Monday's NHL blahblahblah

This recap will be as interesting as Monday's games.

Bruins earn valuable point, lose valuable point
Oh, Dennis Wideman. A day after I wrote about your awful 2009-10 season, you proceeded to score a goal. Then you took a penalty in overtime that cost your team a point.

Brooks Laich converted an Alexander Semin rebound for the power play winner in overtime and Washington downed Boston, 3-2. Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists and Alex Ovechkin posted two helpers.

The Bruins, who also got a goal from Patrice Bergeron, have 85 points, one more than No. 8 Philadelphia and three more than No. 9 New York.

Not dead yet
If St. Louis wants to stay in the playoff picture, it can't afford to give away any points. Marc Methot helped the Blues avoid doing that.

The Columbus blue liner took a holding penalty in overtime and Erik Johnson scored to give St. Louis a 2-1 victory, but the Blues are still four points back of Colorado even with the win. St. Louis has three games remaining and also has to hurdle Calgary.

Andy McDonald also scored and Chris Mason made 27 saves for St. Louis. Derick Brassard scored for the Blue Jackets.

Dear Season, please end
Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau each scored a pair of goals and Edmonton defeated a shorthanded and beat up Minnesota team, 4-1. Tom Gilbert, Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Potulny all had two assists and Devan Dubnyk made 25 saves for the Oilers. Andrew Brunette scored for the Wild.

What to watch for
Tuesday, April 6 (11 games)
NY Rangers at Buffalo; Montreal at NY Islanders; Philadelphia at Toronto; New Jersey at Atlanta are all pairings that feature one of five teams vying for the last three playoff spots in the East. The Devils and Penguins (home against Washington) continue to jostle for the Atlantic Division.

In the West, there's San Jose at Calgary, Colorado at Vancouver and Los Angeles at Anaheim as games that will influence the West race for the last spot.