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Boudreau's Big Evening Ends With Loss for Caps
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In addition to Toskala's standout performance in net, the Maple Leafs received goals from Chad Kilger, Steen and a pair of assists from Nik Antropov. They were playing for the first time since John Ferguson Jr. was fired as general manager on Tuesday and replaced by Cliff Fletcher.
Toronto jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Kilger's goal at 7:12 of the first period. Kilger slipped loose in front of Kolzig and redirected a pass from defenseman Anton Stralman.
Ovechkin scored 2:27 into the second period, when he gathered a deflected pass in the high slot and whipped it past Toskala, tying the game at 1.
But the Capitals failed to build on the momentum generated by Ovechkin's goal. Meantime, Toronto's forwards began buzzing around Kolzig, peppering him with shots. Kolzig kept his team in the game during a late second-period flurry, but he was helpless to prevent Steen's go-ahead goal with 1:16 remaining before the second intermission. Sundin took the puck from Mike Green, who tripped behind the goal, skated it out front and zipped a pass to Steen. Steen buried the shot behind Kolzig, who had been run over in the crease.
Semin's goal came on a splendid individual effort. He took a pass from David Steckel, cut to the slot and then faked Toskala before beating the Leafs' goalie with a backhander.
But moments later, Semin was looking on as Sundin scored the winner.
"Once the puck dropped it was like any game -- I wanted to win," Boudreau said of his homecoming. "The great thing is we play them tomorrow. Hopefully we'll learn from our mistakes."
Capitals Notes: Center Kris Beech was claimed on waivers from Vancouver. He is expected to be sent back through waivers Thursday and assigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League. . . .
Defenseman Jeff Schultz was scratched and replaced in the lineup by Toronto native Steve Eminger, who was penalized for boarding Alexei Ponikarovsky in the first period. The Toronto left wing left the contest with a shoulder injury. . . .
Capitals captain Chris Clark missed his 23rd game with a strained groin muscle while defenseman Brian Pothier was sidelined for the eighth time with a concussion.
