Tucker proves a point with inspired play

Darcy Tucker can't hide his excitement after scoring the tying goal in the third. (Adrian Wyld/Associated Press)

TORONTO - The Maple Leafs want to clear out a lot of bodies between now and the Feb. 26 trading deadline and veteran pest Darcy Tucker is among the most rumored to be headed out of town. Too bad for the Bruins that Toronto couldn't have found him a new home before last night.

Tucker, 32, and in the midst of perhaps his worst season as a pro, scored two goals and assisted on a third, his second strike good for the winner that handed the Leafs a 4-3 overtime triumph over the Bruins. He has three more years left on his deal, worth a total of $9 million, and before last night he had only 18 points in 51 games.

"Darcy's fine," said Leafs coach Paul Maurice, scoffing at a recent published story that had an unnamed front-office executive saying Tucker was washed up and no one would want him.

"He's had a slow start. But he's played very well of late . . . he gets the job done."

Under covers

Glen Murray took the morning off skates, but the veteran Bruins winger was back in action on the No. 1 line, with P.J. Axelsson and Marc Savard.

Murray, sidelined for six weeks with an injured hip flexor and only recently back in the lineup, took the morning off for preventive maintenance.

Early in the first period, he banged home his 12th goal of the season for the 1-0 lead. He also assisted on Zdeno Chara's tying strike in the final minute of regulation.

"If we played all night like we did in the first period," mused Murray, "it would have been a different story."

Kobasew's back

Chuck Kobasew, whose finicky back forced him to sit out the game in Pittsburgh, played on a line with Milan Lucic and Glen Metropolit. He fired three shots on net in his 18:23, but did not factor in the scoresheet.

"I've got a decision to make, and I'm not sure what that is yet," said coach Claude Julien prior to the game.

Making it difficult for Julien: the strong play of Jeremy Reich in Pittsburgh. Reich had not dressed for three straight games, and played only 9:51 against the Penguins, but it was a productive 9:51. Reich made a huge hit on Georges Laraque and then dished the puck to the middle for the key assist on Vladimir Sobotka's first career goal. However, come game time, Reich was the odd man out.

Hometown hero

Metropolit, who grew up in public housing not far from Air Canada Centre, had his own little cheering section in the stands for the morning workout. Cabbagetown, the area where he grew up, is slowly transforming from "project" housing to a gentrified, upscale part of town . . . Given the Bruins' overall lack of offense of late, it's surprising they have been able to stay in the hunt for one of the final playoffs seeds in the East. Among the most challenged to put up points: Dennis Wideman (0-0 -0 in the previous eight games) prior to his power-play goal here, Lucic (0-1 -1 in six games), Andrew Ference (0-1 -1 in 17 games), Aaron Ward (zero points, 14 games), Mark Stuart (0-1 -1 in 19 games), and Phil Kessel (0-1 -1 in seven games) . . . The Bruins were a moribund 1 for 29 (3.4 percent) on the power play in the previous seven games, in part why they were ranked 15th overall in the man-advantage as of yesterday morning. In the same seven games, they allowed seven power-play goals, the opposition clicking at a 20.6 percent rate. They went 1 for 3 with the advantage against the Leafs, and killed off 5 of 6 Leaf advantages.

Nowhere man

Former Bruin netminder Andrew Raycroft has become the forgotten stopper for the Leafs, rarely seeing any action. His last win was a shutout of the Sabres in November, and the one-time Rookie of the Year is 0-7-2 since the Sabre win . . . Ex-Bruin defenseman Hal Gill, who has one year remaining on the free agent pact he signed here, could be wheeled out before the trade deadline. Pal Hal has 2 goals and 19 points this season. In his eight seasons on the Boston backline, his season high was 22 points. He will make $2.1 million next season . . . With stormy weather headed here, the Bruins were quick to make their way to the airport for their charter flight home to Bedford (Hanscom Field). They will work out tomorrow in Wilmington prior to flying to Raleigh, N.C., for Tuesday's game vs. the Hurricanes, who lost the services of captain Rod Brind'Amour, his left knee torn up Thursday night vs. the Penguins . . . Tough night at the faceoff dot for the Bruins. They won only 37 percent of the draws. Metropolit and Marc Savard combined to lose 23 of 37 draws . . . Toronto captain Mats Sundin won 19 of 24 draws.