{"id":548748,"date":"2026-04-09T13:21:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/548748\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T13:21:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:21:22","slug":"capitals-maple-leafs-how-the-game-was-won","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/548748\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitals @ Maple Leafs: How the Game Was Won"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Washington Capitals\u2019 playoff chances are getting slimmer and slimmer, but they managed to help keep them alive last night with a 4-0 shutout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even better, they got the win in Ilya Protas\u2019 NHL debut. Protas entered the Caps\u2019 lineup on the third line, centering his brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson. Does that combo make 6\u20194\u2033 225lb Wilson the smallest player on the line? It absolutely does! Ilya Protas also recorded his first NHL point in his debut, assisting on fellow rookie Cole Hutson\u2019s empty netter that sealed the 4-0 victory. His brother Aliaksei also assisted on the goal, making them the second set of brothers to factor on the same goal for the Capitals (first was Kelly and Kevin Miller on October 10, 1992).<\/p>\n

The Capitals only needed one goal for the win in Toronto, and their first goal came courtesy of Dylan Strome. Strome was born in nearby Mississauga, Ontario, but had actually never scored a goal at Scotiabank Arena until last night. The tally was a long time coming, so of course it was also an absolutely beautiful shot:<\/p>\n

Strome got the play started at the other end of the ice with a faceoff win to Logan Thompson\u2019s right, feeding the puck backwards to Martin Feh\u00e9rv\u00e1ry. Feh\u00e9rv\u00e1ry then slingshotted the puck around to the other side, presumably aiming for Brandon Duhaime. However, the puck got past both Duhaime and Toronto\u2019s Philippe Myers and landed right on Anthony Beauvillier\u2019s stick. He and Strome had a two-on-one break into the offensive zone, and Beauvillier made a beautiful saucer pass across the ice to a waiting Strome. Strome wasted no time, one-timing the puck past Joseph Woll to open the scoring.<\/p>\n

One more fun thing to note from last night\u2019s win: all four rookies [Ilya Protas (1A), Ryan Leonard (1G), Justin Sourdif (1A), and Cole Hutson (1G)] recorded a point!<\/p>\n

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