WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- Nicklas Backstrom scored the go-ahead goal Tuesday, helping the Washington Capitals claim their fifth division title in six years with a 5-3 win over Winnipeg.
Backstrom second-period tally broke a 2-2 tie and put the Capitals on the path to the victory, which clinched the Southeast Division crown over the second-place Jets.
Backstrom, Mathieu Perreault, Alex Ovechkin and Jason Chimera each finished with a goal and an assist as the surging Capitals notched their 10th win in 11 April games.
The win also locked up the third Eastern Conference seed for Washington.
Braden Holtby turned aside 24 shots in the triumph.
Nik Antropov, Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler each tallied and Ondrej Pavelec allowed four goals on 40 shots for the Jets, whose playoff hopes were dealt a blow.
At 51 points with one game to play, ninth-seeded Winnipeg remained one point behind the New York Rangers and Ottawa. The Rangers have two games left while the Senators have three contests remaining on their schedule.
