Entering Monday’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre, the Bruins knew a regulation win would go a long way as the Bruins look to return to the postseason for the first time in three seasons.

A win would have put the Bruins within two points of the second place Ottawa Senators in the Atlantic Division. The same Senators team that the Bruins host Tuesday night at TD Garden.

More importantly, the regulation win would have given the Bruins some breathing room in the Atlantic as it would have dropped the Leafs five points behind the third place Bruins with 10 games left for the Black and Gold.

Tied at one with less than three minutes left in regulation, it looked like the two teams would notch at least one point with overtime apparently on the horizon.

But one questionable penalty on Dominic Moore, a power play goal and two empty net tallies later, the Bruins left Toronto pointless.

“I thought it was an egregious call, to be honest with you. Our guy driving the net and their guy is there and it happens 100 times during the course of the game,” a less than pleased Bruce Cassidy told the media following the Bruins’ 4-2 loss.

In a game where calls didn’t go the Bruins way and at times the referees put their whistles away, to have the contest decided on a call like that did not sit too well with the Black and Gold.

The game was high-paced and evenly matched. Both teams played with desperation knowing how important those two points were.

“Well yeah, it was a good game. It’s just like obviously they needed that and we needed that win and it’s just one of those things, one goal game,” said Tuukka Rask who made 22 saves in the losing effort.

“It’s not like one team was on top of each other all night. Both teams had chances and they end up getting that power play. But you know it is what it is, can’t help it now.”

Regardless of what happened on the ice with the officials, the big picture here is what the Bruins left on the table. A five-point lead over the Leafs with three weeks to go would have been ideal for a Bruins team that has struggled to hold onto a playoff spot down the stretch the past two seasons.

Brad Marchand knows no matter what happened Monday night, it’s going to be a battle to make the playoffs.

“Yeah, they’re not going to quit, we know that. Regardless of the outcome of the game, it’s going to come down to battling the last 10 games here,” Marchand said Monday night. “So this games over and we have a big one tomorrow and it’s what we have to worry about.”

Players often admit they don’t pay too much attention to the standings as they can only control what they do, but the Bruins knew the importance of Monday’s game and knew they needed to do their job.

“Yeah, definitely, it’s one of those that hurts,” said Patrice Bergeron. “We talked about before the game doing the job and we didn’t do it.”

Monday’s win was the Leafs fourth over the Bruins this season. Toronto has not swept Boston in a season series since the 1924-25 season where the then Toronto St. Patricks went 6-0 against the Bruins.

With the rested Senators in town Tuesday night, the Bruins have a chance to bounce back and put some pressure on their division rivals. A win would put the Bruins two points back of Ottawa and would be the Bruins first win against the Senators in three tries. The two wrap up their season series in Boston on April 6th.

“Yeah, get back at it tomorrow and try to get the win,” added Rask. “Can’t lose too many games in a row at this time of the season. Try to get the win tomorrow and get the smiles going.”

The Maple Leafs will have two games in hand after the Bruins drop the puck Tuesday night. If things don’t fall the Bruins way, they very well could be in a wild card spot Thursday night when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.