Leading up to Thursday’s opener of the Washington Capitals’ series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Justin Williams made his playoff philosophy clear.
“It’s pretty darn simple,” the Capitals forward said Tuesday. “We were kicked in the teeth last year. There’s only so many times you get kicked before you fight back and you overcome.”
It turned out to be Williams, whose playoff success (34 goals, three Stanley Cups) is well documented, doing the fighting. His two goals saved the Capitals in regulation and set the stage for Tom Wilson’s game-winner in overtime that gave Washington the 3-2 victory.