Johansson’s OT goal gives Capitals series win at Toronto

Matthews was waiting there and roofed the shot at 7:45 for his fourth consecutive goal in the last four games of the series. All six games were decided by one goal.

The winning goal was provided by Marcus Johansson, who scored at 6:31 of the extra period.

In fact, in their second season under Mike Babcock, the former Detroit coach, the Maple Leafs ended a three-year playoff drought.

Babcock wanted his players to respond after a subpar effort in Game 4, and they did that.

NOTES: Braden Holtby stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced, and Trotz called the reigning Vezina Trophy victor “zoned in.”. Andersen had 15 at that point, and his 16th was a point-blank stop of Justin Williams to keep the game in a scoreless tie.

Following a draw in the Caps zone, the Leafs never touched the puck – a won faceoff, a dump-in retrieved, two passes and the winning goal was in. Neither goalie yielded another in regulation, but one had to break in overtime.

Washington has the upper hand in the series that couldn’t possibly be any closer on the ice or by the numbers. “It’s bad and you can’t really think about too much”.

T.J. Oshie scored a power-play goal in the first period for the Capitals.

“It’s a lot of credit to them, they gave us everything they had”, said Johansson, who finished with two goals and three assists in the six games.

There was a turn toward some ugliness, depending on your point of view, in Game 5.

Bitter from the end result of Game 6, a 2-1 overtime defeat which ended a closely-matched first round series with the heavily favoured Washington Capitals.

That was the hockey life of Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson in a nutshell in Games 4 and 5.

Andersen made 21 saves in the first two periods, and more than a handful were from point-blank range.

Everything about the Leafs season really defied expectations, beginning with Matthews historic four-goal debut to the team rookie records that fell in great numbers to making the post-season at all and then tussling so hard against the Capitals, who had 55 wins and 118 points in the regular season.

We know this much now: The Leafs are well on the way to being a team that competes in the playoffs for years to come.

“Starting with the puck or not starting with the puck, chasing or dictating”, Jay Beagle said earlier in the season.

“They were one-goal games and could have gone either way in every game”. Alzner took part in the morning skate Friday and skated with several other teammates Thursday.

The Maple Leafs and Capitals played six one-goal games. However, that should not be the narrative for the Leafs’ loss – what should be is their inability to capitalize on opportunities.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck against Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russian Federation, and Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, during the first period of Game 5 in an NHL Stanley Cu.

The hit came shortly after Ovechkin lined up Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner.

Johansson had tied the game at 12:51 when his shot squeezed past Andersen. Ovechkin left the ice without putting weight on the leg but returned for the second period and said he felt no pain and was “all good”. “Ovi!” He was helped onto the bench and limped down the tunnel.

“The experience itself, it’s a hard, grinding hockey against the best team in the league”, said Matthews.

Meanwhile, those Penguins again got through the first round in five games largely unscathed because even goaltender Matt Murray’s lower-body injury has been shuffled to the back of concerns by the play of Marc-Andre Fleury.

Boston also needed overtime to win as the Bruins forced a Game 6 in their first-round series.

“Yes, he is fine”, Trotz said during a media conference call Saturday. As if the Caps need more firepower. We’re proud to play for this city and for those fans.

Then Babcock countered and loosely kept with Trotz’s theme. “For him to come in and play like he’s been doing is no surprise to us”. “But when you see a star player down, you are always quite concerned”.

Trotz said special teams are a “big factor for both teams”. We’re the same thing. Game 7 moniker all you want, man. “They’re either going to be on our D or we’re going to be on their D. There’s not a whole lot in-between”. “We’re all aware and understand that fully”.