Washington at Toronto

Washington was upset in Game 2, but this veteran team does everything well, and knows how to play on the road. Washington is third in the NHL in goals scored and on the power play, tops in goals allowed, and seventh in penalty killing. They had 50 shots on goal in Game 2. The Capitals are on a 36-15 run overall and 35-17 against the Eastern Conference, including a dazzling 50-14 versus the Atlantic Division. Young Toronto is home and flying high after Game 2, but his team is #22 in goals allowed. Toronto won't have rugged defenseman Roman Polak for Game 3 or for the rest of the playoffs after an injury in Game 2. Polak's absence further depleted a blue line that was already without top-pairing defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, forcing Gardiner, Morgan Rielly (40:12), Matt Hunwick (35:19), and Martin Marincin (30:41) to play heavy minutes. The Maple Leafs are also 10-29 against a team with a winning percentage above .600, and Washington has won eight of the last 10 meetings. Play Washington.