The math may suggest that the Washington Capitals are the closest pursuer to the Maple Leafs in their bid to hold onto eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but everything else screams forget Alex Ovechkin and Co.

The Caps had yet another chance to move in front of the Leafs Monday night and failed in miserable, humiliating fashion – a 5-0 loss in Raleigh, N.C. to the Carolina Hurricanes. The defeat left Washington a point behind Toronto but with a record of 3-6-1 in their past 10 games. As poorly as the Leafs have performed, the Caps have been unable to make up any ground and now there are whispers that general manager George McPhee will get more aggressive in the trade market.

The closest and more realistic competition, then, has to be the Winnipeg Jets, who are equal with the Leafs at 64 points but have played two more games. The Jets are in the midst of an eight-game homestand – they won the first two – and figure to put some heat on Toronto before it is through.

We’ll see what the Caps have when they face the Leafs here on Saturday night, but judging by their current form, it just doesn’t add up.