Leafs stars don’t shine brightest
Supporting cast provides winning edge as Toronto comes from behind to edge Capitals
WASHINGTON — Chalk one up for the foot soldiers.
Against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in a game that, for stretches, was as great a test as the Toronto Maple Leafs have had in 2018-19, a bunch of guys not named Auston Matthews, John Tavares or Mitch Marner carried the weight.
The Leafs got goals from Kasperi Kapanen, Par Lindholm and Josh Leivo on Saturday night at Capital One Arena and some timely goaltending from Frederik Andersen to emerge with a 4-2 win, putting a bow on a four-game trip that had Toronto victories in all.
A save by Andersen on a one-timer off the stick of T.J. Oshie with seven minutes to play in the third was key. Two big saves minutes later on Jakub Vrana also were crucial.
Then, with 99 seconds remaining, Matthews scored to put the game away.
Morgan Rielly drew an assist, giving him 13 points in six games.
With an assist on the Kapanen goal, Matthews continued his point streak to start the season, and now has 14 points, including 10 goals, in six games.
The Leafs improved to 5-10, with their 10 points putting them atop the National Hockey League standings.
Leivo scored the go-ahead goal, his first in 16 games going back to Nov. 24, 2017 against Carolina, at 13:32 of the third as the Leafs’ second power-play unit provided some much needed relief.
That came with Michal Kempny serving a high-sticking minor after he got his stick in the chops of Tavares.
Before the game, Leafs coach Mike Babcock said the Caps’ march to the Cup last spring should serve as a valuable message to teams that have had success in the playoffs but have not gone all the way.
Washington long knocked on the playoff door before winning.
“It just doesn’t happen because you think it should,” Babcock said. “Lots of times, it takes battle scars. When you go through it, it takes some time usually and you have to dig in and compete and learn how to win, and learn how to win when it matters.”
What did Babcock learn about his Detroit Red Wings team the season after it won the Cup in 2008?
“You know how to play, and you have to experience it, and you always go back to it,” Babcocksaid.
The game was the heaviest the Leafs have played in their first six, as Matthews and Tavares were among those who were treated rather rudely (yet legally) by the hosts.
The Leafs were bounced around in the second period and had just five shots on goal, but managed to score twice.
Lindholm scored his first NHL goal at 18:53 when he re-directed Jake Gardiner’s shot-pass behind Caps goalie Braden Holtby.
Lindholm, who has been diligent in his first six games with the Leafs as he gets accustomed to hockey in North America, celebrated with some glee, just as you would expect. That tied the game 2-2 heading into the third period.
Gardiner, in the first period, finally registered his first shot on goal of the season. With Tavares serving a tripping penalty, Evgeny Kuznetsov had given Washington a 2-1 lead at 4:39 of the second, going high over Frederik Andersen’s glove.
The Leafs’ first goal came when Kapanen deflected a Ron Hainsey shot past Holtby at 3:30 of the second.
Capitals winger Chandler Stephenson scored 18 seconds into the game off an odd-man rush after Nikita Zaitsev pinched, and that stood up as the only goal in the opening 20 minutes.