The Maple Leafs rallied in the third period to win 3-2 over the struggling Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Center on Thursday, marking their first victory on home ice in ten months.

James van Riemsdyk scored his fourth goal of the season in the first period, while Nikolai Kulemin and Matt Frattin scored midway through the third to erase a 2-1 deficit to give Toronto their fourth win of the young season.

The Leafs special teams had a rough night, as their penalty killing allowed an Alex Ovechkin goal in the second period and failed on all but one of eight chances with the man advantage early in the game. Toronto continues to struggle on the five-on-three, as they failed to generate a good scoring chance during a 1:18 two man advantage midway through the first. They are currently 1 for 8 in two man advantages so far this season.

Phil Kessel continued his goal scoring drought, in spite of six shots on goal and numerous chances, but did register an assist on van Riemsdyk’s power play goal. The Leafs have been able to compensate for Kessel’s bad marksmanship as they continue to get offensive production from three lines. Nikolai Kulemin finally cashed in his first of the season, shoveling a puck past Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth to tie the game and Matt Frattin, who is tied for the club lead with four goals in just four games, scored his second consecutive game winner on a magical give and go with Nazem Kadri.

A steadying factor of late has been the play of James Reimer, who was not overly tested in a twenty save performance against Washington, but bared down after allowing a stoppable five hole goal to Ovechkin in the middle frame and earned his third victory in just four starts.

Reimer has been not been protected by Coach Randy Carlyle and has handled everything thrown at him so far. He was solid in his first start against the high powered Pittsburgh Penguins, was the only reason why Toronto led the high powered Rangers going into the third at Madison Square Garden last Saturday and played impressively in the overtime victory in Buffalo on Tuesday, a place where the Leafs always struggle.

The 24 year old’s performance has begun to assuage one of the club’s chief concerns entering the season; the consistency of their goaltending, but it will have continue on this path for awhile before the rumors of obtaining a veteran goaltender are finally put to rest.

The speculation of Roberto Luongo heading to Toronto has died down significantly, but it is never far from popping up again if Carlyle’s club has a bad night, The 33 year old veteran had his first victory and shutout of the season against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and has a microscopic 1.61 GAA so far this season, which has to be music to the ears of GM Mike Gillis.

Luongo is expected to play his third game in a row against longtime rival Chicago at Rogers Arena in Vancouver tonight and as he continues to excel, the higher the asking price will be from Gillis, which invariably will decrease the chances of a trade with Toronto, as GM Dave Nonis has no reason to move young core prospects while his netminding situation remains steady.

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The conspicuous waiver claim of Frazer McLaren was explained in James Mirtle’s column in the Globe and Mail on Thursday.

In the short term, the claim of the 25 year old enforcer was added to fill in for Mike Brown, who is expected to be out a week or more with a shoulder injury, but long term it emphasizes the value that Carlyle places in tough guys and the place that fighting still holds in the game.

It also may mean that the younger McLaren could end up being the future replacement for current enforcer Colton Orr.

The 30 year old Orr has had health issues the last two seasons and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. McLaren’s two way contract would allow the Leafs to send him down to the Toronto Marlies paying him an AHL salary, but he would have to clear waivers to be demoted.

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Nominee for quote of the week from the aforementioned Luongo, who while being questioned by a prominent Toronto sports columnist in the post game media scrum in Vancouver on Wednesday said “Are you here scouting for the Leafs or what?”

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