In a thrilling matchup, Tom Wilson netted his 33rd goal of the season, helping the Washington Capitals clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals fought back from a 2-0 deficit and briefly held a 4-2 lead before conceding two late goals in the third period. Pierre-Luc Dubois clinched the shootout victory while Charlie Lindgren made key saves, including a perfect shootout performance. Alex Ovechkin, who recently celebrated breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record, contributed with an assist, marking his 26th assist of the season.

The Hurricanes continue to struggle, losing their fourth straight game. Coach Rod Brind'Amour may need to evaluate his goaltending situation with Frederik Andersen showing inconsistencies as the playoffs approach. With the Capitals hitting their stride, they aim to build on this momentum heading into the postseason.