The Capitals earned their first win at Scotiabank Arena since October 29th, 2019.
The Washington Capitals finally snapped their Toronto drought with a 3-1 victory over the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, marking their first win in the building since October 29, 2019. That night, Alex Ovechkin sealed the win in overtime, but on this occasion, the team credits an off-ice factor for their success – new dinner plans.
The victory marked the Capitals’ franchise-record eighth consecutive road win, outsourcing opponents 42-18 during that stretch. Despite making history, and entering the game with a 17-6-2 record, the Capitals played the matchup with a sense of urgency, eager to reverse their luck in Toronto.
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Dylan Strome, a Mississauga native, orchestrated the off-ice effort, alongside former Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin. Their plan? A sushi outing to Misaki Saito.
“We went to Misaki Saito yesterday for some nice sushi,” said Sandin pre-game. “We were planning on going there last time, I think it was last year when we came here, but it wasn’t easy to get in. Yesterday we went there with a lot of the guys. They seemed to like it, I did at least – it’s great.”
For Sandin, the game carried added significance. Drafted 29th overall by the Leafs in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he spent parts of four seasons with Toronto before being traded to Washington in 2023. He made no secret of his desire to claim his first victory in Scotiabank Arena against his former team since he had been traded.
“Not just Toronto but it’s obviously a little bit special. I mean, I kind of want that first win at least, and then hopefully take it on to two,” Sandin explained.
Strome, who’s playing in his third season with the Capitals, echoed the same thoughts, considering he had yet to claim a win in Toronto during his tenure in Washington.
“I think we won maybe two years ago, not here, maybe in Washington. Other than that, no, (we) haven’t had much success here. Changed up the spot that I went to dinner last night and hopefully we're going to try to get a win here.”
Beyond Strome and Sandin, the Capitals have a few more ties to Toronto. Head coach Spencer Carbery, a former Maple Leafs assistant coach (2021-2023), now leads Washington and was instrumental in their postseason appearance last year.
With the win, the Capitals evened up the season series as the Maple Leafs earned a 4-3 overtime victory in Washington on November 13. The two face off again at Scotiabank Arena after Christmas on December 28 – where the Capitals will be sure to follow the same procedure pre-game and continue their now-winning ways in Toronto.
Sushi or superstition – call it what you will – but the Capitals may have found their new go-to dinner spot in Toronto, and for good reason.