Leafs, Senators both earn overtime wins
TORONTO The Maple Leafs think they could just topple a giant in the first round.
They scored their second straight overtime victory on Monday night, downing the Washington Capitals 4-3 in front of an electric Air Canada Centre crowd. Toronto now leads the bestof-seven series 2-1, suddenly with the upper hand on the best team in hockey and starting to believe in its upset potential.
“That’s been the feeling the whole time,” 23-yearold defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “So that hasn’t changed.”
Tyler Bozak scored the overtime winner after the Leafs dug out from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1, controlling large swaths of play against a team that piled up 55 wins and 118 points during the regular season. While the 31-year-old Bozak and a handful of veterans showed well, including Rielly, Leo Komarov and Nazem Kadri (two points), it was again the performance of youth that shone brightest.
The rookie trio of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Zach Hyman proved almost unstoppable in Game 3 — up over 70 per cent puck possession. Matthews broke his brief playoff dry spell with a goal, an assist and six shots (more than the first two games combined) while Nylander scored and managed nine shot attempts.
Hyman chased down the loose puck that led to Nylander’s first of the postseason — which brought the Leafs all the way back from 3-1 — and then drew the penalty that led to Bozak’s game-winner.
“All those guys have probably had a ton of pressure on them their whole lives,” Bozak said. “They’ve probably always been the best player and the best player on their teams and have always had the pressure to play well. They’re used to it so it doesn’t faze them and you can see that when they’re out there playing.”
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock sensed his group gaining confidence after nearly swiping Game 1 at Verizon Center. He felt it inch a tick higher when Game 2 was had in double overtime behind the second of two goals from another rookie, Kasperi Kapanen.
“And obviously now if you talk to our guys, our guys think they’re a good hockey team,” Babcock said after the latest victory, Toronto’s first on home ice in the playoffs in nearly four years. “And they’re playing a good hockey team, but I think you gain respect for yourself and the process and you start believing that maybe you can do this.”
SENATORS 4, BRUINS 3, OT
BOSTON — Bobby Ryan scored the winner on a power play 5:43 into overtime as the Ottawa Senators beat the Boston Bruins to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Ryan tipped the puck past Rask off a pass from Kyle Turris. Ottawa was awarded the man advantage when Boston’s Riley Nash was whistled for roughing 4:38 into overtime after throwing a punch at Ryan.
It is the second straight game in the series that has gone to overtime, with Dion Phaneuf scoring 1:59 in Saturday’s extra period to send the Sens to a 4-3 victory in Game 2.
Mike Hoffman scored two goals and Derick Brassard added another for the Senators. Craig Anderson made 17 saves.
Noel Acciari, David Backes and David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins while Tuukka Rask had 28 stops.