from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,

Plan overboard!

Mike Babcock must have looked at the deep blue sea depicted under the Maple Leafs bench and felt like tossing whatever notes he made on containing the Washington Capitals right into the drink.

“They got on us, we didn’t execute like we go through and we didn’t have many good players,” coach Babcock said.

So after two storybook outdoor games, winning by shootout and overtime, Toronto was dead in the water at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Hoping to give a strong account against a playoff foe on the big stage — a replica aircraft carrier around the rink — they were swallowed 5-2 in a red, white and blue barrage.

“It’s unfortunate,” Babcock added. “In life you only get so many opportunities and you want these to be positive memories. We knew who we were playing (the team that beat Toronto in the playoffs last year). We knew it was a big night and they look at us and still think we’re kids. And we looked like we were kids tonight. They smacked us around pretty good. You have to give them credit.”

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Below, watch the game highlights and Babcock's post-game press conference.