The Toronto Maple Leafs, desperate to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, are tied with the Washington Capitals 1-1 after the first 20 minutes of ice time. Both teams have scored their goals on the power play.
Nikolai Kulemin lit the lamp early for Toronto, scoring on the power play after John Carlson of the Caps was whistled for holding. But as he has done his entire career (22 goals in 22 games vs. Leafs), Alex Ovechkin scored his 31st goal of the season after a penalty. It was also the 300th career goal for Washington's superstar winger. Ovie was in fact inches away from a second goal of the period off a vintage juke move that showed the Capitals leader is rounding into form nicely just in time for what fans hope will be an extended Washington playoff run.
Dueling rookies battle between the pipes tonight, as Michael Neuvirth has stopped four of the five shots he faced, and fellow rook James Reimer has stopped eight of the nine shots he has faced.