TORONTO — The Washington Capitals, who’re barely clinging to a playoff spot because the all-star break approaches, bought off to an encouraging begin in opposition to the high-powered Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday at Scotiabank Area.
Washington
Capitals get swept away by the Maple Leafs during a 5-1 loss in Toronto
It was one other lackluster consequence for a Capitals workforce that has sputtered over the previous month, leaving its playoff positioning all of the extra susceptible. With one recreation left earlier than their bye week wraps round Saturday’s All-Star Sport for a 10-day break — and with challengers surging ever nearer to them within the standings — the Capitals may shortly discover themselves on the skin trying in.
“If you wish to make the playoffs … you need to put a pair wins collectively,” heart Nicklas Backstrom stated. “That’s what we’d like. It’s too tight within the standings and, I imply, groups are catching up.”
Even after Sunday’s loss, the Capitals (26-20-6) nonetheless maintain the Jap Convention’s first of two wild-card spots with 58 factors. However the Pittsburgh Penguins (57), Buffalo Sabres (56), New York Islanders (55) and Florida Panthers (54) aren’t far behind — and the Penguins and Sabres have three video games in hand.
The Capitals have misplaced three of 4, 4 of six and 6 of 9. Washington’s subsequent recreation is Tuesday at Columbus, the Jap Convention’s last-place workforce. The Capitals’ first recreation after the break is Feb. 11 at Boston.
“Clearly the standings are getting tight this time of yr and also you wish to preserve climbing as a lot as you’ll be able to. … However dropping after a [win] is one thing we’ve to keep away from and begin stringing collectively some wins,” winger Conor Sheary stated.
A purpose from Backstrom, his first of the season, gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead with 2:43 left within the first interval. On the ability play, Marcus Johansson supplied a display screen, and Backstrom shot excessive and to the brief aspect to beat ex-Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (23 saves). It was Backstrom’s first purpose in 9 video games since he returned from hip resurfacing surgical procedure; he additionally had the shootout winner in Washington’s 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday.
However after Backstrom’s purpose, Toronto took over.
“We took a step again within the second,” Sheary stated. “We began feeding their transition, and we didn’t defend laborious sufficient.”
Toronto’s Michael Bunting tied the rating at 1 with a rebound power-play purpose at 1:29 of the second interval. It was the primary power-play purpose Washington had allowed in seven video games. Morgan Rielly then scored his first purpose of the season at 7:00 to place Toronto forward. After a puck popped free from a scrum behind the web, Rielly was on their lonesome in entrance and beat goalie Darcy Kuemper.
William Nylander’s purpose on an odd-man rush throughout a delayed penalty gave Toronto a 3-1 lead at 10:45. Kuemper, with assist from defenseman Erik Gustafsson, made the preliminary cease on the three-on-one however couldn’t deny Nylander on the rebound.
Pierre Engvall beat Kuemper glove-side to make it 4-1 at 14:20, ending Kuemper’s night time after 16 saves. Charlie Lindgren changed him and completed with six saves; he allowed a purpose to Zach Aston-Reese on a breakaway with 3:13 left within the recreation.
Sunday’s loss was the second time in 4 begins that Kuemper was pulled.
“I believe a couple of guys are gripping their stick slightly bit [too tightly],” Sheary stated. “We simply bought to get a pair bounces right here and there. Perhaps the break can be good for us after this subsequent one.”
Right here’s what else to know in regards to the Capitals’ loss:
Wilson out till after break
Winger Tom Wilson didn’t journey with the Capitals for this two-game journey. There is no such thing as a timeline for his return from a lower-body damage, and Washington will reevaluate him after the all-star break.
Wilson was injured Tuesday in a loss at Colorado after he blocked a shot together with his proper leg. Washington listed him as day-to-day, however he was noticed at apply Saturday with a noticeable hitch in his stride.
Carlson’s sluggish restoration
On Saturday, defenseman John Carlson skated for the primary time since he took a puck to the aspect of his head throughout a recreation in opposition to Winnipeg on Dec. 23. Carlson wore a tracksuit on the ice on the Capitals’ apply rink, and his exercise was removed from a full skating session. The Capitals stated Carlson would proceed to do “low-level train” and could be reevaluated in late February.
“It’s nice,” Coach Peter Laviolette stated. “It’s off within the distance for him. He’s again, and he seems to be good. He seems to be like himself.”
Samsonov confronted his former workforce for the third time and bought his second win. The 25-year-old Russian bought slightly payback after he suffered a 5-2 loss in December throughout his first recreation again in Washington. Fellow goaltender Matt Murray is sidelined till after the all-star break with an ankle damage.
Toronto additionally was with out star ahead Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs stated he could be sidelined for no less than three weeks with a knee damage.