Bozak's OT goal gives Maple Leafs series lead over Capitals
TORONTO (AP) - Tyler Bozak scored 1:37 into overtime to cap Toronto's comeback from two goals down in the second period, and the Maple Leafs beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri each had a goal and an assist, and William Nylander also scored for Toronto. Frederik Andersen made 23 saves.
Toronto trailed 2-0 in the first period, and then 3-1 early in the second before Kadri and Nylander scored 4:07 apart late to tie the score in the final minute of the period.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (42) celebrates his goal against Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) with center Nazem Kadri (43) as Mitch Marner and James van Riemsdyk look on during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov all scored for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals. Braden Holtby stopped 24 shots.
All three games so far have been decided in overtime.
Game 4 is Wednesday night.
The Maple Leafs were hosting their first playoff game in almost four years and coming off an exciting double-overtime win in Game 2. However, the Capitals got the early jump as they scored twice in the first five minutes with both goals coming from their vaunted top line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and T.J. Oshie.
Nate Schmidt, who was filling in for an injured Karl Alzner, got the first one started by rushing into the Toronto zone with speed before finding Backstrom crashing the net across the ice. The Swede beat Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev there and stuffed in a shot short-side.
Zaitsev was playing his first game of the series and first in the NHL playoffs after sitting out the opening two games with a suspected concussion.
He came up short again on the Capitals' second goal, giving just a little too much room to Ovechkin, whose slap shot beat Andersen high from the left faceoff circle.
It was the second goal on two shots to beat Andersen, who had outplayed reigning Vezina trophy winner Braden Holtby in the first two games.
Washington looked crisp and confident early, cycling pucks with authority in the Toronto end. But they generated few shots or scoring chances beyond the goals and the Leafs pushed back with Matthews' first of the series.
The 19-year-old, held without a point in Games 1 and 2, sped through the neutral zone with speed and fired a shot that ricocheted off John Carlson, Schmidt's face and Matthews' body before finally hitting Holtby. He stopped the initial shot, but Matthews hung with it and batted the rebound out of the air to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Washington had a chance to put the Leafs away after Kuznetsov upped the lead back to two with his first of the playoffs 5:39 into the second period, but Toronto's penalty-kill managed to fend off a full 2-minute 5-on-3 Capitals power play. The unit stood tall again a short while later when the club was called for too many men.
Gaining some steam from that bit of special teams superiority, the Leafs pulled back within one when Kadri fired through traffic from the point to beat Holtby with 4:47 left in the middle period.
Then it was the rookie line of Matthews, Nylander and Zach Hyman striking again - their speed and skill proving troublesome all night long for the Capitals. Hyman drew two defenders as he chased down a dump into the offensive zone and, with a little extra room, Matthews pulled the puck out and fed Nylander in front. The 20-year-old, one of three Leafs rookies with 60-plus points in the regular season, was stopped on his first attempt, but followed up to even the score at 3-3 with 40 seconds left in the period.
Toronto held Washington without a shot for the first 13-plus minutes of a dominant third, but failed to score with a pair of power plays. The Capitals finished the period with only three shots at Andersen, nearly scoring when Kuznetsov's shot hit the crossbar.
Hyman drew the power play late in regulation on the goal that Bozak scored in overtime to win it.
Toronto Maple Leafs players celebrate Tyler Bozak's game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) watches Tyler Bozak's game-winning goal on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) looks on as the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (42) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals with Nazem Kadri (43) and Morgan Rielly (44) in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) celebrates Tyler Bozak's game-winning goal as Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) and Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) look on during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen (31) tries to make a save as Washington Capitals right wing Justin Williams (14) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev (22) battle during third period NHL hockey round one playoff action in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) shoots on Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen (31) during third period NHL hockey round one playoff action in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)