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WASHINGTON -- When he found out he was getting his first start in seven weeks, Michal Neuvirth felt the same way he did before his NHL debut. Anxiety. Nerves. Butterflies. That first start, five seasons ago, went well for the Washington Capitals goalie and so did Fridays game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as he made 32 saves in a 3-2 victory. "I was nervous, couldnt really sleep before the game," Neuvirth said. "I was feeling like I was as nervous as my first NHL game. My girlfriend told me just do what you do and try to be good." Neuvirth was just that, giving up just two goals, both on deflections. In his first NHL game, Neuvirth had 31 saves in a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay. "I thought he played a great game, I really did," Washington coach Adam Oates said. "First period, I think he had some shots that allowed him to get into the game, which is good for him. After the second goal, he made a fantastic save that saved the game for us." Neuvirths work paved the way for Joel Ward to score the go-ahead goal with just over 8 minutes left in the third period, and Alex Ovechkin added a goal and an assist. Nicklas Backstrom also scored as the Capitals won on back-to-back nights for the fourth time this year. It was the fourth straight loss for Toronto after a 3-2 victory over Detroit on Jan. 1 in the Winter Classic, and the Maple Leafs have been outscored 21-7 in the defeats. James Van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel each had a goal and an assist. Coming off a 6-1 loss Thursday night at Carolina, Toronto saw some positives in the defeat. "This might be one of the better games weve played in a month. We showed desperation. We showed that we care," coach Randy Carlyle said. "Weve been begging, pleading, kicking, kissing, whatever we can do to try and find a way to play with some confidence. It seems like weve squeezed our sticks here. Its mind boggling." Kessels team-high 21st goal gave Toronto a short-lived 2-1 lead in the third when his shot went off the stick of Washington defenceman Karl Alzner and over the shoulder of Nuevirth. The Caps got the equalizer in similar fashion with 15:24 left as Backstroms severe-angle shot went off the skate of Maple Leafs centre Jay McClement and past Jonathan Bernier (32 saves) for his 11th goal. "A little lucky," Oates said. "Their second goal, Alzy breaks a stick on that deflection. A little lucky, so were even." Wards winner, his 13th of the season, came with 8:10 left, 6 seconds after Toronto had killed a penalty, as he fired a slap shot from 15 feet out on a pass from Marcus Johansson. "I was a little upset at first cause the way it kind of came off my stick," Ward said. "But I kind of got enough to actually go in." After that, Neuvirth kept Washington in command, making his final save with 12 seconds left. The last time the 25-year-old was set to play for the Capitals, on Nov. 29, he suffered a leg injury in warmups. He had not suited up for a game since. With the Caps playing their second of five games in a span of seven days, Braden Holtby struggling and rookie Philipp Grubauer coming off a taxing 4-3 win Thursday night at Tampa Bay, Neuvirth made his first start since Nov. 22. In the absence of Neuvirth, Grubauer (6-2-3) emerged as perhaps the teams most reliable goalie, prompting Neuvirth to request a trade last month. "Ive been watching a lot of hockey from the press box," Neuvirth said. "I havent seen the puck for some time. Probably would be tough if I get scored on in the first couple minutes, but I didnt want to think about it." NOTES: Washington D John Erskine had an eventful second period, drawing a pair of penalties for fighting. The scraps were against Cody Franson and Colton Orr. Lawrence Guy Jersey . The best round belonged to Pat Perez. 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TORONTO -- All coach Randy Carlyle wanted his Toronto Maple Leafs to do was breathe. "Thats been our catchphrase now, because you cant do anything if you dont breathe," he said. Breathe despite seeing an eight-game losing streak all but ruin their playoff chances. Breathe despite blowing a two-goal, third-period lead to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre. The Leafs did that, then got a chance to exhale with a 4-3 overtime victory that, if nothing else, keeps their hopes alive for another couple of days. "Were alive, but theres a lot of things that have to go our way," Carlyle said. "Make sure that we dont get too far ahead of ourselves. Weve only won two games here." Nazem Kadris goal 2:51 into overtime was just one of several pieces that must fall into place for the Leafs to rebound and make the playoffs as a wild card in the Eastern Conference. They likely need to also win all four of their remaining games, as they got no help Thursday night from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who beat the Philadelphia Flyers to remain one point ahead (85 to 84). The Blue Jackets also have two more games left to play, leaving the Leafs (38-32-8) to hope for help along the way. They could also have to lean on backup goaltender James Reimer, after starter Jonathan Bernier left Thursday nights game 7:22 into the third period with what Carlyle would only say was a lower-body injury. Bernier, who missed five games with a groin injury last month, was set for an MRI, according to Carlyle. In stopping 10 of the 11 shots he faced in relief throughout the remainder of the third and overtime, Reimer picked up his first victory since March 13. "Worried for Jonathans health, obviously. But its not worrisome with James coming in," winger Troy Bodie said. "Hes a good goalie, hes proven himself. He went in there and did a great job." Reimer had to do a great job because the Bruins (52-18-7) were pushing. They had already cut the Leafs lead -- which was built on goals by Paul Ranger, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk -- to one by the time Bernier was forced to leave. The play that led to Berniers injury even included a penalty on Ranger, who pushed Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron into the goaltender. Reimer came in and got the Leafs through the penalty kill before allowing the tying goal to Bergeron at the 12:51 mark of the third. "It showed some character to be able to come back against a desperate team like Toronto," said Bruins forward Milan Lucic, who scored Bostons second goal of the night 5:03 into the third. "These are the type of the situations you can find yourselves in in the playoffs." The Leafs can still dream and hope for the playoffs because Reimer stopped the next six shots he faced, holding on long enough to allow Kadri to eventually be the hero on the power play in overtime. "I tried to hold the boys in there and keep it close," Reimer said. "I had faith in the boys. They pulled it out, and obviously it was a good feeling." Any other feeling than the thrill of victory on Thursday niight wouldve almost certainly ended the Leafs chances, especially given the Blue Jackets win in Philadelphia and their extra games left.dddddddddddd Kadri said after the teams morning skate that he and his teammates were well aware of their spot in the standings, which is much further down than they were a few weeks ago. They also knew the Bruins were atop the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division and had all but clinched home ice throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. In losing back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 26 and March 1, Boston mightve picked up a vital lesson after a month filled with so much winning. "Its adversity that were going to face in the playoffs," Bergeron said. "Weve got to make sure that we realize that." Lessons in losing are cheap for the Leafs with time running short. They have just four games left, beginning Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Thats their home finale before travelling to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators to close out the season. Asked if he thought his Leafs would have to run the table to make the playoffs, Carlyle responded simply: "I just worry about the next one." That has been the mantra dating to Torontos losing streak, which ended Tuesday with a victory over the Calgary Flames. Now the Leafs are on a winning streak, their first since March 8 and 10. "Weve won two in a row now, so thats a starting point," Bozak said. "We have huge games coming up here to end the season. But that was a tough test for our team tonight, and we were able to come out on top." Just being able to come out on top against one of the NHLs top teams gave the Leafs a boost of confidence. But listen to players within the locker-room and there was never any of that missing. "We always have the confidence in our group no matter what happens and I think we have a good core group of leadership in here and guys that are all pulling the rope in the same direction," said van Riemsdyk, who hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. "We stuck with it, even though things were tough, were going to have to continue to take it one game at a time, one shift at a time and go from there." NOTES -- Winger Joffrey Lupul was scratched with a lower-body injury and replaced in the lineup by Jerry DAmigo. Carlyle did not know for sure but called Lupul "doubtful" for Saturdays game against Winnipeg. ... First-liner Phil Kessel, who has been playing with a bruised right foot, had two assists for his first multi-point game since March 10. ... Bodie played 20:29, by far a career-high. Carlyle explained that was a product of wanting to create a checking line to open up van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Kessel for more favourable ice time. ... Former Flames captain Jarome Iginla returned to the Bruins lineup after missing the Bruins 3-2 loss to the Red Wings with what the team called a lower-body injury. ... Bruins forward Carl Soderberg returned to Boston for the birth of his child, which meant Jordan Caron played his second straight game. ' ' '