By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
It was a roller coaster of emotions tonight at the TD Garden as Boston defeated Washington for the second time this season. Despite the lop-sided penalties that gave the Caps multiple chances to outscore Boston, the Bruins outplayed their former foes on home ice and are now on the heels of the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division.
GAME RECAP
The Washington Capitals opened up the scoring in the first few moments of the game as Evgeny Kuznetsov snapped the puck over Linus Ullmark’s shoulder. Fifty seconds after the goal, Bruins’ David Pastrnak tied the game at one apiece as he wristed the shot past Vitek Vanecek. Both Taylor Hall and Erik Haula were credited with the helpers.
Washington would be awarded the only penalties in the first period. Taylor Hall was sent to the box for hi-sticking against Evgeny Kuznetsov at 8:14 and Brad Marchand was nabbed for tripping against Nick Jensen at 14:22. The Caps were unable to get any additional score during their power play.
The TD Garden crowd grew quiet as Boston’s Anton Blidh had a tough time getting up from the ice after a hard Tom Wilson hit. Blidh would head down the tunnel as the crowd loudly showed their disdain for the hit.
END OF THE FIRST SCORE: BOS-1, WSH-1
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-10, WSH-5
Things heated up for the Bruins as David Pastrnak tucked the puck past Vanecek on the breakaway during the team’s first power-play of the night. Some concerns on the bench as Brad Marchand’s shoulder gave him issues that stemmed from a questionable hit by Garnet Hathaway.
Marchand was unable to play during the man-advantage. He was seen going to the back room and returned to the bench briefly with ice to his shoulder. Anton Blidh did not return to the game. Washington once again would be on the power play for the fourth time as Craig Smith was called for tripping against Garnet Hathaway. Unfortunately, the Capitals’ Lars Eller tied the game with a little over three minutes left to the period. The game remained tied at the end of the second.
END OF THE SECOND SCORE: BOS-2, WSH-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-10, WSH-6
Prior to the start of the third period, it was announced that Marchand would not return to the game “due to an upper-body injury.” Boston got their second power play of the night when Evgeny Kuznetsov was called for slashing against Pastrnak. No score on the man-advantage.
A huge reaction from the crowd as the puck looked to cross over the Capitals net, however, play continued as it was being reviewed. It was determined to be a good goal that was initially credited to Patrice Bergeron, however, it was later given to Jake DeBrusk. Celebrations were extremely short-lived as the Capitals answered back when Nickolas Backstrom scored his first goal of the season, tying the game at three apiece.
Nic Dowd’s stick got in the way of Derek Forbert that gave the B’s their third power-play of the game. With 45 seconds left to the game and seconds left on the man-advantage, Charlie McAvoy banked one top shelf, giving the B’s a 4-3 lead. With one last push from the Capitals to get the equalizing goal, Boston came away with the win.
The Bruins are now 23-12-2 and are 9-2 in their last 11 games. David Pastrnak tallied two goals tonight, while Erik Haula nabbed two assists. Tonight’s game was one of the lowest shots-on-goal for the Capitals this season.
END OF THE GAME SCORE: BOS-4, WSH-3
TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-33, WSH-17
NEXT GAME FOR BOSTON: Saturday, January 22nd versus Winnipeg Jets with puck drop after 3:00 PM
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