Unfortunately, the Leafs start in game four echoed a near exact start in the previous game, with the Maple Leafs finding themselves in a 2-0 hole just five minutes into the game.
When Matthews scored 12 minutes into the third period, the Leafs were down a goal and the crowd went bonkers, inspired by the idea of a complete comeback.
A Pair To Beat A Full House - Again according to Elias, Caps right wings Wilson and T.J. Oshie each scored twice in Wednesday's game, marking the first time in seven years the Caps had a pair of players score a pair of goals in the same playoff game. The Maple Leafs are relying on their bevy of offensive weapons led by Nazem Kadri, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and James van Riemsdyk up front along with Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly on defense.
The Caps were strong early, and though the Leafs almost came all the way back from a 4-1 deficit, Toronto's overall lack of urgency and a middling performance by goalie Frederik Andersen conspired to work in the visitors' favour.
The Leafs and Caps have played more than four and a half games, including overtimes, and are tied 14-14 on aggregate. The difference in expectations in this series is nearly comical: The Leafs' season is already a successful one, no matter what happens next.
The Capitals have been getting off to strong starts lately in the series. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russian Federation, is helped off the ice by Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, and Nate Schmidt (88) after he was injured during the first period of Game 5 in an NHL Stanley Cup hockey first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday, April 21, 2017, in Washington. Oshie was a top scorer during the regular season, and the Caps need him to produce to move forward in the playoffs.
Braden Holtby stopped 30 shots for the Capitals, who host Game 5 on Friday.
Killing It - During the course of the 2016-17 National Hockey League regular season, the Caps were - along with Florida and the New York Islanders - one of three National Hockey League teams that did not permit a five-on-three power play goal at any point during the campaign.
But with Game 5 back in Washington on tap, and momentum in the Capitals' clutches after their 5-4 win on Wednesday, Maple Leafs young and old have to find their next gear. The goal, finished off deftly at the net by Bobby Ryan (see: "Game 3 hero" for Ottawa, "Game 3 (insert expletive)" for Boston), was in large part due to the incredible set up by Erik Karlsson, who one announcer slipped into comparing to Bobby Orr after the play.
Rask could break out and turn in a gem, but the Senators at home are the favorite to take Game 5. In total, he made 22 saves: good, but not a ridiculous amount. The Bruins challenged the call to no avail. It would be great to see the second line get in on the action.
Opec: Oil deal bearing fruit but rival output rising
Futures rose as much as 0.7 percent in NY after advancing 3.2 percent last week following a US military strike on Syria. OPEC members have previously said they lean toward oil cut extensions, as long as non-members are also involved.
In the first game, Boston came out fast and kept the Senators on their heels, causing enough minor mistakes on them to come out with a win.
Whether that was indeed the case on Wednesday night, his team simply looked nothing like the speedy, skilled group which swiped two of the first three games.
The third line has been one of the most dominant possession lines in the Stanley Cup playoffs, yet they're being deployed like a fourth line.
Washington meanwhile is playing with a ton of pressure on their shoulders as they have become synonymous with playoff underachievement and while they were the odds on favourite in this series, the Eastern Conference, and to win the Stanley Cup they haven't been playing like it as the Leafs have been the better of the two teams through four games.
A series of missed opportunities has come to an end for the Calgary Flames as they fell to the Anaheim Ducks on home ice last night.
Craig Anderson is playing exceptional, as he blanked the Bruins in Game 4.
You got the distinct feeling the Caps were going to blow it if the game was one minute longer. Bozak, who had the winning goal in Game 3, got Toronto within one with 26 seconds left, but Washington held on from there. Charlie Coyle's unassisted goal put the Wild ahead late in the opening period.
This series could have been very different.
Jamie Capstick wasn't looking to make any money by selling his extra playoff tickets but also had a surprisingly hard time finding takers for his 300-level tickets.
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