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Washington Capitals: One Win Away From Second Round

By Subir Nigam

Apr 21, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is helped off the ice after being injured against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period in game five of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is helped off the ice after being injured against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period in game five of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 and are now looking to clinch the series in Game 6.

Another overtime game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs was decided by Justin Williams in Game 5. The former now has a 3-2 series lead while the latter faces a must win game in Game 6. Game 6 will be played in Toronto on Sunday at 7:00 pm ET.

With a chance to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Capitals must put their best game forward in order to finally knock off the Maple Leafs. Every game in this series has been decided by just one goal while four of the five games have gone to OT.

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When you add up the amount of overtime minutes played in this series, the two teams have played 39.09 extra-time minutes. That is just short of two full periods.

If there is anything we’ve learned from this series so far, it is that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a resilient group that does not fade away. No matter if the Caps score first, have a multi-goal lead, or seem to be dominating the play, the Maple Leafs will not fold. It will be no different in Game 6 where the home team will look to force a Game 7.

It will take another incredible effort from Braden Holtby to keep those pesky Toronto chances out of the net. On the other end of the ice, Frederik Andersen must continue to match Holtby’s play and rob Washington of scoring chances like he has done a couple times already in this series.

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With a rested Pittsburgh Penguins already awaiting their Round 2 opponent, the Capitals must understand how important it is to finish off this series in Game 6. If they fail to do so, a Game 7 at the Verizon Center between the first and eighth seed matchup will decide the series winner.

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