All of a sudden, the Toronto Maple Leafs are handing out demoralizing defeats rather than absorbing them.
They’re now 3-0-1 since they fell 9-2 to the Nashville Predators, including tonight’s 6-2 salute to the Washington Capitals.
The easiest way to summarize Washington’s lousy night? Justin Peters was cashed from the Capitals’ net only to return later in the game to relieve Braden Holtby, and the moves weren’t injury-related. Peters allowed three goals on 11 shots in two periods of work while Holtby gave up three on 12 shots in 20 minutes of play ... so yeah, they were pretty much a disaster for Washington.
Goaltending wasn’t the only thing that was ugly for the Capitals, as this Alex Ovechkin hit forced Leo Komarov out of the game:
Fan 590’s Megan Robinson reports that Ovechkin tried to mend any hard feelings after the game:
Just overheard that Alex Ovechkin was seen going into #Leafs' trainers room to hug Leo Komarov. #Capitals
— Megan Robinson (@RobinsonMegan) November 30, 2014
It doesn’t sound like Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle is buying it, however:
Randy Carlyle on Ovechkin's blindside check on Komarov: "I thought it was kind of 'Oops I hit you on purpose."'
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 30, 2014
Regardless, for all the negative ink spilled about the Leafs and positive thoughts about Barry Trotz’s work in Washington, the Maple Leafs have a three-point standings edge on the Capitals and would be the team that would make the playoffs if the postseason began today.