Alex Ovechkin scored the winning goal at 1:38 of overtime and Braden Holtby made 25 saves to help the Capitals become the first team to clinch a berth in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This is the Capitals 26th postseason appearance in franchise history and eighth in the past nine seasons.

MILESTONES & MUSINGS

• Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-1—1) collected his 1,326th career point (374-952—1,326) to tie Gilbert Perreault (512-814—1,326) for 32nd place in NHL history. Thornton has registered at least one point in 35 of his past 40 games dating to Dec. 15 (12-39—51).
• Kings forward Vincent Lecavalier (0-1—1) became the 11th active player to appear in 1,200 NHL games.
• Penguins forward Chris Kunitz (1-0—1) played in his 800th NHL game, while Kings forward Kyle Clifford (0-1—1) skated in his 400th NHL game.
• Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts he faced to guide the Penguins to their third straight victory.
• Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha, the 20th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, and Hurricanes defenseman Trevor Carrick, a fourth-round selection (115th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, both made their League debuts.
• Lindy Ruff (DAL) coached his 1,400th career game to tie Pat Quinn for sixth place in NHL history.
• Sharks goaltender James Reimer (21 SV) earned the victory while celebrating his 28th birthday

TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
PITTSBURGH 2, NY Islanders 1 (SO)
WASHINGTON 2, Carolina 1 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA 4, Detroit 3
TORONTO 4, Tampa Bay 1
Florida 4, MONTREAL 1
OTTAWA 3, Minnesota 2 (OT)
Los Angeles 5, DALLAS 2
SAN JOSE 3, Boston 2

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Montreal @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Philadelphia @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m.
St. Louis @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
Colorado @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10:00 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.