Capitals' Wilson snipes Game One victor in OT, completes comeback against Leafs

The Leafs could have beaten the best team in hockey. That's no solace to fans of a losing team, but it does show that the puck just didn't bounce the Caps way despite all their best efforts.

Maple Leafs announced Wednesday that defenceman Nikita Zaitsev won't be part of the lineup for the game1 of the post-season series against the Washington Capitals.

"Winnie, Beags and I have talked all year about contributing every single night", the 23-year-old said of his OT victor. "We had so many opportunities to shoot and ended passing instead of shooting on the net".

Don't think for a second however that the Leafs are simply happy to be invited to the dance. Even so, Toronto's young core didn't look out of place next to Washington's veterans.

"We asked players what [they] saw (during the opening night of the postseason), what's one thing that jumped out in your mind, to try to get prepared for what they're going to see", Head Coach Mike Babcock said after Thursday's pre-game skate to TSN's Kristen Shilton. The Caps came out and tried to run the Leafs over on the forecheck (they were caught with three forwards deep on the Marner goal, gave up a partial break to Nylander, etc.) and paid for it with some chances the other way for the Leafs, who chipped pucks by them/made some plays under pressure.

The Leafs most likely just learned that they can hold their own with the best and the series is only going to get tougher from here.

"All five of us got [caught] watching", Toews told the Sun Times.

Packed with experience, Washington had only one player making his playoff debut: Brett Connolly, a former first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. So much of who this Leafs team is off the ice translates into how it plays on it: fast, loose and always with a smile on their face.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wilson is the first player in Caps franchise history to score his first career playoff goal in overtime.

And that may be.

The Capitals squeaked into the playoffs as a No. 7 seed, and, if not for Joel Ward's heroics in Game 7 - an overtime goal against the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins - might have gone home even sooner. This first round series is something of a David vs. Goliath matchup.

Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf, left, shoots under the defense by Calgary Flames' Matt Bartkowski during the second period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif.

Defensive depth is a weakness for the Leafs and they've got at least one tired defensive line " Tyler Bozak, Mitch Marner and James van Riemsdyk " that can be exposed, especially on the road. After all, it's one they've largely had all season. I'm glad that he said I worked hard. "A lot on the line". Being in an underdog role allows you to play without fear or restrictions, something the Leafs have done all season. "To me, it's a really good wakeup call for us". But after last night - the Leafs can win! I've been the underdog lots and won. Washington also won eight of its last 10 entering in the playoffs. A pretty passing play between Marner, Bozak and JVR was cleaned up by Marner after a good second effort from JVR put the puck back into play with Braden Holtby out of position. "They're a heck of a team, but we're not slouches, either". "Now I think they know it and I think it should hopefully be a long series". "So let's just go out there and play".

It was a pair of former Blues who helped the Capitals turn things around Thursday.

NOTES: Capitals D John Carlson returned after missing the final four regular-season games with a lower-body injury.

By comparison, the Capitals did not have a rookie play the entire season.

The Capitals are known for their playoff letdowns, but they are too good to lose this opener tonight.