Forget The Future: Leafs Lead NHL's Best Team 2 Games to One

The Washington Capitals who led 3-1 early in the 2nd period had a golden opportunity to take a commanding three-goal lead as they were awarded a full 2 minutes, 5-on-3 due to penalties to Matt Martin and Matt Hunwick.

The Maple Leafs though under attack for the majority of the powerplay bent but did not break. The Capitals directed 8-shots in the direction of the Maple Leafs net, but only 2 reached Frederik Andersen and he was able to turn aside both, keeping the Maple Leafs in the game, but the penalty struggles did not end quite yet for the Maple Leafs. Within a minute of the pair of penalties to Hunwick and Martin, Matt Martin would serve the bench minor the Maple Leafs were assessed for too many man. Once again, the Capitals had a chance to extend their already 2-goal lead.

Although the Capitals had a fairly strong powerplay highlighted by a nice shot by Alexander Ovechkin, the Maple Leafs killed off another Washington attack, and if the momentum garnered from the 5-on-3 kill wasn't enough for the Leafs, this certainly was.

Later in the 2nd period, Leo Komarov would cycle the puck back to Nazem Kadri who threw a puck towards the night which deflected off of a Capitals defender and past Braden Holtby. The Maple Leafs cut the Capitals two goal lead in half and only trailed 3-2.

Now with under a minute to play in the 2nd period, after a great forecheck by Zach Hyman, Matthews scooped up the loose puck and fed it out front to William Nylander who was initially denied by Braden Holtby. Holtby could not control the puck and Nylander scooped up his own rebound and placed it into the wide open Capitals cage. The Maple Leafs whose backs were once against the wall, were now tied with the Capitals 3-3 heading into the 3rd period.

In the third period, the Maple Leafs benefitted from a string of three powerplays in a row which helped give them the edge in oppurtunities in the third. Although the Leafs had many chances with the man advantage, they could not put one past Holtby. The Capitals however would have the best chance of the period, as with under 5-minutes remaining, Evgeny Kuznetsov, with Frederik Andersen in the two-pad stack position would ring one of the iron.

With 16 seconds remaining in the third period, and with the Leafs pressing, behind the net Capitals forward Lars Eller would take a high-sticking penalty getting his stick up and into the face of Zach Hyman. The Maple Leafs would take their powerplay into the Overtime frame.

While on the man advantage, Nazem Kadri would send a slap pass to Tyler Bozak who was sitting with his stick on the ice and Bozak's deflection would roll by Braden Holtby, and unbelievably, the Toronto Maple Leafs had won their second straight game in overtime against the NHL's best team, Washington Capitals.

With the win, the Toronto Maple Leafs have taken a 2-1 series lead. In just under a week, the Maple Leafs have gone from looking for playoff experience, to looking for a playoff series win. The inexperience has yet to play a factor at all in this series, as the Maple Leafs have matched the Capitals stride for stride throughout this series.

While many were saying that this is a new Capitals team, and that the previous playoff runs were no indication of this current teams outlook, they have done very little to show otherwise. The Capitals by no means have dominated the series, and they now have to feel the pressure as they trail the Maple Leafs 2 games to 1.

Toronto's best performer tonight was forward Nazem Kadri. Kadri was all over the ice, and with the team trailing, laid a pair of huge checks onto Brooks Orpik. Kadri was also responsible for the goal to cut the Capitals lead in half, as well as setting up the winning goal in overtime. Kadri has proven to be a valuable asset to this team all season, and tonight his play rose directly to the forefront. His grit and his skill is a big reason why the Maple Leafs are leading 2-1 in a series against this seasons President Trophy Winner.

While Dart Man has become a Toronto legend off of the ice, the play of the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice has won the hearts of many Leaf fans. Winning a pair of games in Overtime and leading a series where the team was heavily discredited before it even started is admirable, and even more than that, highly enticing as it has many wondering if the future is now.

*** Next Toronto Maple Leafs Game

vs. Washington Capitals, Wednesday, April 19th (7:00PM)