Achi news desk-
TORONTO – Joseph Woll made 24 saves in a rebound performance and Mark Giordano scored following a long injury layoff as the Toronto Maple Leafs cruised past the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday.
Tyler Bertuzzi, with two goals to give him six in his last seven games, Conner Dewar and Bobby McMann provided the rest of the offense for Toronto (41-22-9).
Nic Dowd answered for Washington (36-27-9). Charlie Lindgren stopped 43 shots.
Woll was solid after giving up a goal on first down in his last two starts, including Tuesday’s ugly 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils that left head coach Sheldon Keefe fuming about the roster’s “immature” performance whole.
The Leafs started play just two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are 8-1-1 over their last 10 contests, for third in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, the Capitals began the night in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings with a game in hand.
Toronto shooter Auston Matthews, who leads the NHL with 59 goals, suited up despite missing the morning skate with an illness.
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The Leafs, however, lacked enough talent. Forward winger Mitch Marner sat out a ninth straight game with a high ankle sprain, while defenders Morgan Rielly (upper body), Timothy Liljegren (upper body) and Joel Edmundson (undisclosed) were also sidelined.
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Washington star Alex Ovechkin hit the Scotiabank Arena ice with 18 goals over his last 25 games to sit 46 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894 after scoring just eight times over the first 43 contests of the season.
Playing for the first time since suffering a concussion on February 29, Giordano fired his second goal of the season – and first in 31 games – at 10:09 of the opening period.
The league’s oldest player in 2023-24 at 40, the veteran blueliner pointed to the sky in celebration after his father, Paul, died suddenly last month.
Woll had to be sharp later in the period when he overpowered Nick Jensen on the doorstep.
Torn by Keefe on Tuesday when their structure completely collapsed following a 25-shot first period, the Leafs were more connected through the three zones and fired 19 pucks at Lindgren through 20 minutes.
Bertuzzi made it 2-0 just 18 seconds into the second as he banked in his 17th off the Washington safety net, but Dowd got that one back when his 10th homered at 5: 27.
Dewar restored Toronto’s two-goal advantage when he surrendered his 11th putback – and first with the Leafs since acquiring him from the Minnesota Wild at the NHL trade deadline – at 11:38 before Lindgren robbed Matthews of his 60th goal late in the period.
McMann put the home team up 4-1 at 1:06 of the third on a shot that Lindgren stopped in stride before the puck ripped in off Jenson.
Bertuzzi added his 18th off a turnover at 10:11.
CARBRY, THE RETURN OF SANDIN
Washington head coach Spencer Carbery and defenseman Rasmus Sandin returned to Scotiabank Arena for the first time since leaving Toronto last year.
Sandin was traded to the Capitals before the 2023 trade deadline. Carbery, who spent two seasons as a Toronto assistant, was hired by Washington in May.
“Always appreciate being in this organization,” Carbery said of the Leafs. “The pressure that came with it … means you’re doing something important.”
HALL CALL
Keefe, who grew up in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, was announced as one of six 2024 inductees into the city’s sports hall of fame this week.
UP NEXT
Toronto: Visits the Buffalo Sabers on Saturday.
Washington: Visits the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on March 28, 2024.
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& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
