Great play by Brian Boyle behind the net, a behind the back pass to Kasperi Kapanen for his second goal of the game and the winner in double-overtime.
Leafs even the series at 1-1 and come home for Game 3 on Monday night.
Another look at Kapenen’s OT winner. Great setup by Boyle pic.twitter.com/1u9EiNMUTa
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 16, 2017
11:07 pm
An exciting first overtime, with both teams getting chances on the PP. The Leafs had a couple good chances, including Connor Brown being set up by Zach Hyman, but Washington nearly wins it late after Ovechkin came out of the penalty box.
Andersen made a great save, but Mitch Marner's speed catching up to Ovechkin and hinder him on the breakaway was remarkable.
Frederik Andersen robs Alex Ovechkin on the breakaway to keep the game going!
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 16, 2017
(watch Mitch Marner's hustle to help disrupt it)#WSHvsTOR pic.twitter.com/BwmZ0JWXna
10:25 pm
watch this gif of a big hit pic.twitter.com/N3o7O6ZGN9
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 16, 2017
Note for Matt Martin for Game 3.....Brooks Orpik.....check!
10:05 pm
Leafs and Caps going to OT tied 3-3. Andersen comes up big again late in the third with a stop on Ovechkin and a glove save in the last 30 seconds of regulation.
The Marlies do not start their first round series vs Albany until Thursday, so you can expect a couple of their defensemen to be called up.
9:47 pm
The Leafs defense is getting pounded by the Caps and Washington trapped Toronto in their zone for over a minute before Niklas Backstrom scored the tying goal.
Orlov creates the play that would lead to Backstrom scoring the equalizer #CapsLeafs 3-3 in the 3rd pic.twitter.com/gzMgyAvVsf
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) April 16, 2017
Washington will continue to do this the rest of the game with the Leafs short-handed on the blueline.
9:22 pm
No official notice from the Leafs and we probably won't get one on the status of Polak (since it is playoff time), but watching the video over and over, it looks like it is either a severe high ankle sprain or a broken ankle/lower leg.
More than likely, the Leafs will put Alexey Marchenko in for Game 3 and pair him with Marincin, which will be a pairing that Babcock will try to limit since he has the last change. The Marlies regular season ended on Saturday and won't start their playoffs until later this week(schedule is not out yet).
The Leafs may call up Travis Dermott, Andrew Nielsen, Justin Holl or Rinat Valiev, but it would be surprising if the replacement for Polak was not the right-handed Marchenko.
9:05 pm
In the face of adversity, Toronto has bounced back in fine form. Kapanen gets the tying goal right after Polak's injury and now Morgan Rielly puts the Leafs in the lead with seconds remaining in the middle frame with a goal that evens the slate for Tom Wilson's seeing eye OT winner on Thursday.
Morgan Rielly! Top shelf on the power play! 3-2 Leafs pic.twitter.com/mntleXwyn1
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) April 16, 2017
Leafs lead 3-2 after 2
8:52 pm
Kasperi Kapanen is developing a reputation for big goals. He scored the WJC winner for the Finns, he tied the Leafs game vs Pittsburgh late in the 3rd last Saturday and after Polak's injury, he tallies to tie the game.
2-2
Kapanen is not your average fourth liner. pic.twitter.com/lOr7F8Cn37
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) April 16, 2017
8:43 pm
Brooks Orpik with a hit that spins around Roman Polak, his right skate appears to catch the ice and collapse under his own weight. I'd be surprised if we see Polak for the remainder of the season.
Ooof. The way Polak lands on his leg. pic.twitter.com/sNjPKZ994h
— Griffin Schroeder (@gSchroedes16) April 16, 2017
8:36 pm
Leafs special teams are killing them in this game. John Carlson makes it 2-1 Capitals on a point blast after Connor Carrick gets penalized for an incidental high-stick. Toronto may have had one good scoring chance on their three power plays, but they cannot contain Washington with the man advantage.
8:16 pm
Leafs could not capitalize on their third power play of the night and the referee was waiting to give them an even up call. Martin Marincin obliges with an undisciplined penalty and Alex Ovechkin makes the Leafs pay.
1-1
QUICK STICK WRISTER #RockTheRed @csnma pic.twitter.com/vGkkS3F8cy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 16, 2017
Not sure why Babcock is going with Marincin over Marchenko, but if Zaitsev is not ready for Game 3, they should consider going with Marchenko.
7:45 pm
An example of why Jake Gardiner can be infuriating. He can make a play like that, controlling the puck and setting up JVR for the opening goal....and more than likely later in the game, he'll have a brain cramp and give Washington a golden opportunity.
1-0 Leafs
Want to hear from those critics who said Andersen was responsible for the loss in Game 1. He's the only reason the Leafs are not behind. Great save on a Brett Connolly breakaway.
7:33 pm
Marcus Johansson will be seeing Frederik Andersen in his nightmares. The Leafs goalie makes a nice right pad save and Johansson shoots wide on the rebound.
Alex Ovechkin = Greg Louganis
7:25 pm
Leafs ineffective on the power play, only their second chance with the man advantage so far. With Washington's deep defense and Braden Holtby in goal, they need to draw the Caps into more penalties and seize on their opportunities.
7:16 pm
Jake Gardiner with a cross check of Tom Wilson along the boards. Not sure if Gardiner could knock down Wilson with a sledgehammer, let alone a cross check.
7:04 pm
Leafs lineup Komarov-Kadri-Brown van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner Hyman-Matthews-Nylander Martin-Boyle-Kapanen
Hunwick-Rielly Gardiner-Polak Marincin-Carrick
Andersen
*******
Game 2 of the first round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals at Verizon Center in Washington D.C. could have a different outcome if the Leafs maintain the high pace they showed in the first period of Game 1 throughout tonight's contest.
Toronto and Washington are not expected to make any lineup changes for Game 2, but Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev did skate Saturday morning, which means his chances of playing in Game 3 on Monday have increased.
Nikita Zaitsev out on the ice alone in Washington. Babcock didn't expect he'd be available tonight. #Leafs skate at 11:30. pic.twitter.com/Am6Awh8fFS
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 15, 2017
From time to time, we have done live blogs, providing instant updates and perspective on the game, but not limited by Twitter's 140 characters.
Check back for my commentary throughout the game.
For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
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