Despite yielding four first period goals, the Toronto Maple Leafs showed why they need to be taken seriously from now on.
Trailing 4-1, the Leafs rallied to pressure Washington before finally dropping Game 4, 
5-4, and falling into a 2-2 series tie.
Washington got two goals each from T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson and a single marker from Alex Ovechkin.
“We had everyone going. We were putting pucks to the right areas” Oshie said. “We were shooting a little bit more, getting guys to the net, and I think that gave us some more chances. You’ve got to tip your hat because they kept coming at the end there, but we were able to hold them off.”
Braden Holtby made 29 saves and survived the Leafs’ offensive pressure especially in the third period.
Toronto started the third period on a 5-on-3 power play but their failure to break through eventually doomed them.
“When you have to sit and think about it a little bit, those moments can weigh on you,” Washington head coach Barry Trotz said. “It was almost like there was no doubt when we came in the dressing room. They (the penalty kill) were going to get it done; we just had a good feeling about it.”
Trailing 4-2 midway through the final frame, the Maple Leafs finally got through with a big goal from Auston Matthews to cut the score to 4-3 before Washington bumped the score to 5-3 in response.
Tyler Bozak potted a goal with less than 30 seconds left in regulation but that was all the Leafs could muster.
“It’s nice that we’re able to score goals and get ourselves back in the game, but we didn’t play near as good as we needed to,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “We talked a lot about how the game was going to be today, but it didn’t look like any of that sunk in. We weren’t good enough, we didn’t compete hard enough. I thought they won all the battles and all the races.”
Zach Hyman and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Leafs.
[WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Capitals highlights | RELATED: Complete Toronto vs. Washington series coverage]
Frederik Andersen took the loss on 22 saves.
“I don’t think it was them so much. I think it was more we beat ourselves today. We didn’t come to execute, and we didn’t talk to each other enough to break out clean and that cost us. We didn’t play anywhere close to what we’re capable of,” Andersen said after the loss.
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