Photo: Scott Audette/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals could clinch their fourth consecutive Metropolitan Division championship for the fourth consecutive year when they visit the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center in Sunrise on Monday night.

The Capitals would become the third team to clinch their division after the Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic Division) and Calgary Flames (Pacific Division) if they do it.

They will clinch the Metropolitan Division with a win of any kind at the Panthers and if the New York Islanders lose in regulation to John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

The Capitals’ most likely first-round opponents should they win the Metropolitan Division include the Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, and Montreal Canadiens. As division winners, they will have home-ice advantage through the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

TONIGHT: The @Capitals can clinch the Metropolitan Division for a 4th consecutive season and the @MapleLeafs can qualify for the playoffs in three straight campaigns for the first time in 15 years (1998-99 to 2003-04). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/f0MNkXEyvo

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 1, 2019

By Harrison Brown