Washington Capitals Clinch Presidents Trophy

The Washington Capitals clinched the President’s Trophy as top team in the National Hockey League on Monday night as the defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. 

The victory, the 54^th of the season for the Capitals matches their single season record for wins set six seasons ago in 2009-2010. By capturing the top spot in the NHL the Capitals will have home ice throughout the playoffs. 

Caps coach, Barry Trotz said, “There is not going to be any champagne party or anything like that. There is a sense of fulfillment that we said we were going to do some things and we accomplished them so far and we have still got things to accompliish. The season is not over because we wrapped this up.”

The Capitals had some individual milestones in the game as well. Tom Wilson broke a 1-1 tie in the final frame as he notched what proved to be his first game winning goal of his career. Nicklas Backstrom added the empty netter helping him reach the 20 goal mark for just the third time in his career. 

Goaltender Braden Holtby turned away 21 shots helping become just the fifth netminder in NHL history to win 46 games in one season. He needs two more victories to tie future Hall of Famer and former New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur’s league best 48 victories, set back in 2006-2007.

Trotz added, “What I liked about us is that we did not give them much. This could have been a team shutout I did not think Holts was worked too hard.” 

 

T.J. Oshie said, “I think all of the guys are proud of what we did, it is a big accomplishment. I think everyone is kind of more eager to pat each other on the back and move on and keep growing our game for the playoffs.”  

The Capitals will now look to become just the ninth President’s Trophy winner to hoist the Stanley Cup in the same season. The last team to accomplish that feat was the 2012-2013 Chicago Blackhawks and before that the 2007-2008 Detroit Red Wings. 

The six other teams to accomplish the feat include; the 1986-1987 Edmonton Oilers, 1988-1989 Calgary Flames, 1993-1994 New York Rangers, 1998-1999 Dallas Stars, 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche and the 2001-2002 Red Wings. 

In addition to the eight other President’s Trophy winners to hoist the Cup, three have fallen in the Stanley Cup Finals, six lost in the Conference Finals, six in the second round and six have failed to make it out of the opening round. 

This is the Capitals second time taking the top seed, the last time they accomplished the feat was in 2009-2010 when they finished the season with 121 points and a 54-15-13 record only to fall, in seven games, to the Montreal Canadiens during the Eastern Conference Finals.