Caps 3, Maple Leafs 0
Well, Thursday’s strong performance has continued into the home opener tonight. Caps had three goals on their first seven shots. Alex Ovechkin scored less than two minutes into the game, taking advantage of a one-on-one with Toronto D Luke Schenn, who looked all of 19-years-old on the play.
Mike Knuble did exactly what the Caps pay him for – scoring from, oh, two feet in front of the net as he banged home an Ovechkin shot on the power play. Later Brooks Laich scored his third goal on a breakaway – showing he’s not just a front-of-the-net presence. He’s got some open ice moves, too. Credit D Milan Jurcina for his excellent outlet pass to spring Laich. Jurcina has had a strong game so far. G Semyon Varlamov has faced 10 shots. Leafs had a few decent chances, but couldn’t finish. Varlamov’s best save was on a rebound that bounced behind the net to a Leaf waiting on the other side. But the 21-year-old Russian exploded from right to left and got a pad in front to block the scoring chance. Crowd here at Verizon Center was in playoff mode early. This place is LOUD tonight.
