How the Capitals Clinched the Final Wild-Card Spot over Red Wings, Penguins and Flyers

Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie celebrates his empty-net goal to take a 2-1 lead with teammates on Tuesday’s matchup. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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The Philadelphia Flyers played the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, while the Detroit Red Wings played the Montreal Canadiens. If the Red Wings or the Capitals got at least one point in their games, the Flyers would be eliminated from playoff contention.

That meant the Flyers could not go to overtime against the Capitals. They had to win in regulation to stay alive in the playoff race. And they were tied 1-1 with about 3:09 remaining in the third period.

Over in Montreal, the Red Wings needed a win to stay alive in the playoff race. An icing call led to an offensive zone faceoff with seven seconds left in the game in which Detroit was trailing 4-3.

With five seconds left in the game, David Perron wired a one-timer from afar on net with the season on the line. His shot beat Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau. Just like that, their playoff hopes were still alive, and they forced overtime.

That extra point eliminated the Flyers, but they didn’t know. They pulled the goalie.

Samuel Ersson skated to the bench for the extra attacker as the Flyers went all-in to win a game that, as of just seconds earlier, no longer mattered for their playoff hopes.

And seconds later, the Capitals cleared the puck out of their zone, and T.J. Oshie gained possession and scored the empty-netter from along the boards. Washington took a 2-1 lead.

Back in Montreal, the Red Wings continued to battle in overtime in hopes of getting an extra point and improving their playoff chances even more. But as time expired in Philadelphia, all hopes vanished.

The Capitals just needed to beat the Flyers in any fashion to clinch a playoff spot. With a go-ahead, game-winning goal, they captured the final spot available in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I had info on the Detroit game right after they scored their empty-netter,” Tortorella told reporters post-game. “I think it happened pretty close together. But I’m pulling (Ersson), and that was the right time to pull him. Didn’t know anything was going on with Detroit at that time, but immediately after that, our very guys told us that Detroit just went to overtime.”

Detroit ended up beating the Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout to cap off back-to-back miraculous comeback wins. Their season is now over, and their playoff drought is now eight seasons long.

In the process, Oshie’s empty-net goal sealed the fate of another team making an improbable comeback in hopes of making the post-season.

The idle Pittsburgh Penguins needed the Capitals and Red Wings to lose for Wednesday’s game against the New York Islanders to be a do-or-die affair. That will no longer happen. They’re now eliminated from playoff contention as well for the second year in a row. In their case, even if the Flyers hadn’t allowed the empty-net goal and ended up winning, Detroit’s win would’ve eliminated them instead.

After missing last year, Washington returns to the post-season, clinching the second wild-card spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference with a 40-31-11 record for 91 points. They also qualified with the worst goal differential (minus-37) since the 1990-91 Vancouver Canucks (minus-72). Detroit’s win brought them up to 91 points as well, but despite having one more win total than Washington, the Capitals hold the tiebreaker for having more regulation wins.

The Capitals will face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the first round. They split their season series 2-2.

The Red Wings, Penguins, and Flyers were in it close to the very end. But as the Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Saturday, their off-seasons will be just beginning.