NHL: Toronto 2, Washington 1

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- Martin Gerber stopped 37 shots in his Toronto debut Thursday, leading the Maple Leafs to a 2-1 win over Washington.

Gerber was claimed off waivers from Ottawa Wednesday and picked up his fifth victory of the season. It was his first action since Jan. 8.

He was able to slow down a Washington team that was without star Alexander Ovechkin, who suffered a heel injury during practice Wednesday. Ovechkin has scored 46 goals with 83 points this season.

Lee Stempniak and Pavel Kubina scored for Toronto, which has picked up at least a point in eight straight games (5

The Washington goal came from Alexander Semin with just 38 seconds remaining in the third period. Jose Theodore made 29 saves for the Capitals, who have lost three in a row and four out of six.