Caps win, Southeast Division Champs!!!
Both the Capitals and Maple Leafs had a lot riding on tonight's show down. The Leafs are hanging around in the 10th playoff spot in a desperate situation, needing to win out their last three, but yet still needing help beyond that. The Capitals are in a completely different situation, tied for first in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, 103-103. The Caps have three games left, the Flyers also have three games left. You get no more meaningful than that.
The Caps and Leafs skated to a 1-1 draw in the first period. Nikolai Kulemin scored the game's first tally at the 5:37 mark to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead. Despite being booed whenever touch the puck, a typical road game for Alex Ovechkin, he even the marked at the 11:27 mark with a booming shot from the point on the power pay to tie the game at 1-1. The Ovechkin goal was assisted by Brooks Laich and Marco Sturm. That's where the first period ended.
The Caps and Leafs would trade markers in the second period as well. Joffrey Lupul gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead. The Lupol goal came just 1:37 into the period. John Erskine struck for Washington to even the score at 2-2. Erskine's tally was assisted by Matt Hendricks and Matt Bradley. The Erskine shot was a bomb from Erskine that was meant to go to the side of the net off the boards, but bounced off Maple Leaf defenseman Brayden Schenn to deflect past Toronto goalie James Reimer.
The Caps and Leafs went deep into the third period carrying a 2-2 tie. Despite some pretty on tense offensive spurt for both the Caps and Leafs, the third period ended at the 2-2 mark, forcing overtime. Overtime was no different. The Caps and Leafs skated to a scoreless draw that took the game to the shootout for decision.
Shootout:
Mikhail Grabvoski, no goal
Nicklas Backstrom, no goal
Nazem Kadri, no goal
Matt Hendricks, no goal
Nikolai Kulemin, no goal
Alex Ovechkin, no goal
Joffrey Lupol, no goal
Mike Knuble, GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAPS WIN, 3-2!
With Buffalo's win over Tampa Bay tonight, your Washington Capitals are REPEAT SOUTHEAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS!
