CAPITALS 4, PANTHERS 2: Brooks Laich recorded a goal and an assist and Washington handed Florida its fifth straight loss as both teams clinched playoff spots.

Both clubs advanced to the postseason by virtue of Buffalo's regulation loss in Philadelphia.

Jay Beagle, Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin also scored for the Capitals, who are within two points of the Panthers for the Southeast Division title with one game remaining. Washington has captured the division crown each of the last four seasons.

Michal Neuvirth stopped all 13 shots he faced before leaving 5 1/2 minutes into the second period with a leg injury after Florida's Marco Sturm fell on him.

Beagle opened the scoring less than six minutes into the game with his second goal in three contests. Troy Brouwer's shot from the top of the slot was knocked down in front, allowing Beagle to fire the puck past Jose Theodore from the bottom of the slot.

Ovechkin doubled the lead at 7:49 of the second and Laich made it 3-0 exactly two minutes later, ending his nine-game drought and briefly chasing Theodore.

Mikael Samuelsson began Florida's comeback attempt late in the period and defenseman Ed Jovanovski beat Braden Holtby from the top of the slot 42 seconds into the third to cut the deficit to one goal. But Semin sealed the win for the Capitals with 62 seconds remaining.

Theodore made 19 saves for the Panthers, who qualified for the postseason for the first time since 1999-2000.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ovechkin's tally ended a four-game drought that followed a five-game goal-scoring streak. ... The Panthers have lost five straight visits to Washington. ... The Capitals finished with a 26-11-4 home record while Florida went 17-17-7 on the road.