Leafs Lose a Big One to the Caps

Leaf fans are beginning to realize that the dream of playoff hockey should be shut down. Following their latest 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals, a team they're chasing in the standings, the playoffs seem way out of the question. After being shutout in their last two games, the Maple Leafs are now sitting in 12th in the Eastern Conference, a whopping 8 points out of the playoffs and only 3 points ahead of the last place Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs have seen their record fall below the .500 mark for the first time this season, as they currently sit with a record of 30-31-8.

The Leafs gave up a short handed goal roughly 10 minutes into the game off a brutal giveaway by rookie Jake Gardiner. The young defenseman attempted to drop the puck back in the neutral zone and Capitals hard nosed forward, Brooks Laich, picked off the pass, went in on Leafs goaltender Jonas Gustvasson and beat him glove side. The game remained 1-0 until Mathieu Perreault buried a loose puck at the side of the Leafs goal 42 seconds into the third period to extend the Capitals lead to 2-0. The Leafs failed to muster up any offense to break the shutout, barely looking threatening all night. The Leafs only registered 23 shots on Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth, with only a few of them being solid scoring opportunities. Jonas Gustvasson, who started his sixth straight game, made several big saves throughout the game to keep his team in it, finishing with a total of 21 saves.

Three Stars: 

Michal Neuvirth (WSH): SV%: 1.00 GAA: 0

Brooks Laich (WSH): 1 G, +1, 3 SOG 

Mathieu Perreault (WSH): 1 G, +1, 1 SOG

Highlights of Sundays game: 

Leaf head coach Randy Carlyle following the loss:

The Leafs next game is Tuesday, March 13th in Sunrise, Florida against the Florida Panthers