Live updates: Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena

After a three-absence, the Washington Capitals are back to take on Eastern Conference behemoth, the Toronto Maple Leafs, though now the Caps are the behemoth.

Hendrix Lapierre will suit up at third-line center with Lars Eller unavailable. (Yes, if you are behind, the Capitals traded for Lars Eller last night). The Capitals will turn to Logan Thompson in net as he appears to have taken ahold of the primary starting spot, at least for now.

The Maple Leafs are without superstar Auston Matthews due to injury. Joseph Woll will start for the Leafs.

Lines

Tunnel Shenanigans

1st Period

Bob McDonald sang the Canadian national anthem and Voices of Service (feat. Caleb Green) just absolutely slayed The Star-Spangled Banner.

Puck is dropped.

Logan Thompson with two huge saves to start the game. Chaos in the Caps zone.

1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Taylor Raddysh (3). Assists: C. McMichael (7), P. Dubois (8). Time: 11:12.

Raddysh’s centering pass clanks off a Maple Leaf and in.

1-1 tie. TOR Goal: Bobby McMann (4). Assists: J. Tavares (7), P. Holmberg (2). Time: 12:11.

Fifty-nine seconds after Raddysh’s scoar, McMann answers after a brilliant set-up feed by Tavares.

2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (5). Assists: A. Protas (9), M. Roy (2). Time: 18:33.

It’s Strome’s first goal in four games. He would not be denied after his initial shot was stopped. The tally marks Dylan’s first goal against his hometown Maple Leafs.

At intermission: Capitals outshoot the Leafs 11 to 5 and out-attempting them at 5v5, 27 to 8.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Logan Thompson with a huge save on a Max Domi breakaway. He still has 0 goals to start the year.

Huge scrum after Pontus Holmberg boards Nic Dowd. Caps to their first power play.

Chychrun negates the rest of the power play after a slash on William Nylander, who was about to be sprung on a semi-breakaway.

A John Carlson point-shot goal is waved off due to (very light) goaltender interference by Nic Dowd.