Capitals clinch No. 1 seed in East

The road to the Stanley Cup Final in the Eastern Conference will go through the Verizon Center as long as the Washington Capitals can keep winning.

Despite a 5-3 loss to Calgary on Sunday afternoon, the Capitals clinched the No. 1 seed in the evening after New Jersey lost 5-1 in Philadelphia.

With a record of 49-15-11 and 109 points, Washington holds a five-point lead over San Jose in the race for the Presidents' Trophy, which would also ensure the Capitals home ice if they reached the Final.

The Caps will face the East's No. 8 seed in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- right now, the mostly likely candidates to become their opponent are Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston, Atlanta and the New York Rangers.

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