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Caps vs. Leafs Recap: Leafs Even Series in Double Overtime 4-3

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It took nearly two full game periods to decide this clash of ice-bound titans, but the Toronto Maple Leafs eventually cut down the Washington Capitals in double overtime.

Here’s Saturday night’s Plus/Minus:

Plus: Alex Ovechkin got his posteason goal scoring started, ripping home a lovely rocket from the ol’ office.

Minus: The Caps dropped one of two home games. That’s bad news, and they’’ll have to atone for it in Toronto.

And now, this…

Ten more notes on the game:

1. After taking Game 1 in overtime, how would the good guys from Washington respond in Game 2?

2. The Capitals got their teeth kicked in the first 30 minutes of Game 1. In Game 2, they responded much more robustly, not allowing the Maple Leafs a shot until a full 11 minutes into the game.

3. In the first period, Toronto’s James van Riemsdyk scored his first goal of the playoffs, making poor Matt Niskanen pay for the loss of the his stick as he potted home a rebound to make it 1-0 Maple Leafs.

4. Alex Ovechkin was inexplicably left alone in his office on the powerplay. TJ Oshie found Ovi with a pass from beneath the goal line, and the Capitain made the Leafs pay, making it 1-1.

5. Then, halfway through the second period, bona fide American hero John Carlson punished the Leafs for their northern extremism, blasting home a slap shot on the powerplay to make it 2-1 Caps.

6. Toronto defenseman Roman Polak caught a nasty knee from Brooks Orpik and landed as awkwardly as mint jelly. He had to be helped off the ice, and is unlikely to return for this series. Bad news for an already depleted Toronto defensive corps.

7. Then Toronto’s Kasperi Kaspenen, the friendly ghost, stuffed home a lovely spinaround backhand at the doorstep, for some reason without conflict, to tie the game at 2-2.

8. In the third period, Toronto’s Morgan Rielly figured, “Why not?” and fired a simple snapshot from the blue line that holy crap went in to make it 3-2 Toronto in the final frame.

9. But God Bless Nick Backstrom, who is so slick with the quick stick and poked home a rebound to tie the game and send it to overtime with 7 minutes left. 60 minutes weren’t enough, and the DC faithful were treated to #FreeHockey. And then one overtime period didn’t suffice, so we went to #2OT.

10. AND THEN THE DAGGONE FRIENDLY GHOST DID IT AGAIN, as Kasperi Kaspanen broke the tie in the second extra frame to tie the series at 1-1.

The Caps and the Leafs head back to Toronto, and this one is all even at 1-1. Are you scared? Are you hyped? Talk it out in the comments, and let’s see this bad boy played out on Monday in Toronto.

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