Leafs Postgame: Seed. Planted.

After one of the best games Leafs fans have seen in the last 20 years, Toronto returned home for game three against the Caps.

It goes without saying, but a win would do wonders for the Leafs’ chances of slaying the giant, while a loss would be borderline catastrophic.

Here’s how Toronto’s 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals played out (buds all day hell ya baby).

Things could not have gotten off to a worse start.

Just over two and a half minutes into the game, Nicklas Backstrom notched his second of the series on an ugly defensive effort by Toronto.

Some will blame Zaitsev on this play, others, Van Reimsdyk. Truth is, it’s both of their faults. They need to communicate and find out who’s going to make sure that the guy who scored 86 points this season doesn’t go untouched to the net.

Two minutes later, Leafs killer #3485739, Alex Ovechkin, gave the Caps the worst lead in hockey.

You could say that one was a ‘dart’. Sorry. Trying to delete. Seriously, though – Ovi’s still got it. Andersen didn’t have a chance at stopping this one. Sometimes the other team just plain beats you. 2-0 Caps.

Then, about 10 minutes later, came ‘The Shift’.

Honestly, was that the best ~45 seconds of hockey we’ve seen all year? First, Kadri absolutely blows up Brooks Orpik in the corner.

Then, Komarov goes hard after Ovechkin.

After that, Kadri blows up Orpik again.

THEN, with the crowd on their feet, Matthews scores his first career playoff goal, cutting Washington’s lead to one.

Lordy. Washington took a 2-1 lead to the second.

The second went much like the first. An early goal by Washington all but deflated the Leafs (and the crowd’s) energy. However, it’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish.

After two successful penalty kills (one coming on a two-minute 5 on 3), Toronto started to gain momentum, which culminated in Nazem Kadri’s first of the series.

This came after a ‘heavy shift’ in Washington’s end, and a lot of the credit here has to go to Brown and Rielly. Your typical playoff goal brought Toronto back to within striking distance, down 3-2.

Honestly, I would have been happy going to the third down just one goal. Each game has been close, and going to the final frame down one would have been par for the course. Luckily, William Nylander and the Leafs didn’t feel the same way.

Should Zach Hyman be on a line with Matthews and Nylander? No, probably not. However, what he’s good at, he’s really good at, and that’s getting pucks in deep, then backing off to let Nylander and Matthews work their magic.

Two things on this goal.

Anyways, we had a tie game heading to the third!

Since I’ve bombarded you guys with a million gifs, I’m not going to go play by play for the third period. All you need to know is that it was probably the best 20 minutes of hockey I’ve ever seen in my 21 years on earth. Neither team scored, each got chances, and Toronto dominated. Onwards.

The Leafs started OT with a man advantage courtesy of a Lars Eller high stick on Zach Hyman in the final minute of regulation. The Leafs’ powerplay has been garbage for a few games now, but luckily, they decided to wake up. Is this real life? Here’s Tyler Bozak’s game-winning goal.

This was one of the most entertaining games I’ve ever watched, and super encouraging as well. This is a Leafs team that, at the start of the season, probably would have folded when Washington went up 3-1. The fact that they were able to battle back and, frankly, dominate the best team in the NHL is really damn impressive.

The Leafs seemed to flip a switch somewhere near the end of the second period and thoroughly dominated the game from that point forward. There wasn’t a player that stood out as having a bad game, although Zaitsev did look rusty and I didn’t exactly love the third goal on Andersen.

This is probably the most dominating the Leafs have looked so far this series. They’re stepping up to the challenge and exceeding expectations. Look, even Mike Modano’s a believer.

Also, shoutout to hockeystats.ca for the dart guy goal markers. Great stuff.

Individually, in case it wasn’t already clear, the Matthews line was easily Toronto’s best. Also, two huge, huge games from Gardiner and Rielly.

I know I say this a lot when I write these recaps, but there are so many players this could go to.

Tyler Bozak had one of his best games as a Leaf (seriously, I’ve never seen him skate like that) and scored the game winner, Wiliam Nylander was his usual self, Nazem Kadri was a beast, and many on the blueline played a great game as well.

I’ll give it to Bozak – I think he deserves it for a few reasons. First of all, as I mentioned, he played one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play. He’s completely changed my view on him as a player, and while he’s still someone the Leafs should look to move for help on D, in the end, he’s a really valuable asset. Oh yeah, and he also scored the biggest goal in his career tonight. BUDS ALL DAY.

Toronto’s back in action Wednesday night at the ACC for game four. Good luck getting tickets.