Eller Back In D.C. WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals learned the hard way last week that they can't underestimate their opponents fresh off a rough loss. After taking a comfortable lead and playing steady through the first two periods, things fell apart, and D.C. paid. Toronto turned the tables in the final frame and ultimately, won 4-3 in overtime. Here are all the takeaways. CAPITALS LET LEAFS BACK INTO THE GAME, FALL IN OT The Capitals were playing well going into the third period, leading by two. However, the team let the Maple Leafs back in the game with a lackluster third. Washington was outshot 18-7 in the final frame, as Toronto got back into the game with William Nylander and Mitch Marner — on a last-minute power-play following a bad penalty from Nic Dowd — evening the score and forcing overtime. There, both teams had good looks at possession, and despite a strong showing from Logan Thompson, he couldn't stop John Tavares all alone in overtime. Thompson stopped 31 of 35 shots in the loss, his first with Washington. CAPITALS ON BOTH SIDES OF NHL SITUATION ROOM REVIEWS, END UP WINNING WAR OF THE WAR ROOM Washington found itself on the right and wrong side of official reviews from the NHL Situation Room. In the second period, John Carlson's goal was waved off due to goaltender interference. Upon review following a coach's challenge from the Maple Leafs, the war room in Toronto determined that Nic Dowd had made contact with Joseph Woll in the crease before exiting, preventing Woll from playing his position. Then, in the third, a call would go in Washington's favor. After Steven Lorentz scored off his knee, Logan Thompson immediately argued the call, and the referees looked at it. Upon review, it was determined that Lorentz propelled the puck in by intentionally using his knee to score, so it was waved off. Finally, with 3:13 left in regulation, Matthew Knies scored to even the score, but after another lengthy review — the goal was initially waved off — it was determined he scored with a high stick. Though the calls went in D.C.'s favor, it wasn't enough to win the game. PROTAS, STROME & OVECHKIN STAY HOT AS FIRST LINE GETS ON BOARD AGAIN The Capitals again got a strong showing from their top line, as Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas and Alex Ovechkin continued to click against Toronto. In the final two minutes of the first period, Strome picked up a picture-perfect pass from Protas in the slot before deking around Joseph Woll and putting the puck in the back of the net to give Washington the lead. Strome is up to 23 points on the season, the most on the Capitals, and his 15 points at 5-on-5 rank second in the league. He also ranks seventh in the league in overall scoring, and he's on pace for 125 points. Then, in the second, after a goal from John Carlson was waved off due to goaltender interference, Protas got on the board. After a failed 2-on-1 with bid Alex Ovechkin, Protas got to the front of the net and picked up a feed from Rasmus Sandin, who recovered the loose puck, to put D.C. up 3-1. The 23-year-old has points in four of his last six games and is producing at a point-per-game pace. Ovechkin picked up an assist in the win and has nine points in his last six games. TOP SHELF TAKES - Rasmus Sandin picked up an assist and extended his point streak to three games. Sandin also assisted on John Carlson's waved-off goal. - Nic Dowd collided with Matthew Knies in the second period and left the game briefly after taking a shoulder to the head. He later returned in the third. - Taylor Raddysh scored after his feed to the middle was knocked in off a Toronto defender. It marked his third goal of the season and his second consecutive game with a point.
