Final - 2OT
  for this game

Reimer shines as Leafs get past Capitals in SO

Nov 24, 2013 - 6:48 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - James Reimer turned aside 49 shots and stood tall during the shootout to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Washington Capitals, 2-1, at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto moved ahead on their fourth shooter when Joffrey Lupul made a stutter- step move and wristed a shot over the glove of Braden Holtby to kick off the final round. Reimer then watched as Troy Brouwer shot his chance over the net to end the contest.

David Clarkson scored during a second-period power play, with Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri picking up the helpers as the Leafs won for the third time in their last four.

"I felt a little better back there tonight," said Reimer. "It means a lot to win these games in the shootout because it's one of those little extra things at the end that allow you to help the team get a win."

Alex Ovechkin lit the lamp for the Capitals late in regulation and became the first player to 20 goals this season. Holtby stopped 27-of-28 shots in Washington's third straight loss.

"I think we played a good defensive game tonight," said Ovechkin. "But we just couldn't get any rebounds, and when we did we didn't take advantage. Still, it was a good game and we got a point on the road."

Toronto opened up the scoring on the advantage, after Fehr went off for interference. Clarkson set a screen and tipped a shot from Gardiner that trickled through the pads of Holtby just after the midway point of the contest.

The Caps equalized with 4:10 to play. Mike Green took the puck and flipped a pass from the neutral zone into Toronto's zone. Ovechkin tracked it down and ripped a knuckling shot from the left circle to tie the game.

The game went to a shootout after neither team could light the lamp in overtime.

After Clarkson missed on his shootout attempt, Fehr slipped a shot through the five-hole of Reimer. James van Riemsdyk answered for Toronto scoring in similar fashion on Holtby before both Ovechkin and Mason Raymond came up empty.

Game Notes

Toronto improved to 3-1 in shootouts this season ... This was the first of three games between the two teams this season ... The Maple Leafs have won three of their last four games against the Capitals ... Washington's 50 shots on net is the most allowed by Toronto this season ... After being bought out by the Leafs in the offseason, Mikhail Grabovski faced his former team for the first time. With seven seconds remaining in the second, he fell and Clarkson's skate inadvertently clipped him in the face. Grabovski skated straight to the dressing room, but returned to the bench early in the following period.