Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-3 Wednesday night at Capital One Arena in the District. The loss drops the Capitals record to 33-26-9 (75 points) on the season.
Auston Matthews gave the Maple Leafs the game’s first lead just 16 seconds into the contest and a 1-o led at the first intermission. William Nylander made it 2-0 just 56 seconds into the middle frame.
The Capitals recorded their first tally of the night on an Alex Ovechkin power play goal from the office midway through the middle frame, but the Maple Leafs answered minutes later on Auston Matthews second goal of the night.
The Capitals struck back with a tally from Connor McMichael moments later, to make it 3-2, but the Leafs restored their two-goal lead with less than a minute to play in the frame for a 4-2 lead at the second intermission.
The Capitals closed the gap to 4-3 on Alex Ovechkin’s second goal of the game early in the final period but the Leafs once again quickly answered to make it 5-3 and stretched their lead to 6-3 midway through the final frame. They would also add a power play goal late to make it 7-3.
LINEUP
Charlie Lindgren (18-11-5, 2.59 GAA, .915 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals. Joseph Woll (1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .973 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Maple Leafs. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin — Connor McMichael — Mike Sgarbossa
Ivan Miroshnichenko — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty — Hendrix Lapierre — Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube Kubel
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Scratches: T.J. Oshie (upper-body injury, day-to-day), Aliaksei Protas (lower-body injury, day-to-day), D Ethan Bear, Center Nicklas Backstrom (hip injury).
1ST PERIOD
The Maple Leafs wasted no time in notching the game’s first tally, denting the twine just 16 seconds into the contest with a goal from Auston Matthews (56).
16 SECONDS IN!! pic.twitter.com/qbAom6loUf
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 20, 2024
And that was it for the first period. Other than goal allowed, it was a good period for the Capitals. They led in five-on-five shot attempts, 25-18 and high-danger chances, 6-1.
2ND PERIOD
The Leafs made it 2-0 just 56 seconds into the middle frame on William Nylander’s 38th goal of the season.
William Nylander roofs it to extend Toronto’s lead! 🏠 pic.twitter.com/K54IFkk6tW
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 21, 2024
The Capitals cut the Leafs lead in half with a power play goal from Alex Ovechkin (22) at 9:57 off the middle frame. John Carlson (36) and Tom Wilson (15) had the helpers.
8️⃣4️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/37piA9XGKL
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2024
Unfortunately the Leafs answered on Auston Matthews second goal of the night at 12:59 of the second period.
PAPI DOUBLE DIPS!! pic.twitter.com/iW5aK95cg0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 21, 2024
But the Capitals had an answer themselves, as Connor McMichael notched his 15th of the season at 13:34 of the second period.
Mikey said, watch your back! pic.twitter.com/mThvecI4W3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 21, 2024
The Leafs made it 4-2 with less than a minute to go in the period. Jake McCabe scored his 7th goal of the season at 19:35.
JAKE MCCABE 🚨
off the body! pic.twitter.com/KefGQNELNQ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 21, 2024
The second period concluded with the Leafs leading, 4-2. The Leafs led in five-on-five shot attempts, 24-22 in the second period.
3RD PERIOD
The Capitals closed the gap to 4-3 on Alex Ovechkin’s second goal of the game at 6:42 of the final frame. Dylan Strome (31) had the lone assist.
That was the most important goal of Ovechkin’s career because if he didn’t score Dylan Strome would have been launched into orbit pic.twitter.com/ece23QGSwd
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 21, 2024
But the Leafs quickly restored their two-goal lead moments later on Bobby McMann’s 11th goal of the season and added a tally from Tyler Bertuzzi moments later to make it 6-3.
The Leafs added a power play goal from John Tavares to make it 7-3 after Tom Wilson was tagged with a double-minor for high-sticking.
oh wow
high-sticking penalty on Wilson pic.twitter.com/0S33kjv6LX
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 21, 2024
That would be the final.
By Jon Sorensen