvist stopped 23 shots for the Rangers (47-27-6), who are assured the top Eastern Conference wild card and rested six players.
In a matchup of the league's best home team and best road squad, visiting New York outshot Washington 9-6 in a scoreless first period. Lundqvist preserved the tie when he stopped a wide-open T.J. Oshie from the slot with 2:50 left in the period.
Shortly after Holtby stopped New York's Kevin Hayes on a two-on-one rush at 12:15 of the second period, Brendan Smith of the Rangers was whistled for a holding the stick penalty.
With 20 seconds left on the power play, Ovechkin took a pass in the left circle from Kuznetsov. He waited momentarily and then wristed a shot that Williams deflected past Lundqvist on the far side at 14:49 of the period.
NOTES: Alex Ovechkin has 17 power-play goals. ... Washington D John Carlson (lower-body injury) missed his second straight game. ... The Rangers rested a half-dozen players dealing with "bumps and bruises," according to head coach Alain Vigneault. They included D Ryan McDonagh, C Mats Zuccarello, LW Rick Nash, RW Jesper Fast, D Nick Holden and D Brady Skjei. ... The Rangers had scored three or more goals in each of their last five games. ... The Capitals have earned a point in 16 of their last 18 games against Metropolitan Division teams (14-2-2).