Live Updates: Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena

Now that the holidays are over, the Washington Capitals are back on the ice and have a shiny new toy in the lineup.

The game’s leading scorer, Alex Ovechkin, is back after 40 days on the injured list. Famously deadly in Toronto and on Hockey Night in Canada, it could be a big night for The Great 8 as he returns to the front row with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas. According to Spencer Carbery, Ovi will be “fully operational” and his minutes will not be restricted.

Other returns from Ovi

The Capitals-Leafs game will air on Monumental Sports Network, NHL Network and Sportsnet. Joe Beninati and Alan May have the call. Puck drop occurs shortly after 7:00 p.m.

“There’s nothing better than playing in Toronto on a Saturday night,” says Alan May.

---

lines

Washington Capitals

Toronto Maple Leafs

---

Tunnel shenanigans

---

1st period

Puck is dropped.

The Leafs have four of their first five shots on goal as the Capitals get off to a slow start. Spencer Carbery is not happy on the bench.

🚨 1-0 Toronto Maple Leafs. GOAL Goal: John Tavares (18). Assists: S. Benoit (4), M. Pacioretty (7). Time: 02:14.

Benoit’s shot hits Tavares and inside. Pacioretty showed more offensive talent in this one game than he did all season with Washington.

🚨 1-1 draw. WSH goal: Andrew Mangiapane (18). Assists: H. Lapierre (8). Time: 04:46.

Andrew Mangiapane answers 1:32 later, firing a shot through Matt Murray. Lapierre got the first assist, his eighth ball of the season. He has points in 2 of the last 3.

🚨 2:1 draw. WSH goal: Jakob Chychrun (10). Assists: T. van Riemsdyk (12), T. Raddysh (12). Time: 08:54.

Chychrun danced away from a defender at the blue line, broke through to the right circle and shot into the goal after a great assist from Trevor van Riemsdyk.

It’s quiet at the Scotiabank Arena. You could hear crickets.

William Nylander makes a layup from point-blank range and Logan Thompson somehow manages to save the ball. The Toronto audience let out a huge “WHOAAAA” when they saw the replay on the Jumbotron. Point out. Sink.

Thompson stops Nylander on a free breakaway.

In the break: The Capitals lead with 15 to 14 shots and 24 to 19 shots in five-on-five systems. Some big saves from Thompson keep the Caps ahead in an eventful first period. The Capitals have a 14-1-1 lead after two periods.

---

2nd period

Puck is dropped.

Dominant shift around the third line. John Carlson hits the post at the end. They were in the zone for about a full minute.

🚨 2-2 draw. GOAL Goal: Bobby McMann (10). Assists: M. Domi (10), M. Marner (37). Time: 08:10.

McMann beats Ovi in ​​a race and scores two-on-one. After his first shot was stopped, he punched the rebound out of the air past Thompson.

🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. WSH goal: Nic Dowd (9). Assists: R. Sandin (11), A. Mangiapane (6). Time: 09:53.

The Leafs get the first power play of the game after Aliaksei Protas beat Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 15:41. Big Pro apologized afterwards. What a gentleman.

In the break: The Capitals lead 3-2, although their energy seemed to wane at the end of the stanza. The Leafs now outscore the Caps 27 to 23. Washington leads in five-on-five shot attempts, 46 to 44.

---

3rd period

Puck is dropped.

Alex Ovechkin’s ice time is a little less than 9 minutes in two periods.

The Leafs return to a power play after Pierre-Luc Dubois is whistled for hooking at 2:00.

A shot is deflected past Logan Thompson but he catches it before it goes into the net… how??

Jake McCabe makes a tough save from Brandon Duhaime at the blue line.

A Cap falls over in the defensive zone after attempting to receive a soft pass from Hendrix Lapierre. Pontus Holmberg manages a breakaway. Thompson saves again.

Andrew Mangiapane converts a penalty against Jake McCabe, giving the Capitals their first power play of the game. Yes, their first power play of the game.

Half breakaway for Mitch Marner after a loss of the ball by Jakob Chychrun on the power play, but Thompson saves again.

Ovi shoots his first shot from the left circle on the power play. Murray saves. Afterwards, Ovi is caught cursing under his breath.

🚨 4-2 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Tom Wilson (14). Assists: J. Chychrun (13), D. Strome (28). Time: 12:36.

A great steal behind the net and a great pass to the point from Dylan Strome. Tom Wilson with a brilliant screen in front and Chychrun’s shot hits him and goes in.

Duhaime hits the post SUPER LOUD. *RING*

Super quiet again in the Scotiabank Arena.

🚨 5-2 Washington Capitals. WSH ENG: Alex Ovechkin (16). Assists: A. Protas (16), P. Dubois (22). Time: 16:38.

Ovi’s 869th goal. PRETTY!

The Capitals win 5-2. Toronto outshot the Capitals 37 to 32 and outscored them 63 to 55 attempts. Logan Thompson probably stole the game from the Caps.

Caps defeated Leafs 5-2 with Alex Ovechkin’s return

---

Comment below. Refresh for live updates during gameplay. The thread will be closed shortly after the game ends.