Leafs open first round series in Washington

The Predators rode a stellar first-period performance, in which they scored the game's only goal, to outlast and shut out the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

The Toronto Maple Leafs came out flying and hitting in their first playoff game but wound up learning the hardest lesson in the ultimate school of hard knocks, the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was a damned hockey game. What stands out is the importance of Wilson's mark - not only was it the game victor for Washington, but it was a statement to the league that the Capitals can survive a shutdown of their top players, and will still be capable of putting together a victory, as loose as it may have been. When Marner was in the right spot to bury Tyler Bozak's clever centring pass it was the first rookie post-season goal since Jeff Farkas in 2000, first goal by a teen-aged Leaf since Daniel Marois for John Brophy's team in 1988 and going way back, the first by a Leaf rookie inside the two-minute mark since Andy Blair in 1929.

I thought a confidence builder for sure. "And I don't think it's something that's intimidating to anybody, it's more of a fact - they have a lot on their plate, finishing where they have".

For that to happen, though, the Leafs are going to have to go up a notch because the Capitals intend to.

This is a series the Capitals should win easily, but maybe the upstart Maple Leafs can give them a scare like the Flyers did a year ago.

But Washington settled and got a goal at the tail end of a 5-on-3 when Nicklas Backstrom's stick broke in just the right way to start a scoring play and tied the game when Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen lost a shot in his feet and Justin Williams scored his second goal of the night. He was a bright spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout the regular season and is an important player against one of the most stacked teams in the National Hockey League, the Washington Capitals. Jake Gardiner leads Toronto with one goal, James van Riemsdyk has one assist and Mitch Marner has three shots on goal. "Maybe we was a little bit nervous, maybe kind of feel the pressure a little bit".

WASHINGTON (AP) - Heavily favored to beat the young and inexperienced Toronto Maple Leafs, the Stanley Cup-contending Washington Capitals weren't supposed to be the team that flubbed and floundered at the start of the playoffs. He also coached the Arizona Coyotes last decade and made an impression on Matthews, who is from Scottsdale, Arizona.

Wilson was warmer on the topic of his Leafs memories, cheering for the last Toronto team that was anything close to a Cup contender. And last night, with the Cup-favorite Caps facing the pressure and desperately needing an OT victor against Toronto, they got one from.oh, I already said Tom Wilson. 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. "Quick turnover, I decided I was just gonna rip it on net". The goal was certainly not a fluke, as you need to take advantage when your opponents make mistakes like this.

The trick will be doing it again, without any element of surprise.

Holtby and Andersen went save for save the rest of regulation, flashing their gloves to send the game to overtime.

But they didn't win, and that let the Capitals off the hook.

Game 2 is near on the horizon, and the Capitals have a lot to consider.

"What do you know about Freddie Andersen?" "I just think it's important to get a taste and understand what the game is like". We've had Druce get a bunch. Roman Polak was about six minutes over his season's average in Game 1, and the Leafs had four defensemen who skated more than 30 shifts and logged 24 or more minutes, rounding up in Polak's case (23:52).

Well the second effort has to come next. Luckily, the Leafs came out of it with enough point to make the playoffs, but their playoff success could be jeopardized.

Jordan Eberle said Edmonton Oilers teammates kept tabs on the early games before taking the ice late Wednesday night but didn't think an extra day to watch would've helped.