Woll, Matthews power Maple Leafs past slumping Capitals

WASHINGTON -- Joseph Woll made 36 saves for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.

"He's been outstanding," Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said of Woll. "I thought tonight was one of his best games that I've seen him play."

Rielly and Auston Matthews each had a goal and an assist for Toronto (4-2-0), and John Tavares and William Nylander scored.

"We didn't play a great game here tonight, but we did enough good things to put ourselves in position to win the game," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Certainly, our quick strike ability with our elite players puts us in position to be able to win games even we're not at our best."

Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season for Washington (1-3-1), and Darcy Kuemper made 13 saves. The Capitals have scored six regulation goals in five games this season.

"I think we had lots of opportunities," said Ovechkin, who had 14 shots on goal. "I think we played the right way but we're just in that period of time when we have to fight through it and don't be panicking, don't be frustrated. It's just part of the process. I think we just have to play hard and [the puck] goes in."

Rielly gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 12:53 of the first period with a power-play goal when he took a pass at the bottom of the right circle from Timothy Liljegren and beat Kuemper far side.

Toronto was outshot 17-5 in the first period.

"He kept us in it in that first period," Matthews said of Woll. "They really came out flying and kind of took control of the game pretty early on, and he was just solid for us. He gave us a chance to hang in there."

Ovechkin was awarded a penalty shot at 2:45 of the second period after he was hooked by Mark Giordano on a breakaway, but Woll made a blocker save on his backhand attempt.

"I was just trying as best I can to let myself make the read and not be guessing too much," Woll said.

Tavares made it 2-0 at 5:41, redirecting a pass from Rielly past Kuemper.

Nylander increased the lead to 3-0 at 6:29 when he received a stretch pass from Matthews, got around defenseman Nick Jensen and lifted the puck over Kuemper's shoulder.

"I think we had a really good start in the first period, a couple good chances and we didn't score and then in the second, they got like two shots, two goals and then it's just tough to come back," Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary said.

Matthews made it 4-0 at 15:07, scoring on a one-timer from the left circle during a power play.

Ovechkin pulled Washington within 4-1 when he tipped in a pass from John Carlson at 19:49. It was the 300th power-play goal of his career and 823rd in the NHL. He is 71 behind Wayne Gretzky for the most in League history.

"He looked different tonight, even another gear," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin. "He was attacking all night. He was not deferring at all."

Washington appeared to take a 1-0 lead at 4:15 of the first period when Nicklas Backstrom scored during a scramble in front. After taking a timeout, Toronto used a coach's challenge for goalie interference, and a video review overturned the call determining that Ovechkin, who took a shot and then fell into the net, impaired Woll's ability to play his position in the crease.

"It was just the debate on whether Ovechkin driving through really impeded [Woll's] ability to make a save or recover," Keefe said. "Those are tough ones to call but the video guys felt strongly that it was (interference) and they needed some time to convince me of it."

NOTES: Tavares (three goals, seven assists) and Nylander (five goals, five assists) each has a point in all six games for Toronto this season. The 14 shots on goal by Ovechkin were the second-most any player has had in a game this season. Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon had 15 in a 2-1 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 14. ... Ovechkin attempted the 13th penalty shot of his career, tied with Vincent Lecavalier for the most in NHL history. He has scored twice. … … Rielly's goal was the first by a Maple Leafs defenseman this season; Toronto has scored 22 goals …. Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who was acquired from the Maple Leafs on Feb. 28, played 20:33 and was minus-1 in his first game against his former team. … It was Carbery's first game against the Maple Leafs, for whom he worked the previous two seasons as an assistant coach.