(Sports Network) - Phil Kessel scored the game-winning goal in the first round of the shootout, as the Toronto Maple Leafs ended a five-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals (web | news) at Air Canada Centre.

Kessel, the first shooter, fired a wrister that deflected off the inside of the left post and into the net. Vesa Toskala then stopped Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin before Niklas Hagman sealed the win when he found the back of the net to start the third round.

Hagman scored the lone goal in regulation for the Maple Leafs, who won for the first time since a 5-1 victory over Detroit on November 7. Toskala turned aside 31-of-32 shots for Toronto.

"We've had some bounces in the last couple games," said Hagman.

Ovechkin tallied the only score for the Capitals, who have lost three of four. Semyon Varlamov stopped 38-of-39 shots in defeat.

"I have no idea why they're in the position their in. They're going to turn it around very quickly," Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau said of Toronto.

The Capitals got on the board with 2:49 left in the first period. Mike Green controlled the disc in the Toronto zone after Washington won a battle for the puck at the blue line. Green passed to Ovechkin, whose wrister beat Toskala.

Hagman's goal with 3:11 remaining in the second tied the tilt at one. A shot from the right circle set up a rebound behind Varlamov, and Hagman was there to tip in the loose disc.

Toskala made 10 saves in the third frame, while Varlamov stopped nine shots to send the contest into overtime.

Each team had two shots on goal in a scoreless extra session.

Game Notes

The Capitals and Maple Leafs have split their four-game season series in each of the previous three campaigns, with Washington losing three of four and four of its last six in Toronto...The Capitals play at Ottawa on Monday, while the Maple Leafs welcome the New York Islanders to town Monday.



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