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In Brooks Laich’s return, it’s the Capitals who turn a new Leaf In Brooks Laich’s return, it’s the Capitals who turn a new Leaf
(about 1 hour later)
Verizon Center got any sentimentality out of the way early. It bid farewell to Brooks Laich and said hello to Daniel Winnik, and when that was over, there was a hockey game between one team in first place and one in last.Verizon Center got any sentimentality out of the way early. It bid farewell to Brooks Laich and said hello to Daniel Winnik, and when that was over, there was a hockey game between one team in first place and one in last.
The Washington Capitals’ 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs was at once the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Playing against their former longtime teammate, the Capitals’ new-look roster was together for the first time. The Washington Capitals’ 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night was at once the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Playing against a former longtime teammate, the Capitals’ new-look roster was together for the first time, extending the team’s record to 47-12-4 with 98 points.
After a third-period goal from Toronto’s Colin Greening tied the contest at two, Washington turned to its special teams to pull ahead. Nikita Soshnikov boarded Karl Alzner with 10:29 remaining, putting Washington on the power play. The game-winning goal was scored in nearly identical fashion as the one from Tuesday night, with Matt Niskanen slamming the puck in from the point. For a change, Washington had a strong start, but then it fell into a disinterested lull until a power play jolted the Capitals in the third period.
The Maple Leafs’ penalty kill focused on Alex Ovechkin, leaving Niskanen room at the point, just as was the case against Pittsburgh the previous night. He again opted not to pass it to the left faceoff circle, taking the shot instead, and it was again successful. “We didn’t have a ton of emotion tonight, a ton of fight in our game,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “We’re struggling with that part of it right now. We’re winning, but I think we all know deep down that we’re much better than we showed.”
The game started with a reunion. After the Capitals traded Laich to the Maple Leafs on Sunday night, dumping his substantial contract to free up salary for the summer, Laich was right back in Washington to play his old team. He had been the city’s longest-tenured athlete at the time of the trade, and signs supporting him lined the glass in warm-ups. After a third-period goal from Toronto’s Colin Greening tied the game at 2, Washington turned to its special teams to pull ahead. Nikita Soshnikov boarded Karl Alzner with 10 minutes 40 seconds remaining, putting Washington on the power play. The game-winning goal was scored in nearly identical fashion as the one from Tuesday night, with Niskanen slamming the puck in from the point.
At the first stoppage in the first period, the video board showed a tribute video to Laich, set to “Times Like These” by the Foo Fighters. Laich acknowledged the fans by skating out in front of the Maple Leafs bench, clapping with his hands high in the air. His former Washington teammates joined in a standing ovation. [Initial World Cup rosters feature Capitals players]
Later in the period, Winnik, acquired from Toronto in the trade, was shown on the scoreboard, and fans gave him welcoming applause. Those formalities complete, the teams set to a closer-than-expected contest. With opposing penalty kills focused on Alex Ovechkin, Niskanen has a scoring lane from the point, just like he did against Pittsburgh the previous night. He again opted not to pass it to the left faceoff circle, taking the shot instead, and it was again successful. Tuesday’s goal was originally announced as his, but then Wednesday afternoon it was credited to T.J. Oshie for a deflection.
The Capitals entered the game having gone 11 straight home games without leading in the first period. On Tuesday night, Niskanen said the team was struggling to get mentally and physically engaged early in the game. Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said with a tinge of frustration that it would be up to the players to fix their trend of poor starts. Washington entered Wednesday having allowed the first goal in eight of its past nine games. Niskanen made up for the scoring change Wednesday night.
The Capitals again looked sluggish early on, taking three penalties in the first period. That was somewhat understandable, as they played a tight game against the Penguins a night earlier. But 18 minutes and 15 seconds into the first period, T.J. Oshie passed the puck back to Taylor Chorney, whose snipe from the top of the left faceoff circle beat goalie Jonathan Bernier top shelf for just his second career goal. The score came just two days after the birth of his first son, Turner. “Did someone tip this one?” Niskanen jokingly asked after the game.
The baby born on leap year may not have given Chorney much sleep the past two nights, but with Nate Schmidt scratched because of a lower-body injury, Chorney returned to the lineup on Wednesday night. The goal was his first with the Capitals and his first since 2011. “Teams are going to look at the last couple of games, and now they’re going to have to get in front of Nisky’s shot, and that’s going to open something else up,” Oshie said.
On the very next shift, a more expected name got on the score sheet. A pass from Nicklas Backstrom hit Ovechkin’s blade as he glided into the left faceoff circle, blasting the puck past Bernier. That gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead at the first intermission, and though it had been a while, Washington is undefeated when leading after the first period. “If they don’t, we’re happy to let [Niskanen] keep wiring them.”
The Maple Leafs halved the deficit in the second period, as Soshnikov scored his first NHL goal, a top-shelf snipe on goaltender Philipp Grubauer. But Toronto couldn’t take advantage of its strong puck possession, getting just the one goal despite outshooting Washington, 22-12, through 40 minutes. The story line coming into this game was about a reunion. After the Capitals traded Laich to the Maple Leafs on Sunday night, dumping his substantial contract to free up salary for the summer, Laich was right back in Washington to play his old team. He had been the city’s longest-tenured athlete at the time of the trade, and signs supporting him lined the glass in warmups.
[GM Brian MacLellan on trading Laich: ‘It’s hard to do.’]
At the first stoppage in the first period, the video board showed a tribute video to Laich, set to “Times Like These” by the Foo Fighters. Laich acknowledged the fans by skating out in front of the Maple Leafs’ bench, clapping with his hands high in the air. His former Washington teammates joined in a standing ovation.
Later in the period, Winnik, acquired from Toronto in the trade, was shown on the scoreboard, and fans gave him welcoming applause. Those formalities complete, the teams set to a closer-than-expected game.
“It meant a lot for me. For the fans who stood up and clapped, a million thanks,” Laich said. “A million thanks. It was very classy what they did, and I’m very appreciative.”
The Capitals entered the game having gone 11 straight home games without leading in the first period. Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said with a tinge of frustration that it would be up to the players to fix their trend of poor starts. Washington entered Wednesday having allowed the first goal in eight of its past nine games.
With 1:45 left in the first period, Oshie passed the puck back to Taylor Chorney, whose snipe from the top of the left faceoff circle beat goalie Jonathan Bernier top shelf for just his second career goal. The score came just two days after the birth of his first son, Turner.
The baby born on leap day may not have given Chorney much sleep the past two nights, but with Nate Schmidt scratched because of a lower-body injury, Chorney returned to the lineup Wednesday night. The goal was his first with the Capitals and his first since February 2011.
“I saw the replay, and I think it kind of clipped the guy in front of me,” Chorney said. “It ended up going top corner, so it maybe looked a little better than it actually was. I’ll take it.”
On the next shift, a more expected name got on the score sheet 28 seconds later. A pass from Nicklas Backstrom hit Ovechkin’s blade as he glided into the left faceoff circle, and he blasted the puck past Bernier. That gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead at the first intermission, and though it had been a while, Washington is undefeated when it leads after the first period.
“We weren’t down a couple pucks,” Trotz said, “so I would say it was better.”