Maple Leafs 7, Capitals 1
Joffrey Lupul had a goal and three assists and Jonas Gustavsson stopped 40 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs ended a three-game losing streak in style, routing the visiting Washington Capitals 7-1 Saturday night.
Lupul had one of four second-period goals for the Maple Leafs, who sent the Capitals to their fourth loss in a row. They also held Alexander Ovechkin without a point, extending his scoreless streak to four games.
Leading 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Maple Leafs increased their lead on a power play 1:18 into the second period after Tyler Bozak swatted a Phil Kessel centering pass just inside the left post. Kessel made it 4-1 just over four minutes later, tapping the puck into a wide-open net following a sensational tic-tac-toe passing play involving Bozak and Lupul.
Kessel's league-best 14th goal of the campaign spelled the end of the night for Washington starter Tomas Vokoun, who was yanked in favor of Michal Neuvirth.
A Nicklas Backstrom double-minor set up Toronto's fifth goal with less than three minutes left in the period. Kessel's cross-ice pass found Dion Phaneuf, who threw a puck toward the net that Lupul redirected past an out-of-position Neuvirth.
Cody Franson padded the lead in the final minute with a slapshot from the point that beat Neuvirth low on the glove side for his first goal as a Maple Leaf.
Tim Connolly, David Steckel and Matt Frattin - with his first NHL goal - also struck for Toronto. Brooks Laich provided the lone offense for the Capitals.