The Capitals hosted the defending champion Florida Panthers in a battle of two of the top teams in the East. Up by one late in regulation, Washington added two empty-net goals for the 6-3 victory.
The Caps struck first in the opening period when Andrew Mangiapane ripped the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky for his 11th goal of the season.
Then with the score tied at 1-1 in the middle frame, Washington was on the penalty kill but Tom Wilson scored on a 2-on-1 with Aliaksei Protas to make it 2-1.