PhotosRecap

Caps Serve Up Overdue Equalizer to Visiting Maple Leafs

Martin Erat and Mike Green both had plenty to smile about tonight, with two points apiece (All Photos Credit: M. Richter).

The Toronto Maple Leafs rolled into Verizon Center on a pretty solid high note: 7-1-2 in their last ten games. Unfortunately, no streak lasts forever. Tonight, the Capitals had the pleasure of being the team to deliver the bad news and knock the Leafs down a notch or two, by way of a brutal 5-1 thrashing.

Featured in tonight’s throw down were recent-acquisition Martin Erat’s first goal as a Capital (and the game-winner!), Alex Ovechkin‘s gorgeous one-timer on the power play, and the kind of goaltending fans have come to expect from Braden Holtby (29 saves).  Coach Adam Oates has now been quoted in half of the Caps blogosphere endorsing Ovechkin as top candidate for League MVP (I know, we’re all shocked by the assessment).

In contrast, Toronto’s goaltender Ben Scrivens showed his rust (5 goals in 37 shots), while his teammates were visibly feeling the effects of back-to-back games as the clock wore down.  In lieu of a highly technical breakdown, filled with abbreviations and snazzy numbers, I give you the night’s honor roll & a photographic storyboard of goals scored.

Honor Roll of Scoring (Chronological Order):

  • 1. Jack Hillen (Chimera, Fehr)
  • 2. Martin Erat (Ovechkin, Carlson)
  • 3. Troy Brouwer (Carlson, Erat)
  • 4. Alexander Ovechkin (Green, Ribeiro) – PP
  • 1 (Leafs) – Mikhail Grabovski (Hamilton, Komarov)
  • 5. Marcus Johansson (Green, Ribeiro) – PP
Jack Hillen gets congratulations on his goal.
Jack Hillen gets congratulations on his goal.
Backstrom Down, Ovi to the Rescue (it earned him a charging penalty, but the crowd seemed to think it was worth it).
Backstrom Down, Ovi to the Rescue (it earned him a charging penalty, but the crowd seemed to think it was worth it).
Once Ovi got into the scramble, everyone else had to get in on the action.
Once Ovi got into the scramble, everyone else had to get in on the action.
Jason Chimera followed up on the hit to Backstrom, dropping the gloves with Jay McClement.
Jason Chimera followed up on the hit to Backstrom, dropping the gloves with Jay McClement.
Celebrating Martin Erat's first goal as a Capital.
Celebrating Martin Erat’s first goal as a Capital.
Troy Brouwer takes a knee in celebration of his insurance goal.
Troy Brouwer takes a knee in celebration of his insurance goal.
Hugs! Hugs for goals!
Hugs! Hugs for goals!
A sedate Maple Leafs quintet celebrate the fact that they've managed to break Holtby's shutout.
A sedate Maple Leafs quintet celebrate the fact that they’ve managed to break Holtby’s shutout.
Marcus Johansson earns Wings for a very appreciative crowd.
Marcus Johansson earns Wings for a very appreciative crowd.

M. Richter

Em is a fan of hockey first and individual teams second, with geographical ties that cross the NHL. She was born in the Midwest, raised along the East Coast, and graduated from a university in Western Canada. A firm believer in context above all else, and a card-carrying on-ice official with USA Hockey, she splits her time between the big picture and the details. When not covering the AHL and ECHL for Caps Outsider, her photography can be found on Behance and Flickr. She also occasionally chimes in about the Hershey Bears on the Power Play Post Show.

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