Analysis | The Leafs found most of what they were looking for against Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals

WASHINGTON If you were looking for signs of progress in the troubled parts of the Maple Leafs’ game, you could find them in their 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Petr Mrázek was solid but not spectacular in net and picked up the win, turning aside 30 of 33 shots.

“He was really good,” coach Sheldon Keefe said of his goalie. “He made a couple of big saves on some one-timers — not just Alex Ovechkin but some other guys — so full marks for the win tonight.”

John Tavares didn’t score, but he put in the hard work that helped produce two goals, including the winner by Rasmus Sandin with 3:23 to go.

“(Tavares) worked really hard to get the puck back and made a terrific pass out (to Justin Holl),” said Sandin. “I didn’t think he saw me, but he did. So I was very happy with that. I got a missile right on my tape and just tried to get it in …

“I was almost shaking on the bench at the end because I just wanted us to score another one, the empty net, so we could finish it off.”

The Leafs also held their own against a fairly physical Capitals team.

Michael Bunting continued to hold a hot hand, scoring his 19th goal of the year and third in four games. Mitch Marner had two assists for 11 points in his last four games. Holl, William Nylander and Pierre Engvall — with the empty-netter Sandin was rooting for — also scored as the Leafs won their third in a row. They have picked up points in four straight.

A playoff spot is not in doubt, but the Leafs’ game has been uneven lately. Tavares hasn’t scored in 13 games. And the goaltending has been, well, subpar, though Mrázek has registered consecutive wins for the first time this season.

“I felt good out there,” said Mrázek. “They put a lot of pucks on the net. You have to be sharp, and I saw a lot of pucks. The tips, you have to be lucky, too, to get a piece of. Overall, you know, good performance.”

The power play hasn’t scored in six games, though, and they allowed a short-hander — Tom Wilson’s second goal of the night that tied it 3-3 in the third.

“I thought we were good in a lot of areas,” said Keefe, “except the power play. Other than the short-handed chance, they never really got in alone on us on the rush at all. That’s been a major area of improvement for us as a team.

Captain’s struggles Tavares is still looking for his next goal after a 13-game drought. He went 17 at one point in his rookie season. He’s battling a bug of some sort, but playing through it.

He’d had nine assists since he last scored Jan. 29, so it’s not like he hasn’t been productive. That includes an assist in the first period, his hard work along the boards behind the Washington net setting up Nylander’s 21st of the season.

His actions reflected his words after the morning skate: “Just try to stay with it, create opportunities and looks, and continue to do that and just trust that it will go in. I’ve scored a bunch throughout my career. Just keep playing a good overall game and keep contributing to help us win. That’s really what’s most important.”

Under fire The Capitals put the heat on Mrázek to start the game. Leafs goaltending has been a big question mark recently, and the Capitals didn’t want him to get any confidence.

Mrázek seemed quite uncomfortable, battling the puck, but staying with it. He was beaten a number of times, but had his posts, teammates and even the top of the net to thank for keeping Washington to one goal on 12 shots in the first period. Matthews helped, sweeping away a sure goal with the puck on the line.

“You need sometimes bounces like that to win a game, and that one was on our side today,” said Mrázek.

Even with the Washington pressure, it was the Leafs who emerged with a 3-1 lead after one period. Bunting took a terrific feed from Marner for the game’s first goal. Nylander restored the lead after Conor Sheary had tied it. And Justin Holl banged in a puck with 1.6 seconds to go in the period as the Leafs’ offensive juggernaut continued.

In and out The Capitals switched goalies to start the second period, with Vitek Vanecek replacing Ilya Samsonov. It was the second game in a row the Leafs offence had forced a goalie change. The Caps got the only goal of the second, Tom Wilson on a power play after a penalty he drew. The Leafs were outraged at the penalty call. Wilson clearly fell on a rush, but Pierre Engvall was sent to the box for tripping. No amount of arguing from Engvall or coach Sheldon Keefe could convince the officials they were wrong.

Kase closed Ondrej Kase joined Travis Dermott and Kyle Clifford among the Leafs’ scratches. Before the game, Keefe suggested Kase was nursing an injury and not hit by the stomach bug that had gone through the room. Tavares was one of those sick, but played through it Saturday.

“Just sick,” said Tavares. “Just trying to take care of myself and be ready to play.”

Ovi love Anyone thinking that Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin would get booed in his home rink over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was disappointed. He was cheered loudly at the ceremonial puck drop, with the Capital One crowd kept up its usual yelling of “O” — for Ovechkin — at the “O say, can you see” part of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Ovechkin’s close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin have put the player in the spotlight.

Bits and pieces It was the first time Keefe had coached against the Capitals. He even got to Seattle before Washington. He’s coached against every team now, but not in Boston … Nylander, Bunting, Morgan Rielly, Alex Kerfoot, David Kampf and T.J. Brodie are the only Leafs to have played all 53 games.