OTTAWA — The Washington Capitals clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday.

Mike Richards, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie scored for the Capitals (52-15-5), who also won the Metropolitan Division and ended a three-game losing streak on the road.

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 28 saves for his 44th win of the season. He needs four more victories to tie Martin Brodeur for the most wins in a season (48). Brodeur set the record with the New Jersey Devils in 2006-07.

The Capitals, coming off a 6-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, avoided losing back-to-back games in regulation for the first time this season.

Los Capital Washington aseguraron el primer lugar de la Conferencia del Este para los Playoffs de la Stanley Cup al vencer 4-2 a Ottawa Senator el martes en el Canadian Center…

Mike Richard, Alex Ovechkin, Niklas Backstrom y T.J. Oshie anotron para la victoria que deja los deja con marca de 52-15-5, terminando con racha de 3 derrotas consecutivas y asegurando ademas la division metropolitana…y llegando a 109 puntos con 20 aun por disputar.

El portero Braden Holtby logro 28 salvamentos para su victoria numero 44 de temporada, quedando a 4 triunfos para igualar con Martin Bordear con mas victorias en una temporada en 48. Brodeur logro esa marca con los New York Devils en el 2006-07.

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Por su parte Dallas Stars aseguraron su lugar en postemporada….Los lideres de la Division Central necesitaban dos puntos para asegurar su lugar en playoffs y los consiguieron con la victoria 6-2 el martes frente a Chicago Blackhawks en el United Center…

Dallas ahora con marca de 44-21-9, avanzan por primera vez a los playoffs de la NHL desde el 2013-14.

Dallas llegó a 97 puntos y tiene aun 16 por disputar.

 

CHICAGO — The Dallas Stars made sure their hope of qualifying for the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs didn’t go down to the wire.

The Central Division leaders needed two points Tuesday to clinch a postseason spot and didn’t waste any time securing it with a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.

Dallas (44-21-9) grabbed control with four first-period goals and didn’t let up, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14 by defeating the Blackhawks (42-25-7) for the fourth time this season.