B's win in OT, give up point

The good news is that Boston got out of Toronto with two points, which was critical given that the Montreal Canadiens and NY Rangers also won tonight, and the Atlanta Thrashers got a point in their OT loss to Pittsburgh.

Tough night for the draft standings watchers to see the Bruins unable to secure a regulation win against Toronto, but it is what it is. This team still can't score, so thank goodness for Tuukka Rask, who after giving up the early goal to former Bruin Colton Orr, had another outstanding game to further lower his GAA and save percentage and most importantly, recording his 20th win of the season.

Miroslav Satan was the Boston hero tonight, getting both goals and keeping his team firmly in the playoff hunt. So long as the B's keep winning, it doesn't matter what anyone else below them in the standings does.

Another huge game for Boston in Washington Monday night. On paper, it doesn't look good, especially if Dennis Seidenberg, who cut his wrist on a skate blade in the first period and didn't return, can't go.

As for Toronto, credit where credit is due. They outwork their opponents most nights and got a very good performance in net from Johan Gustavsson. I'm sure just about every Leafs fan who's truly honest with themselves would rather have Rask, but "the Monster" has played as well as advertised over his last 8 or 9 games or so. And, that other Vermont Catamount, Brayden Irwin, looks like he has some potential.

Still no goals for Phil Kessel against Boston, so the Bruins get a moral victory by holding their former 36-goal man last season to zero tallies and just two assists in six games. He'll break through one of these days, but that won't happen at the earliest until sometime in the 2010-11 season.

The point gives Toronto 72, hot on the tail of the Lightning and Panthers, who look dead in the water, but you never know. The Islanders won again, so it looks less and less likely that the Leafs will catch them. Small victories, sportsfans- small victories.