Nicklas Backstrom started a three-goal second period, Braden Holtby made 34 saves, and the surging Capitals beat the host Blues, 4-2, on Monday night.

Alex Ovechkin got his league-leading 46th goal, and Alex Chiasson and Andre Burakovsky also scored to help the Capitals get their seventh win in eight games, and 11th in the past 13. Washington secured its third straight Metropolitan Division title one day earlier with a win at Pittsburgh.

Holtby won for the fourth time in his last five starts, and improved to 7-0-0 in seven career starts against St. Louis.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues, who lost their second straight. St. Louis began the day one point behind Colorado for the second and final wild card in the Western Conference.

Jake Allen finished with 30 saves.

Backstrom, Chiasson and Burakovsky scored in the first 7:54 of the second period to give the Capitals a 3-1 lead.

Canucks Fs Henrik and Daniel Sedinsaid they will retire at the end of the season. ... Blues F Scottie Upshall is out indefinitely with a lacerated left kidney suffered Saturday in a 6-0 loss to the Coyotes. ... The Devils signed F Marian Studenic, 19, to a three-year, entry-level contract. ... Wild D Ryan Suter has a broken right ankle that will require surgery, putting his availability for the playoffs in doubt. News services