The Washington Capitals may still have over three weeks remaining in the regular season, but their playoff picture continues to become clearer as each day passes.
Less than a week after clinching a playoff spot, the Capitals are now guaranteed to have home ice in the first round of the postseason. The Caps received the competitive advantage thanks to the New Jersey Devils’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
The Devils, who are the third-best team in the Metropolitan Division, can no longer catch the Capitals as they have 81 standings points with 10 games remaining in their season. Even if New Jersey wins out (20 points) and the Capitals lose the rest of their remaining games (0 points), the Devils can no longer catch the Caps (102 points) in the standings, meaning Washington cannot finish below second in the Metropolitan Division — thus clinching home ice in Round 1.
The Capitals will play Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at Capital One Arena against an opponent yet to be determined. If the playoffs started today, the Capitals — the first seed in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings — would play the second wild-card team, the Montreal Canadiens.
The eighth-seeded Habs have 75 standings points with 13 games remaining in their schedule, one point ahead of the New York Islanders and New York Rangers. The Capitals are 2-0-1 against Montreal this season, outscoring them 12 to 8.
