NHL-best Capitals beat the defending champion Panthers 6-3 for his or her 4th consecutive win

Wilson arrange Connor McMichael’s opening aim within the first interval earlier than scoring his personal 7 seconds after the following intermission. Dylan Strome scoring 52 seconds later made it eight objectives mixed between the groups within the first 21 minutes of a high-event sport largely missing in protection.

Anthony Beauvillier, John Carlson and Andrew Mangiapane additionally scored for the Capitals, who had been the primary staff within the league to clinch a playoff spot and have received 9 of their final 10. Logan Thompson made 33 saves to enhance to 31-4-5 in his first season with Washington.

Ovechkin had 5 pictures on internet however remained at 888 profession objectives, seven again of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s report.

Sam Bennett, Seth Jones and Jonah Gadjovich scored for the short-handed Panthers, who’re with out injured winger Matthew Tkachuk and suspended defenseman Aaron Ekblad and are awaiting commerce deadline acquisition Brad Marchand to debut. Vitek Vanecek allowed six objectives on 31 pictures. Takeaways

Panthers: They missed a chance to separate themselves from Toronto within the Atlantic Division. Whoever finishes second has to face Tampa Bay within the first spherical.

Capitals: With a giant lead atop the Japanese Convention, they confirmed they’ll win whereas fiddling round with some issues earlier than the playoffs. Key second

Wilson and Strome scoring within the first minute of the second shifted the beforehand back-and-forth sport within the Caps’ favor. Key stat

Ovechkin has seven assists in six video games. Up subsequent

The Panthers host Pittsburgh on Sunday, whereas the Capitals go to West-leading Winnipeg on Tuesday night time in a matchup of the highest two groups within the league.

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