Leafs blank Caps, 2-0
WASHINGTON -- Connor Brown broke a scoreless tie early in the third period, Frederik Andersen stopped 30 shots, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals 2-0 on Tuesday night at Capital One Center.
Toronto began the day leading the NHL with an average of 5.2 goals per game, and Washington was ninth (3.67), but the teams produced nearly 46 minutes of scoreless hockey.
The Leafs (5-1-0) took the lead after some solid forechecking kept the puck in the zone. Washington goalie Braden Holtby blocked Morgan Rielly's shot from the point. As Holtby tried to cover the puck, Brown's second swipe sent it into the net for his second goal of the season at 5:53 of the third.
The Capitals (3-3-1) pulled Holtby with 2:06 remaining. Washington's Andre Burakovsky missed a tip-in chance shortly thereafter, and Toronto's Nazem Kadri added an empty-netter with 22 seconds remaining.
Rielly had two assists.
Andersen posted his 11th career shutout. He entered the game with a 3.76 goals-against average.
Holtby stopped 28 shots for the Capitals, who have lost four of their last five.
The game was a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal series that was won by Washington. The Maples Leafs led the series 2-1 before the Capitals won three straight games by one goal.
Coming off an 8-2 loss to the Flyers and playing without top defenseman Matt Niskanen, the Capitals kept the potent Leafs off the board for two periods. Washington defenseman John Carlson logged over 27 minutes of ice time.
Toronto was scoreless on two power play opportunities and the Capitals were 0-for-3.
NOTES: The Capitals have won eight of their past 11 games vs. Toronto. ... Washington C Lars Eller (illness) was scratched. His replacement, Tyler Graovac, left in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. ... The teams will meet Nov. 25 in Toronto and on March 3 at Annapolis, Md., as part of the NHL's Stadium Series. ... Toronto plays the second of back-to-back games Wednesday night when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings. Last season, the Leafs were 6-11-1 in the second of back-to-backs. ... The Capitals play at Detroit on Friday.