Kessel, Hagman score in shootout, Maple Leafs end losing skid with win over Capitals

Kessel, Hagman lift Maple Leafs in shootout

TORONTO — Phil Kessel, Niklas Hagman and a couple of good bounces helped pull the Toronto Maple Leafs out of another extended winless slide.

The Toronto forwards scored shootout goals in a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, giving the Maple Leafs their first victory in six games.

It’s the first time Toronto has won a game in extra time all season.

Hagman also scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs (4-11-6).

Alex Ovechkin replied for Washington (13-5-5) with his 16th of the season.

The Maple Leafs were fortunate to be facing a team that was not only playing for the second straight night, but also missing seven players due to injury.

Toronto also got some badly needed bounces.

Capitals forward Eric Fehr had his stick break during his shootout attempt, Washington hit a couple posts late in the third period, and Hagman’s goal beat Semyon Varlamov after a couple quick redirections.

No stat better highlights the gap between teams at the top and bottom of the conference than one that came to light after Ovechkin opened the scoring at 17:11 of the first period. The goal gave the Caps the lead — something they’ve held at some point in all 23 games this season — and marked the 18th time in 21 games the Leafs have surrendered the first goal.

Ovechkin’s goal was classic No. 8. He took a nifty pass from streaking defenseman Mike Green and beat Vesa Toskala with the kind of quick, hard shot that only a handful of players in the world would be capable of unleashing.

The Maple Leafs were actually unfortunate to find themselves trailing after carrying much of the play, highlighted by a pair of solid penalty kills.

Toronto fought back to tie it with the kind of goal a team hard on its luck needs. Hagman was skating hard to the goal when Jason Blake’s shot banked off a Caps defender and hit Hagman before getting past Varlamov at 16:49 of the second period.

NOTES: Ovechkin has 16 goals in 17 career games against Toronto … Garnet Exelby and Rickard Wallin were scratched for the Maple Leafs … The Washington sick bay includes: Milan Jurcina (lower body), Mike Knuble (broken finger), Boyd Gordon (back), Alexander Semin (wrist), Quintin Lang (broken jaw), Shaone Morrisonn (upped body) and Tom Poti (upper body).