Post-Game Wrap: Bruins-Capitals
Final: Washington 4, Boston 1
The Bruins continue to put in the effort, but they still can’t get results. Boston dominated everywhere except on the scoreboard against the first-place Capitals, but still ended up with their eighth straight loss, their longest streak since 1955-56. Washington, meanwhile, set a new franchise record with its 11th consecutive win. A year ago, the Bruins sat in the top spot in the East. Tonight, they trail the Caps by 27 points. More importantly, there are two points – and four teams – between the B’s and the final playoff spot in the East.
Records: Boston 23-22-9, 55 points; Washington 38-12-6, 82 points
Revisiting the Three Keys for the B’s:
1. Slow down Ovechkin – The Bruins did what few teams have been able to do by shutting down Alex Ovechkin. Yes, Ovechkin did end up getting a goal, but that was an empty-netter in the final minute with the game already decided. Prior to that, he didn’t have a point and managed just one shot on goal and his frustration led to a third-period slashing penalty. Ovechkin did have four hits, several of which came on runs at Johnny Boychuk after the young Bruins defenseman had dared to dish out a hit of his own on the Caps star. While Zdeno Chara drew the bulk of the assignments against Ovechkin, Boychuk deserves credit for his running battle with the big Russian that helped take him off his game.
2. Don’t forget those other guys – While the Bruins shut down Ovechkin, what makes the Caps so tough is that they have so many other weapons. Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin had relatively quiet nights, but each did finish with an assist, while Mike Knuble added a goal. But Washington’s depth goes beyond its big-name stars, with Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon also scoring and Tom Poti (Worcester, Mass.) taking over the offensive duties on the blue line with Mike Green suspended as he drove end-to-end to set up a pair of goals.
3. Keep it even – The Bruins didn’t stay out of the box, taking four minors in the first two periods. But Boston’s penalty killers were up to the challenge, keeping Washington’s top-ranked power play without a goal while allowing just four total shots on the four chances, which included a brief 5-on-3. The Bruins had four shots themselves while short-handed, and a David Krejci breakaway while down a man led to a penalty shot, though he failed to convert on the opportunity.
Key Play of the Game:
Krejci’s missed penalty shot and Washington’s game-winner off a Matt Hunwick miscue were obviously huge plays, but the defining moment in this one came with 4:35 left in the second and the game tied at 1-1. After Jose Theodore stopped Michael Ryder’s initial shot, Blake Wheeler had a wide-open net for the rebound at the right post. But Theodore somehow managed to reach back across the crease with his stick to make an amazing save and keep the game tied. A goal there could have completely changed the complexion of the game. Instead, the Bruins grew more frustrated than ever and started gripping their sticks even tighter.
Quote of the Night:
Marc Savard on the club’s offensive struggles and a rather radical potential solution:
“I don’t know what to say,” said Savard. “It’s not like guys don’t want to score on this team. Guys want to put the puck in the net. It’s just a matter of … I don’t know, maybe we have to sacrifice a chicken or a rooster or something like that and try to change our luck.”
Fight Card:
There were no fights in this one and not much in the way of physical play. The running battle Ovechkin and Boychuk waged in the third was a notable exception. Dennis Wideman also snuck in a post-whistle gloved punch on Laich that brought in everybody for a brief scrum around the Bruins net in the first. Milan Lucic also had words with John Erskine after Erskine dumped Savard, but nothing came close to really breaking out.
Flynn’s Finest:
One game after the entire line failed to produce a single shot on goal, the trio of Krejci, Wheeler and Ryder turned in an inspired effort as they combined for 15 shots. Krejci scored Boston’s lone goal and had a game-high seven shots, while also winning 13 of 19 draws (68 percent). He did fail to convert a crucial penalty shot, but it was his hustle that produced the short-handed breakaway in the first place. Wheeler was robbed by Theodore in the second and took a bad interference call early, but he settled down to have a strong game creating chances with his poised play, and Ryder played with a fire too seldom seen this year. He did commit a bad hooking penalty, but he also created a number of scoring chances, finishing with five shots, including several point blank scoring chances. Boychuk came up big in helping shut down Ovechkin and added three shots and two blocked shots, while Patrice Bergeron was strong as always with five shots, plus another that clanged off the post. The PK was perfect against Washington’s potent power play, while the Bruins’ own power play produced 11 shots and their only goal.
Flynn’s Sin Bin:
Hunwick struggled with the puck all night, and his miscue led to Washington’s go-ahead goal in the third. After blocking a shot, Hunwick opted not to make the safe play up the boards off the glass, and instead sent a blind backhand pass around behind the net. Semin intercepted it along the left boards and fed it out front to Laich for the goal. It was a bad play by Hunwick, who finished a minus-2 with just one shot in 17:10, but it was also a save Tim Thomas should have made as Laich snuck it in 5-hole. Thomas wasn’t horrible, but didn’t match Theodore’s performance at the other end. With the offense struggling so mightily, it might take a spectacular performance from a Bruin goalie to snap this losing streak. Theodore appears to have channeled some of his old Hart Trophy form; the Bruins need Thomas to recapture more of his Vezina form of a year ago. While Thomas hasn’t taken over games in that way of late, there’s still no reason for Bruins fans to forget so quickly all he’s done for the franchise in recent years. The Bronx cheer after Thomas gloved a long dump-in following Washington’s third blow truly wasn’t necessary. Also unnecessary were the four power plays the Bruins handed Washington, especially Marco Sturm’s offensive-zone holding penalty in the second and Bergeron’s hooking call that made it a brief two-man advantage. On a night when the Bruins piled up 42 shots, Mark Recchi was largely invisible with no shots and only one shot even attempted while finishing a minus-2.
Next: The Bruins continue their homestand when they take on ancient rival Montreal on Thursday.
Tags: Capitals
