The Toronto Maple Leafs have pushed the Stanley Cup favourite Washington Capitals to three straight overtimes in their first-round series and took a 2-1 series lead with their win on Monday night.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said after the game his team is being tested by the youthful Maple Leafs, who came back from a 2-0 deficit in their 4-3 win Monday.

“We want to break some new ground just like the Leafs are trying to do. They’re trying to break through, we’ve got to break through,” Trotz said, per the Washington Times. 

“Our resolve is being tested.”

The Maple Leafs outshot the Capitals for the second straight game on Monday night, though Trotz said the team got also had some good luck.

“They’re getting some breaks,” Trotz said. “They’re working hard, I don’t want to take anything away from them."

The Leafs went one-for-three on the power play Monday night, netting their ovetime winner with the man advantage. the Capitals were held without a power play goal despite a two-minute five-on-three advantage in the second period.

“They’re capitalizing on their moments, and we’re not,” Trotz said. “In the series, they’ve had opportunities and they’ve cashed in. We’ve had opportunities and we haven’t cashed in to this point. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen next game.”

The Capitals have a history of disappointing playoff exits, including each of the past two seasons where they were defeated in the second round.

Coming off their second straight Presidents' Trophy, the Capitals are now once again being asked if they can avoid an early postseason exit.

“Until we change the narrative, that’s going to be the question,” defenceman Matt Niskanen told the Washington Post. “It’s up to us to change it. You can’t talk about it. You just have to go and do it.”

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are starting to gain confidence that they can be the latest team to victimize the Capitals.

“If you talk to our guys, our guys are playing good hockey and they’re playing a good hockey team but you know, I think you gain a respect from yourself in the process and you start believing that maybe you can do this,” head coach Mike Babcock said.

The Capitals will look to even the series at two in Toronto on Wednesday night.