NHL roundup: Caps keep playoff hopes alive as Habs eliminate Islanders on the road

[p]In what was potentially the final regular season game between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ovechkin-alexander/6s0ms3DP/"]Alex Ovechkin[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crosby-sidney/UTbIZpKC/"]Sidney Crosby[/a], the former and his [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/washington-capitals/UND9nmoG/"]Capitals[/a] team [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/pittsburgh-penguins-AkN0nWU6/washington-capitals-UND9nmoG/?mid=t6fSZ8PP"]came out on top 3-0[/a] to keep their playoff hopes alive.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-riemsdyk-trevor/vR4Sx062/"]Trevor Van Riemsdyk[/a] scored midway through the second to put the hosts in front. Although they were outshot in the match 49-43, Washington were able to keep the Penguins out.[/p][embed guid="70ed3aee-8def-4cbf-976b-ea4e78a99305" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2043444720299368828?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The third period saw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcmichael-connor/YcwpcLnO/"]Connor McMichael[/a] net twice, the second on an empty net, to help his team see off the Pens. The Caps' third straight win puts them a point behind the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-flyers/QySGG7oT/"]Philadelphia Flyers[/a] for the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. As for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-penguins/AkN0nWU6/"]Pittsburgh[/a], they were passed by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-bruins/jeans23J/"]Boston Bruins[/a], who beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/columbus-blue-jackets/0vCzmbQ5/"]Columbus Blue Jackets[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/boston-bruins-jeans23J/columbus-blue-jackets-0vCzmbQ5/?mid=ClobUnmm"]3-2 later in the day[/a].[/p][p]For the Capitals to make the playoffs, they will have to beat the Blue Jackets in a direct duel, and then hope for the Flyers to collect no more than one point from their final two games. [/p][p]Elsewhere, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montreal-canadiens/nu2G7VWc/"]Montreal Canadiens[/a] ended the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-islanders/xESz5TGG/"]New Jersey Islanders[/a]' playoff hopes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/montreal-canadiens-nu2G7VWc/new-york-islanders-xESz5TGG/?mid=nBg989Kj"]with a 4-1 victory[/a] on the road. The second period did the damage for the home team, who conceded thrice in 55 seconds. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-nick/AwFYM8lT/"]Nick Suzuki[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/demidov-ivan/pdts9jU5/"]Ivan Demidov[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/newhook-alex/AJWeyyJ2/"]Alex Newhook[/a] were the scorers in what proved to be a vital middle frame.[/p][embed guid="2ea3d0c3-61dc-455a-8a44-c89b0bd7e0b6" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2043475527978143912?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cizikas-casey/ljXNi0pp/"]Casey Cizikas[/a] got a goal back to give the Islanders a chance at a comeback, but hopes were extinguished when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bolduc-zachary/Y5g6sTSL/"]Zachary Bolduc[/a] scored Montreal's fourth to ice the game.[/p][p]The loss was New York's fifth in their last sixth, with their poor form costing them a place in the postseason The Habs, meanwhile, have now won three of their last four as they prepare for the playoffs in the East.[/p][p]At the Prudential Center, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hischier-nico/SSCy494Q/"]Nico Hischier[/a] netted two goals and an assist, including the game winner, as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-jersey-devils/Kh0O591A/"]New Jersey Devils[/a] edged the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ottawa-senators/noTCHmWM/"]Ottawa Senators[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/new-jersey-devils-Kh0O591A/ottawa-senators-noTCHmWM/?mid=v5teWCCc"]4-3 in overtime[/a]. It went the distance in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/anaheim-ducks/4CM4ojpD/"]Anaheim[/a], as the Ducks [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/anaheim-ducks-4CM4ojpD/vancouver-canucks-YiOrnTV9/?mid=pIBeUjsA"]fell 4-3[/a] to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vancouver-canucks/YiOrnTV9/"]Vancouver Canucks[/a] in a shootout.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/calgary-flames/EZekktRt/"]Calgary Flames[/a] completed the day [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/calgary-flames-EZekktRt/utah-mammoth-hnwxhtVp/?mid=hrF3SUBM"]with a 4-1 defeat[/a] of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/utah-mammoth/hnwxhtVp/"]Utah Mammoth[/a], scoring twice in both the first and third periods to prevail.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/nhl/"]Follow the NHL action on Flashscore as the regular seasons nears its end.[/a][/b][/p]