By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
The Boston Bruins handed the Washington Capitals their fourth loss of the new year in a blowout 7-3 defeat tonight at the Capital One Arena. Linus Ullmark made 27 saves while Zach Fucale allowed four goals on 16 shots; Vitek Vanecek made 12 saves.
GAME RECAP
Searching for their first win this month, the Capitals opened up the scoring as Connor Sheary nabbed his ninth goal of the season, giving Washington the early lead 1-0. Boston quickly looked to bounce back however each scoring opportunity was cut short.
The Caps took a 2-0 lead as Conor Sheary scored his second of the night as he snapped the puck past Linus Ullmark. Game momentum shifted quickly in favor of the B’s as Brad Marchand was on the receiving end of a holding and a bloody hi-sticking penalty (giving Boston a four-minute man-advantage).
David Pastrnak scored the B’s first goal of the night after a beautiful pass from Marchand during the power-play. 40 seconds later, Marchand quickly wristed the puck past Zach Fucale as Boston rallied back to tie the game late in the first period.
END OF FIRST SCORE: BOS-2, WSH-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS:10, WSH-11
Washington found themselves playing from behind as Boston’s Matt Grzelcyk scored from the high slot in the first few minutes of the period, making it 3-2. Anton Blidh was credited with the assist.
Boston never looked back as they widen the lead-courtesy of Craig Smith’s goal, giving the B’s a 4-2 lead. Curtis Lazar and Anton Blidh were credited with assists. Not giving Washington any breathing room, Pastrnak served a second helping (made possible by a pass from Taylor Hall) giving the Bruins a solid 5-2 lead. The Capitals relieved Fucale of goaltender duties; Vitek Vanecek took over in between the pipes.
The Bruins continued to overrun the Capitals as Erik Haula gave the team a 6-2 lead moments after the Pastrnak goal. Taylor Hall and Matt Grzelcyk each had an assist. Looking to get their momentum back, Washington’s T.J. Oshie skated hard to the net pushing the puck past Ullmark, making the score 6-3.
END OF SECOND PERIOD SCORE: BOS-6, WSH-3
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-11, WSH-11
It was announced at the beginning of the third period that Trent Frederic would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury. Both teams traded shots and hits in the final stanza as the Capitals tried to rally back from a three-goal deficit.
Washington was unable to regain any sort of control as Brad Marchand scored off a Craig Smith rebound, giving the Boston Bruins a 7-3 lead.
As time ticked away a frustrated Capitals team turned up the chippiness as a scrum opened up in front of the Bruins net. In the final minute of the period, Washington would be on the man-advantage but it made no difference as Boston decidedly won 7-3.
END OF GAME SCORE: BOS-7, WSH-3
TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-31, WSH-30
Washington has lost their fourth game in a row in a rough start to the new year; the Bruins have won five out of the last six games. Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak both tallied three points tonight while Matt Grzelcyk nabbed five points. Marchand and Pastrnak each had two goals. Tonight’s win marks Grzelcyk’s first five-point game and the first for a Bruins defenseman since 1994-last one being Ray Bourque.
The Bruins are now 19-11-2 and remain fourth in the Atlantic Division while the Capitals are now 20-8-9 and are currently third in the Metropolitan division.
NEXT GAME: Wednesday, January 12th versus the Montreal Canadiens.
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