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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TORONTO (AP) -- Washington's Sergei Gonchar changed the Capitals'
game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in less than a minute.
Gonchar scored the go-ahead goal 45 seconds after assisting on
the tying goal in the third period in the Capitals' 3-2 victory
over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
|  | | Sergei Gonchar, center, has the most goals among defenseman over the last three seasons (48). |
"We blew it up in the third," Gonchar said. "We started
pushing a little bit harder because we were only one shot behind."
After Gonchar's shot went off Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph, Jeff
Halpern batted in the rebound to tie it at 2 at 6:55 of the third.
Moments later, Gonchar one-timed the puck over Joseph's shoulder.
"He's the type of player you don't notice for a period or two
then all of a sudden -- bang, bang. He's dangerous," Washington
goalie Olaf Kolzig said.
Gonchar has the most goals among NHL defenseman during the last
three seasons with 48.
"It seemed like in 30 seconds all of a sudden they were
winning," Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph said.
Matthew Herr also scored for the Capitals, who are 6-2-2 in
their last 10.
Nik Antropov and Gary Roberts scored for the Maple Leafs, who
went 0-for-7 on the power play.
"It's a growing concern, but they're working on it daily,"
said Joseph, who made 22 saves.
Kolzig, last year's Vezina Trophy winner, stopped 24 shots and
is 14-4-2 in his last 20 starts.
"He's keeping us in a lot of games," Gonchar said.
Herr flicked a rebound past a sprawled Joseph at 2:10 of the
first to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead.
After Toronto's Shayne Corson fired a shot off Kolzig, Antropov
banged in the rebound at 12:41 of the first to tie it.
Toronto's Gary Roberts scored his 16th goal at 17:14 of the
first to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead.
"After I scored near the end of the first I thought Kolzig
played very well, and then when you go 0-for-7 on your power play
that's a concern," Roberts said.
Game notes
Washington's Dmitri Khristich didn't play against his
former team. Khristich missed his second straight game with a
strained left hamstring. Khristich has 14 points in 12 games since
being traded from Toronto. He had just nine in 27 games with the
Leafs. ... Toronto went 0-for-7 on the power play. ... Kolzig has
started 31 of the last 33 games, missing one of those because his
wife gave birth. ... The Leafs asked the officials to check if
Peter Bondra had an illegal stick with 11.2 seconds remaining.
Bondra didn't, and the Leafs received a penalty. ... The Capitals
went 0-for-4 on the power play. ... The Leafs have just three wins
in their last 12 games.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 5
NY Rangers 5
Colorado 2
Carolina 2
Phoenix 2
NY Islanders 1
Ottawa 4
Montreal 3
Atlanta 2
Philadelphia 2
Washington 3
Toronto 2
Dallas 4
Boston 0
Buffalo 2
Nashville 0
St. Louis 5
Minnesota 1
Los Angeles 5
Calgary 0
Vancouver 4
Columbus 3
San Jose 3
Florida 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jeff Halpern hits Cory Cross' stick to put the puck in the back of the net.
avi
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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