Maple Leafs at Capitals
THE STORY: The Washington Capitals have been reeling since they were on the embarrassing end of a 7-1 throttling by the Toronto Maple Leafs. That defeat came nearly three weeks ago (Nov. 19), but the bitter taste has remained. The Capitals have dropped five of their last seven - but managed to score four times in the third period to post a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. Washington hopes that offensive outburst is a sign of things to come as it will host the Maple Leafs on Friday. For its part, Toronto won three in a row before hitting the skids - dropping three of its last four (1-2-1). Despite playing three games in four days, the Leafs aren't using that tired old excuse. "Playing a lot of games in just a short amount of days and then the travel last night and then to be down 2-0, we could have thrown in the towel and gave up and we didn’t," netminder James Reimer said after his team fell 3-2 to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSNO, CSW
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (15-10-3): RW Phil Kessel has seemingly put up points against everyone this season - and the Capitals were no exception. Kessel collected a goal and an assist during last month's lopsided rout. He does, however, find himself in a peculiar position. Philadelphia Flyers stud Claude Giroux has surpassed him for the points lead, while Milan Michalek of the Ottawa Senators netted his NHL-leading 18th goal of the season. Kessel had long been atop of both lists this season.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (14-12-1): G Tomas Vokoun has posted an 8-4-2 career mark versus Toronto, but he was unceremoniously pulled from last month's game. He yielded four goals on 18 shots in 25 minutes. The Verizon Center has long been kind to the Capitals, but the home residents have dropped three of their last four in Washington. All told, the Capitals are still 9-4-1 at home this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Maple Leafs RW Colby Armstrong is expected to return to the ice for the first time since Oct. 19. Armstrong has been sidelined with an injured left ankle. Coach Ron Wilson also confirmed that Clarke MacArthur (shoulder) will be back in the lineup.
2. Washington had posted a 4-0-1 mark in its last five versus Toronto - until last month's lopsided loss.