2 
3 (OT)Boston's 1st visit of the year to the toughest building in the NHL happened to be when they needed the points most. They got 1, but the lowest-scoring team in the league couldn't convert for the big goal they needed to help their playoff run.
Nicklas Backstrom started the scoring for Washington with his 31st goal of the year 7:36 into the game when he wristed a shot that barely rolled its way over the line.
Jose Theodore would hang tough for the rest of the 1st period before Dennis Wideman blasted one past him with less than 2 seconds to go in the period.
Patrice Bergeron gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead less than 8 minutes into the 2nd period, but then it was the Capitals' turn to score a late goal, as Mike Knuble put one past Tuukka Rask with 29 seconds left in the period to tie it at 2.
A scoreless 3rd period was dangerously close to not being scoreless when Brooks Laich took a penalty with 5:01 remaining in regulation. The Capitals would have his back and kill the penalty and send the game to overtime, and Laich would make up for it later.
In the overtime, Dennis Wideman took a high-sticking penalty only 24 seconds in. It was only 20 seconds later when the game would end.
Brooks Laich found the puck lying in front of the crease after an Alexander Semin one-time shot off a pass from Nicklas Backstrom and deposited it into the back of the net to give the Capitals the 3-2 win, their 3rd-straight win.
Washington is the highest scoring team in the league with 304 goals. Boston is the lowest with 195.
Tuukka Rask stopped 27 shots for the Bruins.
Jose Theodore made 28 saves, including 2 huge stacked-pad saves in the 1st period. There are still questions circulating around the Capitals as to how their goaltending will hold up come playoff time. But when you look at the numbers, it's hard to see why they're still out there.
Theodore hasn't lost in regulation since January 12th, going 19-0-3 since then. He is 29-7-7 on the season, and is looking for only his 3rd 30-win season of his career.
The lone point for the Bruins does move them up to 7th-place in the East all by themselves. They have 85 points, now 1 up on 8th-place Philadelphia, 3 up on 9th-place New York, and 1 behind Montreal for 6th. They have 3 games left this season.
Washington has already secured home-ice throughout the playoffs, so it's nothing but pride to play for in their final 3 games, as they now have 116 points. The Capitals face the Penguins in Pittsburgh tomorrow before ending the year with 2 home games; Friday against the Thrashers and Sunday afternoon against these same Bruins.
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Blue Jackets 1 Blues 2 (OT)
Don't count out the Blues just yet. Erik Johnson scored on the power-play with 1:01 left in overtime to keep St Louis' slim playoff hopes alive. Their win has them at 87 points, 10th in the West, 4 points back of Colorado for the 8th and final playoff spot. They are 2 back of Calgary for 9th. The Blues only have 3 games left though, while the Flames also have 3 and the Avalanche have 4 to go. Columbus has 78 points and are 14th in the West.
Wild 1 Oilers 4
Edmonton now has 58 points on the year with their win over the Wild. The Oilers are last in the league, 14 points behind the 29th-place team, Toronto, and 20 points behind the 14th-place team in the West, Columbus. Minnesota is 13th in the West with 81 points.
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Tuesday's Schedule:
Rangers @ Sabres, 7:00
Flyers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Canadiens @ Islanders, 7:00
Devils @ Thrashers, 7:00
Senators @ Panthers, 7:00
Capitals @ Penguins, 7:30, Versus
Hurricanes @ Lightning, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Stars, 8:30
Sharks @ Flames, 9:30
Avalanche @ Canucks, 10:00, Versus
Kings @ Ducks, 10:00, Prime Ticket
