Around the NHL: Bruins, Lightning Stay Behind

The Washington Capitals got more favors from the rest of the Eastern Conference tonight, as two of their closest chasers for playoff position, the Lightning and Bruins, were beaten.  As such, the Capitals remain six points ahead of the Bruins for second place in the East, though the Bruins have two games in hand, and are now five points clear of Tampa for the Southeast Division lead, though the Bolts have one game in hand.
The Bruins lost by a final of 5-2 inside the Air Canada Centre.  The Leafs jumped out to a 1-0 lead off the stick of Luke Schenn early in the first, only to have Adam McQuaid tie a short time later.  But it was all Leafs from then on.  They scored four in a row, including the first career from prized prospect Nazim Kadri, to storm out to a 5-1 lead and chase Vezina winner Tim Thomas; though he was put back in when his backup, Tuukka Rask, started whining at his defense.  The Bruins got another goal with 20 seconds left to make the score 5-2.
The Lightning had everything going according to plan for the first 52 minutes inside Scotiabank Place, up 2-0, but then gave up a shorthaded goal to Ryan Shannon and the wheels came off.  Nick Foligno scored to equalized about four minutes later, and then Jason Spezza won it three and a half minutes into overtime.  Curtis McElhinney, who the Capitals pierced for 7 goals a month ago, stopped 35 of 37 for his second consecutive win in the Ottawa net.  I would not want to be around Guy Boucher tonight.  No, sir.
In other reading from 24/7 today: check up on a new Caps prospect and get your injury updates from Saturday's practice.