"The Capitals knew they would need someone to step up in the absence of three of the team's biggest star players. They received that clutch performance from Mathieu Perreault, who recorded his first career hat trick in the NHL to lead Washington to a 5-3 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.

Read plenty more about Perreault's night in the hard-copy game story here. In addition to a valuable two points that moved them into first place in the Southeast Division for the night with 55 points (but 26 wins to Florida's 22), it also offers the Capitals some positive momentum heading into a five-day break for the All-Star Game. "