By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins welcomed Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to town following a road trip that saw them drop five straight games away from TD Garden. With history potentially on the table, the Bruins gave the Caps all they could handle, but couldn’t get over the proverbial hump in the end. Here’s how it happened:
Ovechkin Hits 891
Another first period, another slow, lifeless start for the Boston Bruins. The fanfare of the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of history couldn’t wake up the Black and Gold as they limped out of the gate, mustering only four shots over the first 20 minutes.
At even strength, the Bruins played a relatively solid period, limiting Washington (the NHL’s goal leader) to only 15 shot attempts and eight shots on goal. The trouble came towards the end of the first when the special teams came into play.
The Capitals opened the scoring while down a man when David Pastrnak fumbled a puck at the blueline, leading to a two-on-one. Nic Dowd beat Jeremy Swayman high glove side to give Washington a 1-0 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bruins in the first after Dowd’s shorthanded goal. The rest of Boston’s power play was negated by a David pastrnak hooking penalty. After a brief session of four-on-four, Washington headed to the man-advantage.
The Caps made quick work of Boston’s penalty kill when a John Carlson point shot deflected right onto the stick of Alex Ovechkin. The ‘Great 8’ tapped the puck into the open net to increase the lead to 2-0. The tally was Ovechkin’s 38th of the season and 891st of his career. He needs only four goals to pass Wayne Gretzky as the league’s all-time goal leader.
Bruins Roar Back
On Boston’s most recent road trip, a two-goal deficit was as good as a death sentence. That wasn’t the case tonight as the Bruins potted two goals in the second to tie the game at two.
The first goal came with just under 15 minutes remaining in the second when the Khusnutdinov-Mittlestadt-Lettieri line hemmed the Caps in their defensive zone. A rim attempt around the boards deflected off Mittlestadt and into the slot, where Khustnutdinov lifted his defender’s stick and tipped the puck forward. Lettieri buried the point-blank chance for his third goal of the year.
The momentum in the building began to shift after a heavyweight bout between newly recalled Jeffrey Viel and Dylan McIlrath. Each player had their helmet removed, fell to the ice, and landed significant right-handed shots. It was a good old-fashioned fight reminiscent of the Bruins of old.
Boston went back to the man-advantage after a Jakob Chychrun holding penalty. The Bruin power play was able to cash in on a beautiful passing play between Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie, which led to David Pastrnak’s 36th goal of the season. Lohrei set up Geekie for a one-timer, and instead of firing it on net, he directed it towards the slot and right off the tape of Pastrnak, who buried it to tie the game at two.
“(Geekie) is so much fun to watch,” said Pastrnak following the game. “He’s been getting better with every game and practice…He’s been good, and I’m so happy to see him play. He battles hard and is becoming a heck of a player.”
Close, But No Cigar
The undermanned Bruins began the third period tied at two with the best team in the Eastern Conference. The game looked like it might be headed towards overtime until halfway through the final frame, when a point shot from Martin Fehérváry ricocheted off the boards and right onto the stick of Dylan Strome, who buried it for a 3-2 lead.
The Caps added another goal just under five minutes later when the Bruins surrendered yet another two-on-one. Mason Lohrei did well to stay between the two Washington forwards, but a cross-ice pass from Tom Wilson deflected off his right skate and past Swayman.
The Maine native played well and kept the Bruins afloat, but another four spot on the scoresheet is tough for any goaltender to swallow.
“I’ll tell you what, it’s been challenging. It’s been really challenging,” said Swayman when asked about playing well but not getting results. “I’m grateful for that challenge, the good nights and the bad nights. That’s something that I have to grow with; I have to keep my head up. I owe it to myself, I owe it to this team.”
He continued, “It’s the worst thing ever not getting results, (I’m) not gonna lie to you…I know that we’re gonna start getting results, it’s ingrained in us forever.”
David Pastrnak potted his second of the night, and 37th of the season, with just under five minutes remaining to cut the lead to one. Boston was able to mount some pressure and make Washington uncomfortable, but they eventually faltered by a score of 4-3.
The Bruins will hit the road for their next game as they take on the Canadiens in Montreal Thursday night.
Game Notes
- Ovechkin may have been the story of the night, but the beginning of this game was all about local youngster Ryan Leonard (Northampton, MA) making his NHL debut. The eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft amassed 61-48-109 in 78 games for Boston College. He had plenty of friends and family in attendance, and the crowd warmly welcomed him during his rookie lap.
- He didn’t have any points to show for it, but Casey Mittlestadt was instrumental on both of Boston’s goals. He sealed off the wall and forced the puck into the slot on the team’s first goal, and saved a waist-high clearing attempt before the power play goal.
- Geekie is now up to 27-17-44 in 69 games with an assist tonight.
- Pastrnak is still eighth in the league in scoring with 37-51-88.
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