It still stings that Zdeno Chara is currently playing well for another NHL team and not for the Bruins (12-5-3) who could sure use him right about now with all the injured defensemen that they have had lately. Tonight at the TD Garden he returned with his new club-the Capitals (13-5-4)-for his first trip to Boston as a visitor since 2006 and it was a memorable game (at least for the former Bruins captain) as Washington won 2-1 in a shootout for their season-high fourth straight win. The Caps remain two points ahead of the Islanders (12-6-4) and three points ahead of the Bruins for first-place in the East Division. Left wing Jakub Vrana had the lone goal in the shootout as all three of Boston's shooters (Jake DeBrusk, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand) could not find the back of the net against Caps goaltender Vitek Vanecek (18 saves, 10-4-3).
Unlike the Caps, the B's got off to a great start to this campaign but since then they have lost five of their last seven games. The sad reality is that this is how the rest of the regular season will probably go, with Washington chasing an East Division title while Boston jousts with the second-tier teams under this temporary alignment. This was the third of eight meetings between these teams and each has been decided in a different way: overtime, regulation and then a shootout. If you missed the first two periods of this barnburner, consider yourself lucky. Not only was it scoreless after 40 minutes of action but the shots were 11-9 in favor of the Capitals. I think I fell asleep just writing that, ugh.
Bruins right wing David Pastrnak had hit the post twice earlier in the game (on the same shot!) and he was the one who not surprisingly put a jolt of life into this yawnfest. Marchand forced a turnover in Boston's end then went into a 2-on-1 with Pasta that resulted in the latter's team-high 10th goal of the season after a sweet re-direct at 1:19 of the third period. Like many leads for the B's in 2021, it didn't last very long though as Washington tied it at 6:14 on center Lars Eller's shot from in close off a rebound that eluded Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask (27 saves, 8-3-3). As you can guess from the save totals, Rask was the busier goalie and he was the reason that the home team walked away with a point since he made a brilliant stop in overtime on defenseman Dmitry Orlov's re-direct that most times results in a goal.
Even with no fans in the stands-at least for a few more weeks-the Bruins played a nice tribute video for Chara and he must have felt right at home again as Boston failed in a shootout just like old times. This was a very chippy affair and these teams meet again on Friday (7, NESN) at the Garden so I'd expect more big hits and physical play with possibly a fight or two to top it all off in the rematch. More importantly, the Black and Gold could use a win against the Caps to prove that they are going to be right there with them all spring rather than stuck in their rear view mirror. Center David Krejci and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk each returned to the lineup this evening after injuries forced them to miss time and it also marked the Bruins debut of defenseman Jarred Tinordi-who they had claimed off waivers from Nashville on Saturday. The other big news before the game for the B's was that center Charlie Coyle went onto the league's Covid list (only the 2nd Bruin to have that happen this season after forward Karson Kuhlman) so he'll be out at least for a couple of games.
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