Suffice it is to say, it wasn’t the return to Washington Ilya Samsonov was hoping for.
Erik Gustafsson netted a hat trick as the Capitals smoked the Leafs 5-2 to hand Toronto back-to-back regulation losses for the first time this season.
Classic. Guy doesn’t score for 32 games only to erupt for three goals…always against the Leafs, right?
Charlie Lindgren was outstanding, especially in the second frame when the Leafs outshot the Capitals 14-6. He made 34 stops to improve to 6-1-0 in his past seven outings. As for Samsonov, the 25-year-old surrendered five goals on 28 shots in his first back in D.C. since Washington elected to move on from him last summer. He fell to 9-3-0 on the season; that was his first loss since October 29th.
Meantime, Michael Bunting’s 10 game point streak came to an end. Also, Alex Ovechkin failed to score, he’s still one goal back of Gordie Howe for second all-time in NHL goal scoring.
Auston Matthews had one and one while Conor Timmins notched his fifth assist in the past three contests.
Muzzy’s Muzings:
TOUGH START & TOUGH FINISH
For the second straight outing, the Leafs were scored on first. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of Thursday night’s game in New York. They were just a bit off. And again, that’s going to happen from time to time; it’s a tough leag …
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Author: Nick Alberga / The Leafs Nation
