Overview

• The Washington Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in a shootout, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
• Alex Ovechkin, honored in a pregame ceremony for breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goal-scoring record, is now five goals away from reaching 900 career goals.
• Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the shootout winner after Washington rallied from a 2-0 deficit and overcame a late Carolina comeback to force overtime.
• The Capitals celebrated Ovechkin's historic achievement with a home crowd, presenting him with gifts including an engraved gold stick and a commemorative sculpture.
• Carolina, locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division, suffered its fourth consecutive loss but clinched home-ice advantage for the first playoff round.