The Washington Capitals have been eliminated from playoff contention after the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout. The Flyers secured third place in the Metropolitan Division and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Washington Capitals were officially eliminated from playoff contention. This is a result of Philadelphia beating Carolina in a shootout on Monday night.
Tyson Foerster scored the winning goal in the skills competition, while Dan Vladar stopped each shot in the crease. With two points, the Flyers reached 96 points and clinched third in the Metropolitan Division. They will face the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in a first-round series.
It’s an unfortunate end for the Capitals as they can only max out at 95 points. As a result, they will conclude the season on the road against Columbus on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets were also eliminated as a result of Philadelphia’s win.
This is the first time the Capitals have missed the playoffs under head coach Spencer Carbery. The last time Washington missed the postseason was the spring of 2023, prior to Carbery’s hire.
Despite the end result, the Capitals will finish with at least the seventh-most regulation wins in the NHL. They currently hold a plus-18 goal differential.
The Capitals’ final game on Tuesday could also be the last for legendary captain Alex Ovechkin. The 40-year-old is set to make a decision on his future this summer.
Related Headlines
The Capitals were eliminated after the Flyers won against the Hurricanes, allowing Philadelphia to secure enough points to surpass Washington's maximum possible total.
Tyson Foerster scored the winning goal for the Flyers in the shootout against the Hurricanes.
The Capitals will conclude their season with an away game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
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