Capitals win Southwest as NHL playoff qualifiers settled

The Washington Capitals clinched the Southeast Division title with a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, as all the playoff qualifiers were settled on the penultimate day of the NHL season.

The win was the Capitals' seventh straight, the franchise's longest in 15 years and a streak that tipped Carolina out of the playoff spots.

The Capitals finished last in the Southeast each of the past three season and were still there as late as Dec. 30.

They became the first NHL team to make the playoffs after sitting at 14th or 15th in the conference at the halfway mark.

Blues 3, Blue Jackets 0

In St. Louis, Keith Tkachuk …