Tavares Nets OT Winner for Leafs in 4-3 Victory Against Capitals

Summary: 

• The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night.
• John Tavares scored the overtime winner after Mitch Marner tied the game in the final minute. 
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson celebrated his 1,000th NHL game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to rally from a two-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena.

This was possible following Mitch Marner’s tying goal in the final minute of regulation, which gave John Tavares who a few weeks back ended the Jets winning streak, the opportunity to net the overtime winner. 

“I Had a Feeling I Wanted to Make a Move.” 

The comeback was initiated when William Nylander scored with just 4:09 left in the third period. 

The Calgary-born was also crucial in Mitch Marner’s 6-on-4 power-play goal, delivering a perfect setup with just 47.8 seconds remaining. 

MITCH MARNER 🚨

TIE GAME ON THE POWER PLAY pic.twitter.com/CaHd0K3l54

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 14, 2024

After Joseph Woll denied a one-timer from Alex Ovechkin, Marner cleared the puck down the ice, setting up Tavares to score on a breakaway against Logan Thompson.

JOHN TAVARES ENDS IT 🚨

THE LEAFS COMPLETE THE COMEBACK pic.twitter.com/S8RkD2DiVp

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 14, 2024

I had a feeling I wanted to make a move just because of the angle I was at

Tavares commented after the game, adding he

Tried to be aware of possibly going five-hole and it worked out.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker, and Washington’s Nic Dowd was serving a penalty, which gave the Leafs the extra hand they needed to even the score.

Nylander’s performance was particularly notable, as it came the day after his costly turnover that led to an early goal and a loss to the Ottawa Senators at home.

Initially, the Capitals were in the lead 3-1 with goals scored by Taylor Raddysh, Dylan Strome, and Aliaksei Protas. 

Eventually, Tom Wilson’s turnover prepared the stage for Nylander to score past Thompson, turning the tide of the game. 

Dowd’s penalty turned out to be a critical error. 

“The Way That That Game Played Out, Just Embarrassing” 

Washington suffered their fifth loss in 15 games this season.

Coach Spencer Carbery commented after the game:

The way that that game played out, just embarrassing Flat out. That’s unrecognizable from our team. Playing a team on the second of [a] back-to-back. Third period the way that that looked and [losing] the two-goal lead. Embarrassing.

While it took a while for coach Craig Berube and Toronto’s veteran players to get the desired response, the team’s top performers rose to the occasion at a time when it counted most.

“They just kept working”, Toronto coach Craig Berube commented on the team’s performance. 

I mean, we got behind, I get that, but I thought in the second period from the 10-minute mark on, we started to really press and do some real good things in the offensive zone and get some opportunities, and it carried over in the third.

Thompson, who made 31 saves, also experienced his first loss since he was traded to Washington from the Vegas Golden Knights this summer.

Woll was solid in the net for Toronto. The 26-year-old from Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, managed to stop 24 of 27 shots, assisting his team in its recovery from the previous night’s disappointment. 

Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson reached a major milestone, skating in his 1,000th regular-season NHL game.

Next on the NHL betting schedule is a Capitals VS Avalance confrontation in Colorado on Friday. The Maple Leafs will face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.