Nolan carted off; Lalime leaves with sore leg

TORONTO (AP) -- Toronto's tie with Ottawa could have been costly for both teams.

Bryan McCabe scored the tying goal midway through the third period to help the Maple Leafs rally for a 2-2 tie Saturday night.

The Maple Leafs might have lost one of their top players to a long-term injury, and the Senators might have lost their No. 1 goalie. Forward Owen Nolan had to be helped off the ice after injuring his right knee.

Nolan collapsed to the ice after his leg buckled while he checked defenseman Brian Pothier into the boards near the end of the second period. He threw off his gloves and appeared to be in severe pain.

"He's in a lot of pain right now. There is swelling," Toronto coach Pat Quinn said. "He'll be reevaluated by our doctors on Sunday."

Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime left the game six minutes into the first period with a sore left knee. Martin Prusek replaced Lalime after Lalime tripped into his own net.

"I just caught it and fell on it," said Lalime, who was limping badly. "It's day to day. I'll know more tomorrow."

Toronto remained one point ahead of its biggest rival in the Northeast Division standings. Boston beat Montreal on Saturday night, putting the Bruins three points ahead of Toronto for first place in the Northeast.

Rob Ray and Chris Phillips scored for the Senators, who are competing with Toronto for home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

"It hurts to lose a guy of Owen's caliber," Toronto's Ron Francis said. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious, and we can hold the fort down until he gets back."

Ottawa's Marian Hossa missed an open net in overtime, and Prusek robbed Joe Nieuwendyk of a goal with a pad save moments later.

Ray, signed as a free agent Feb. 15, scored his first goal of the season in the first period. After Ottawa won a faceoff, the puck trickled to Ray, whose backhander from in front of the net beat goalie Ed Belfour.

Francis, standing in front of the net, put his own rebound past Prusek, tying it on the power play at 2:17 of the second.

Ottawa's Martin Havlat beat Toronto defenseman Calle Johansson to the puck before passing to Phillips, whose one-timer gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 16:20 of the second.

McCabe's slap shot from just beyond the circle beat Prusek at 9:26 of the third.

Game notes
Nolan has 19 goals and 29 assists this season. ... The Maple Leafs and Senators meet again next Saturday in Ottawa -- the regular-season finale for both clubs.