In a head-to-head showdown with the Washington Capitals, the New York Islanders clinched the Patrick Division championship with a 3-1 victory Saturday night in Landover, Md.

“We were laughing before the game about all the games we wasted, where we should have won and didn't. We didn't want that to happen tonight,” Islander forward Mike Bossy said with a smile. “It's especially nice to have won the game tonight, but it would have been nice to clinch it anytime.”

Bossy scored twice for the Islanders, getting the game-winner with his 50th goal of the season and adding an empty net goal in the closing minutes. The seven-year veteran has reached the 50-goal mark each season since joining the Islanders in 1977.

The Islanders and Capitals battled through two scoreless periods before Brent Sutter put the Islanders in front at 1:33 of the final period. Bossy scored his 50th on a 30-footer past goalie Pat Riggin at 6:58.