Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Martin Gerber of Switzerland watches a puck sail past against the Washington Capitals in the third period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals forward Sergei Fedorov of Russia battles Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin of Russia after Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore stopped a breakaway shot from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski of Germany in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Pavel Kubina (77) of the Czech Republic celebrates his winning goal in the 3rd period with defenseman Ian White (7), center John Mitchell (39) and forward Jeff Hamilton (51) at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 sending Washington to their third consecutive loss. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau give instructions to his team during a time out in the 3rd period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 sending Washington to their third consecutive loss. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski of Germany picks up the puck on a breakaway against Washington Capitals forward Sergei Fedorov of Russia in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. Grabovski was unable to score. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore stops Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski of Germany from scoring on a breakaway as Washington Capitals forward Sergei Fedorov of Russia defends in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore stops Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski of Germany from scoring on a breakaway as Washington Capitals forward Sergei Fedorov of Russia defends in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore stops a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Mitchell (39) as Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine (4) defends in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore is knocked down by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake, resulting in a penalty that negated a Leafs goal, in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore is knocked down by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake, resulting in a penalty that negated a Leafs goal, as Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine defends in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) of Russia fires a shot on goal in the 1st period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Washington Capitals forward Matt Bradley fights Toronto Maple Leafs forward Benjamin Ondrus in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Martin Gerber (29) makes a save on a shot by Washington Capitals center Boyd Gordon (15) as he goes to the ice in the 1st period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Washington Capitals forward Matt Bradley fights Toronto Maple Leafs forward Benjamin Ondrus in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Washington Capitals right wing Tomas Fleischmann (14) of the Czech Republic is pushed away from the goal after firing a shot against Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Martin Gerber (29) by left wing Nikolai Kulemin (41) of Russiain the 1st period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore makes a stop against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) of the Ukraine hammers Washington Capitals right wing Matt Bradley (10) into the boards in the 1st period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
Washington Capitals left wing Dave Steckel (39) fires a shot on goal that is stopped by Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Martin Gerber (29) in the 1st period at the Verizon Center in Washington on March 5, 2009. (UPI Photo/ Mark Goldman) | License Photo
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
3). The Maple Leafs defeated Washington for the first time in three meetings.
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.
