The Toronto Maple Leafs gave the Washington Capitals a scare in the opening game of their first-round playoff series, but Barry Trotz acknowledged his club's slow start actually had a positive effect.
"It's a (really) good wake-up call for us," the Capitals head coach told reporters, according to TSN's Mark Masters, following Washington's 3-2 victory. "I know we have another level."
The underdog Leafs scored the first two goals of the series, the first coming less than two minutes in courtesy Mitch Marner and the second scored by Jake Gardiner midway through the opening frame.
Justin Williams brought the Capitals level with a pair of goals that eventually forced overtime, and Tom Wilson finished off the comeback with the game-winner in the extra period.
Related: Wilson's OT winner completes Capitals' Game 1 comeback over Leafs
Trotz didn't like how Washington played for the first 30 minutes of the game, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.
The Capitals out-shot the Leafs 13-7 in the third and 6-2 in overtime, and Washington ultimately prevailed, so Trotz shouldn't have much of an issue with how the Presidents' Trophy winners finished Game 1.
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