A late goal from Toronto captain Mats Sundin gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the visiting Washington Capitals.

The Leafs, who a day earlier fired John Ferguson Jr as general manager and replaced him on an interim basis with Cliff Fletcher, won for the fourth time in their last five games.

Chad Kilger put the Leafs 1-0 up in the first period before Alexander Ovechkin equalised early in the second with his NHL-leading 39th goal of the season.

Ovechkin, who earlier this month signed one of the richest deals in NHL history with the Caps, has scored in six consecutive games.

Alexander Steen made it 2-1 to Toronto later in the same period but Washington pegged them back again thanks to Alexander Semin's goal 13:07 into the third.

Sundin sealed the win with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.

The Capitals had won their previous four games and eight of their last 10 before losing to the Leafs.

The teams play again in Washington on Thursday, the last game before the All-Star break.

The Detroit Red Wings secured a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks to win their fourth in a row and increase their NHL-best record to 37-10-4.

Daniel Sedin had the only goal of the shootout to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.

Reuters