The Washington Capitals can clinch their second straight Presidents’ Trophy tonight, but they’ll need to get some help to do it.
There are two ways the Caps can lock down the NHL’s best record (and home-ice advantage through the playoffs):
1. Defeat the Maple Leafs in regulation or overtime, AND the Blue Jackets defeat the Penguins in any fashion.
2. Defeat the Maple Leafs in a shootout, AND the Blue Jackets defeat the Penguins in a shootout.
The Caps have won the Presidents’ Trophy twice in franchise history, in 2009-10 and 2015-16. The first time, they were upset by the Canadiens in the first round. The second, they lost to Pittsburgh in the second round.
