Capitals Crush Maple Leafs

The Washington Capitals got back on track on Day 121 in a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The two points vaults Washington to 24-27-9, three points behind Toronto for the final playoff spot.

The Leafs got off to a quick start when Horcoff scored from Lindros on the power play at 1:52, but the Caps responded with a pair of goals. Frantisek Lukes got the first from Radoslav Suchy and Dan Boyle at 9:24. Anson Carter gave Washington its first lead just less than seven minutes later when he redirected a Michal Rozsival shot past the goaltender.

Toronto tied it up early in the second period on Sanderson's marker from Numminen at 3:58, but once again Washington answered with two goals. This time it was Zigmund Palffy making it 3-2 from Mikael Renberg and Rob Blake at 5:42. Renberg then scored one of his own from Andrew Ference on the power play at 18:53.

The Capitals tightened up the checking in the final period and held Toronto to just six shots on goal in the last 20 minutes. Washington also only managed six shots, but the Caps made them pay. Lukes netted his second of the game from Carter and Artem Chubarov at 16:06, before Bryan Berard scored from Blake and Patrick Marleau at 17:43 to complete the scoring.

Peter Skudra was the surprise starter for Washington and made 33 saves in the win to improve to 4-5-3. Evgeni Nabokov stopped just 18 shots in the loss for the Leafs.

The Capitals return to action on Day 123 against Buffalo.