Spencer Carbery on the Maple Leafs' season: "You read about what's going on, but they're 6-2-2 in their last 10! We know it's a good team"

"That was the tale of the game. We got a little bit frustrated. We scored on the first shift, and it got called back on an early whistle. It sort of got us off-kilter a little bit for the rest of the first, and then we got down in the game. But then there was the push from our group. We had a great third period. It was one of those games that has become emblematic of our group over the last couple of years. You could feel that we were not going to be denied that night. We were going to find a way to get back into that game and tie that game up. We eventually won it in regulation. It was a character win for our group at home, for sure."

"It's funny. You read little snippets about what is going on, and then you look at their record in the last 10, and it's like, "What is going on here? They're 6-2-2 in their last 10!" Having played them recently, we have a good feel for their group, but we also know it is a good hockey team. As we felt in that game, we are going to have to be good tonight. As we work through our game and how we have been playing of late, it is a really important game for our group."

Washington overcame an early disallowed goal and trailed by a couple of goals before mounting a third-period rally to win in regulation. The team displayed resilience and character, turning a frustrating start into a decisive push and tying the game before securing victory. Recent results are strong, with a 6-2-2 stretch over the last ten games, but five-on-five play remains an area of concern. Toronto has also been hot recently, posting a 6-2-2 record in its last ten. Changes in special-teams personnel and systems have limited direct prescout advantages from prior familiarity.

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