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Capitals eye division title against Maple Leafs

Apr 5, 2011 - 3:21 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals will try to clinch their fourth straight division title when they visit the desperate Toronto Maple Leafs for tonight's battle at Air Canada Centre.

The Capitals have already secured a playoff spot and are tied with Philadelphia for the East's top seed. Washington can add another division crown to that list if it wins tonight, or if Tampa Bay, which is trailing the Caps by four points with three games to play, loses in regulation this evening in Buffalo.

The Caps can also win the division if they get one point tonight and Tampa Bay is dealt a loss of any kind by the Sabres.

Washington will also be keeping its eye on the Flyers' game tonight, as Philadelphia is playing in Ottawa. The Flyers also have three games left in the regular season.

Toronto, meanwhile, is still fighting for its playoff lives, but the Maple Leafs are almost out of time in their quest for a postseason berth. Ron Wilson's club is seeded 10th in the East and is six points behind Buffalo for the conference's final playoff berth.

The Maple Leafs are not going to miss out on the playoffs for a lack of effort down the stretch, however, as the club has won three straight, six of seven and eight of their last 11 games.

Toronto's most recent victory came Saturday in Ottawa, as Tyler Bozak and Nikolai Kulemin each tallied third-period goals to lift the Leafs to a 4-2 decision over the rival Senators.

Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel also tallied for the Leafs, while James Reimer made 23 saves in the win.

With a 20-8-4 record as a rookie, Reimer is possibly the biggest reason Toronto is still alive at all in the playoff race. He is expected to start tonight's game and has never faced the Capitals.

Washington is coming off an overtime victory in Saturday's home tilt against the Sabres. Alex Ovechkin scored with 1:41 left in OT to give the Capitals a 5-4 decision over Buffalo.

In the extra session, Ovechkin skated the puck from the deep left boards into the left circle and attempted a pass to the right side, but it deflected off of two Buffalo players and slid past Jhonas Enroth for the win.

"Tonight we had a lot to learn about playing away from the puck," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau. "We weren't that good at it and we need to do better. That being said we did win and you have to fight no matter what in this league."

Mike Knuble scored twice, Nicklas Backstrom had three assists and Ovechkin finished the game with a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who have won three of four. Michal Neuvirth stopped 34 shots in the victory.

After tonight, the Caps will close the regular season with a pair of tests against Florida. Washington, which is 22-14-3 on the road this year, will host the Panthers tomorrow before visiting Florida on Saturday.

Washington has taken two of three from the Maple Leafs this year, but Toronto has won five of nine overall in the series. The Caps had lost three straight at the Air Canada Centre before posting a 4-1 victory in Toronto on Jan 2. Ovechkin had a hat trick in that game and has 22 goals in 22 career games against the Maple Leafs.