This isn’t some random early season game to be quickly forgotten.
The Washington Capitals eliminated the Maple Leafs from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2016-17 season, then they went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2017-18. Alex Ovechkin finally hoisted the trophy over his head.
No doubt one young Auston Matthews saw that, and no doubt he thought “I don’t want to wait 14 years after being drafted for that moment too” like Ovechkin.
The Leafs face their biggest challenge of the season to date in the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.