3 takeaways from Leafs-Capitals: Defensive zone issues persist, Stolarz sustains lower-body injury

Capitals forward Dylan Strome opened the scoring against his boyhood club, breaking free on a 2-on-1. Toronto’s fourth line couldn’t track back quickly enough and Strome wired home a one-timer on a feed from Anthony Beauvillier. You would imagine that Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube would’ve lit a fire under his squad at the break. Instead, the Capitals added to their lead in the opening minute of the second frame.

Immediately after the Maple Leafs’ power play ended, the five-man unit completely lost their positional sense. Ryan Leonard sprung free from the box, beating Joseph Woll cleanly with plenty of time to get his shot off. Martin Fehervary banked a shot off Jake McCabe’s skate and in for a 3-0 lead, effectively ending the contest, as the Maple Leafs couldn’t generate any potent looks throughout the game.

Berube’s group has learned nothing defensively, at least from the opening game of the season onwards. Although the season is over for all intents and purposes, it was another brutal showing from the Maple Leafs’ blue line. And courtesy of Sportsnet’s Sam McKee, perhaps a picture tells a thousand words.

Anthony Stolarz sustains lower-body injury early in 1st period

Anthony Stolarz left the game during the first period, and was ruled out during the first intermission with a lower-body injury. Stolarz sustained the injury while making a pad save, then went to the locker room with the assistance of a trainer. With nothing to play for but pride, the Maple Leafs should strongly consider shutting Stolarz down for the remainder of the season.

Joseph Woll entered the game in Stolarz’s absence and didn’t provide the Maple Leafs with much insurance, although the woeful defensive zone coverage in front of him makes it difficult to provide a true evaluation. Toronto will call up Artur Akhtyamov from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he will make his first NHL start against the New York Islanders, head coach Craig Berube confirmed post-game.

Ovechkin’s potential final stand against Maple Leafs

All eyes were on Alexander Ovechkin during Wednesday’s game. Ovechkin was coy about his plans to return for the 2026-27 season, and Wednesday’s game may have been his final stand in Toronto. It wasn’t a vintage Ovechkin performance by any means, but it was notable.

Ovechkin has essentially been deployed exclusively in offensive zone scenarios, and yet the Capitals can easily survive his minutes due to his offensive potency. More simply, Ovechkin can still rip the puck and the threat of his shot can still freeze a defence, especially a group as disorganized as the 2026 Maple Leafs.

Although he was the slowest player on the ice, Ovechkin was still able to quietly control play, on a line with Anthony Beauvillier and Dylan Strome. Ovechkin primarily operated as a playmaker, looking to his gravity effect to create room for his linemates. The all-time leading scorer in NHL history recorded three shots on goal, and he didn’t have to push the pace in order to create offence against the Maple Leafs.

“Anything you don’t think Alex Ovechkin can’t do, you’re sorely mistaken,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said pre-game. “It happened last year. It happened this year, where you think maybe the goals have dried up. And all of a sudden, he scores nine goals in 12 games. Next thing you know, you look at the stat pack, and he’s got 30 goals on the season. He’s 40 years old, and you just shake your head.”

Was this Ovechkin’s final stand in Toronto? We certainly hope not. In any event, here’s some appreciation for the greatest goal-scorer of all-time!