The winner advances to the second round and will face either

TORONTO -- The play didnt actually result in a goal in Torontos 4-2 victory over Washington, but came pretty close, another demonstration of the ease with which the NHL seems to be coming to Maple Leafs rookie Mitch Marner.It was late in the second period Saturday night when Marner circled the Washington goal with puck in tow, cut back through the slot to where he started and then whipped a pass across the ice to Tyler Bozak, his attempt denied by reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby.Marner had his eyes up the whole way, scanning the ice for opportunities, not bothered seemingly by Marcus Johansson, the Capitals winger trailing on the play.When you see him start wheeling the zone like that and going for a full lap you know its a confident player, linemate James van Riemsdyk said.Marner had already set up two Toronto goals at that point, vaulting into a share of first in the rookie scoring race while helping the Leafs end a three-game losing streak.The 19-year-old, now with 18 points, has matched Winnipeg sensation Patrik Laine for first among rookies, and also tied van Riemsdyk for the Leafs scoring lead. Marner leads all NHL rookies with 14 even-strength points, boasting six multi-point outings in his first 21 NHL games.Hes a guy who loves the game and he works really hard at it so the skys the limit for him, van Riemsdyk said.Marner set up goals from van Riemsdyk and Matt Martin, and Matthews scored his first goal at home in more than a month. Nazem Kadri added his ninth goal of the season.Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson scored, and Holtby made 37 saves for Washington.We didnt look like the Washington Capitals out there at all, Holby said. Completely embarrassed by a young team. Its not acceptable in our culture here. Were going to have to be better. Every one of us. It was completely embarrassing.Off since a Wednesday night shootout loss in New Jersey and facing a Washington squad playing its third game in four nights, the Maple Leafs appeared the much fresher team early.Martin opened the scoring less than 3 minutes in when he got behind the Washington tandem of John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov and beat Holtby for his second goal of the season and second in two games. The 27-year-old, who went the first 19 games of the year without a goal, was set up beautifully on the play by Marner, the 19-year-old firing a dart from one blue line to the other for his 17th point of the season.The Leafs kept it coming after the goal, outshooting the Capitals 12-1 at one point in the first while drawing three power plays. They came close to beating Holtby once more, but the reigning Vezina Trophy winner stood his ground, turning aside the final 12 shots of the period.The home side grabbed their fourth power play of the game moments into the second when Peter Holland gained a step on Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner, held as he broke free for an opportunity on Holtby. Holland was in the lineup for only his eighth game this year because 20-year-old rookie William Nylander was sidelined with an upper body injury (day-to-day).With the power play it was Marner again showing his skill. He dropped a soft pass into the slot for fellow rookie Nikita Soshnikov and while his attempt was denied, the puck landed right in front of van Riemsdyk. He promptly flipped the puck over Holtbys left pad for his team-leading ninth goal this season.Toronto got in and out of trouble a short while later. With Zach Hyman already in the box for holding, Leo Komarov was then whistled for hooking, giving the Capitals a 24-second five-on-three advantage. The Leafs managed to kill off both penalties though and escape unharmed.Holtby continued to perform throughout a more evenly-played second, countered at the other end by Andersen. The Leafs No. 1 stopped Taylor Chorney streaking down the right side with a glove save and then turned aside both Matt Niskanen and Backstrom on another Capitals man advantage.Marner continued to dazzle otherwise. After blocking a Justin Williams shot and hobbling off the bench the Thornhill, Ont., native then returned to make another eye-catching play. With puck in tow and Johansson trailing, Marner circled around the net, cut back through the slot to where he started and then flung a pass to Tyler Bozak, his attempt just above the goal-line denied by Holtby.Matthews padded the Leafs lead to three 22 seconds into the third when he blasted a Matt Hunwick rebound for his ninth goal of the season.Andersen made maybe his best stop of the game near the midway point of the final period, stretching to snatch Carlsons attempt with his glove.Backstrom scored a short time later, stuffing a shot into the goal on a scramble around the net.Game notes Toronto had dropped its previous three games all by a goal (0-2-1), downed by Montreal, Carolina and New Jersey.UP NEXT:Capitals: Have four days off before facing the New York Islanders at home Thursday nightMaple Leafs: Open a three-game Western Canada swing at Edmonton on Tuesday night. Schuhe Schweiz Bestellen . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Nike Air Max 720 Kaufen .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. https://www.schuheshopschweiz.ch/kaufen-schweiz-nike-air-max-97-gunstig-fake-bestellen-d166.html . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Air Max Billig Kaufen . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Nike Air Max 95 Kaufen . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Two teams that didnt live up to preseason hype square off Wednesday, when Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury visit the Indiana Fever for a win-or-go-home, first-round playoff battle at Bankers Life Fieldhouse that could mark the final game of veteran star Tamika Catchings.One of the WNBAs all-time greats, Catchings has announced that she will retire when the Fevers season ends, which could be Wednesday.The first two rounds of this seasons playoffs are single-elimination, so there is no tomorrow for Wednesdays loser. The winner advances to the second round and will face either the New York Liberty or the Chicago Sky on the road.The Fever, after reaching last years WNBA Finals, were expected to be among the top-tier of contenders again this season. But Indiana (17-17) struggled with inconsistency, especially on the offensive end and didnt secure home court in the first round of the playoffs until an 83-60 win over the Dallas Wings in their regular season finale.Indiana is 11th in the league in scoring, averaging 80.5 points per gaame, and last in the league in rebounding.ddddddddddddThe Mercury (16-18) also experienced a disappointing regular season. With Taurasi returning from a one-year hiatus to join with Brittney Griner and Penny Taylor, Phoenix was expected to be a top-tier contender. Instead, the Mercury barely got into the playoffs, winning three of their last four to secure the eighth seed.Their struggles, for the most part, havent come on the offensive end of the court. Taurasi leads five Mercury players averaging in double figures at 17.8 points per game. She scored 19 points in Phoenixs 79-65 win at Indiana on Aug. 31, the teams most recent meeting.Indiana won two of three overall against Phoenix this season, but will have their hands full with Griner, who has emerged as the leagues premier shot-blocker. Her 107 blocks led the WNBA this season and were 28 more than second-place Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream. ' ' '