B's Power Play (3-for-5) Pushes The Caps To The Brink Of Elimination With 4-1 Victory In Game 4

 

    After three straight overtime games to begin the series (not to mention 12 playoff games in a row decided by one goal), the Bruins and Capitals entered Game 4 of their first round series tonight at the TD Garden long overdue for a one-sided victory. Luckily, Boston was that team as they dominated Washington by a score of 4-1 which gives them a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Game 5 is on Sunday night (7, NESN) back at the Capital One Arena where the B's will get their first chance at sending the Caps to their third consecutive playoff exit in the first round. Boston has already come a long way from their overtime loss in Game 1 against the Capitals. 

    After a scoreless first period, the Bruins got on the board first as left wing Brad Marchand tipped in a shot by right wing David Pastrnak and BU's Charlie McAvoy at 8:00 for a 1-0 B's lead. The power play goal was Marchand's third goal already in the postseason. The black and gold had never carried a lead into the third period in the first three games so they gave it a whirl in Game 4. They must have enjoyed it since they scored twice very early in the final frame (34 seconds apart). First, Pasta was given too much time and space so he ripped a low shot into the far corner against Capitals rookie goaltender Ilya Samsonov (33 saves). McAvoy and center David Krejci had the assists on Pastrnak's first goal of the playoffs at 29 seconds. On the next shift, right wing Jake DeBrusk got sent in on a breakaway but he missed the net with his wayward shot. However, he stayed with the puck and threw it back in front where BU's Charlie Coyle was able to flip in a backhander at 1:03.

        The only reason that Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (19 saves) didn't finish with a shutout was because Alexander Ovechkin's power play shot (that caused his stick blade to shatter) went in off defenseman Brandon Carlo's skate at 4:54. Ovi's second goal of the series (and 71st of his postseason career) cut it to 3-1 Bruins with Caps defensemen John Carlson and center Nicklas Backstrom providing the the assists. Getting one more goal was not the main task at hand by that point but I'm sure the Bruins enjoyed one more power play goal just for the hell of it. McAvoy sent a pass to his fellow BU product Matt Grzelcyk and the Charlestown native unloaded on a one-timer that went top shelf by Samsonov. Left wing Taylor Hall added the second assist on Grzelcyk's first goal of the playoffs at 14:50. 

    The only bad news to come from this evening was that a dirty hit by Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov on B's defenseman Kevan Miller left the latter shaken up. Miller went to the hospital for CT scans and further evaluation which means that he might be concussed. Not only was the hit late since Miller had given up the puck seconds earlier but Orlov also leaped at him (both of his skates briefly left the ice) and he caught Miller right under the chin which any boxing fan will tell you is a very vulnerable position. Ironically, former Maple Leafs goon Nazem Kadri was just suspended eight games by the NHL's department of player safety for a similar albeit bigger and worse incident (plus he was a repeat offender) in Game 2 vs. St. Louis that left Blues defenseman Justin Faulk knocked out cold. I'm not predicting anything but we'll have to wait and see if Orlov faces any kind of punishment (fine or suspension) by the league.  

    After winning the last three games in the series, you have to love where the Bruins find themselves at the moment. It's not over yet though against Washington but if the B's get a decent lead on Sunday night, I would not be shocked to see the Capitals sneaky give up. Since they broke through and erased their playoff choker label by winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, the Caps have reverted back to that earlier stinky form the last few postseasons. Ovechkin is an all-time great player and they have plenty of other very talented guys on their current roster but their goaltending situation is a bit of a mess and their defense is nowhere near Boston's level. Then again, this is the NHL where teams routinely come back from the dead in a playoff series so Boston needs to get rid of Washington ASAP while they have the chance.  

Ovechkin and the Capitals make the NHL (somewhat) interesting

Last night's game stood out like a sore thumb on the schedule as it matched up the NHL's highest-scoring team (the Washington Capitals) vs. the lowest-scoring team (your Boston Bruins).

The action was entirely predictable as the B's (23-22-9) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period but gave up three third period goals to lose 4-1 at the TD Garden.

The top team in the Eastern Conference and I'd argue the best in the league, Washington (38-12-6) won its franchise-best eleventh game in a row while the hapless Bruins stumbled to their eighth straight defeat.

David Krejci gave Boston the early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal, his 10th of the season, 6:58 into the game from Marc Savard and Dennis Wideman.

Former Bruin Mike Knuble scored his 19th goal (which would make him the team leader for the Bruins) in the second period before Washington's third period finale.

Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon (outstanding name) both scored in the third before Alexander Ovechkin, the two-time reigning MVP, added an empty-netter.

The Capitals' biggest issue is goaltending but the Bruins made Jose Theodore (41 saves) look like Martin Brodeur at the top of his game.

Absolutely everything is going wrong for Boston at this point and injuries are no longer an excuse as Savard, Marco Sturm, Steve Begin and Byron Bitz are all back in the lineup.

Between now and the trade deadline (and keep in mind during the Olympics there's a roster freeze), the Bruins' front office will have to consider whether to make a big move (Ilya Kovalchuk) by dealing some players and draft picks (which they have an abundance of), fire head coach Claude Julien (the wrong call) or just sit and watch the team further implode, if that's even possible.

They host the Canadiens tomorrow night, that bitter rivalry will hopefully breath some life into this lifeless franchise.

Opening Night Flop

When the Bruins Stanley Cup champions DVD comes out next June, it's doubtful that it will feature any footage from last night's pathetic Opening Night.

Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals came in and thoroughly dominated the Bruins 4-1 before a sold-out TD Garden (yes the fucking name changed for the 100th time in the last calendar year).

The loss wasn't surprising since if you'll recall last season, the Caps absolutely owned the Black and Gold, going unbeaten in four games against them (two losses which I saw in person).

Funny thing about the Bruins this season is that they actually have some hype around the city and New England in general, not to mention nationally. Both Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine (where I get all the hockey info. I need) predict that the B's will win the Stanley Cup this season.

Who cares? Nobody but lazy sportswriters and low-life fans.

Until further notice, Pittsburgh and Washington in the Eastern Conference are better than the B's.

After a fast-paced first period, Washington jumped on top with a power play goal from Brooks Laich. Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin assisted on the goal with 2:45 left in the first period.

Ovechkin showed off his crazy Russian moves in the second period when he smoked a snap/wrist shot past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30 saves). Alexander Semin and Backstrom assisted on that tally.

Boston's fate was sealed at the end of the second period as captain Zdeno Chara took a stupid cross check penalty after going after Ovechkin. Mark Recchi had been leveled by Ovie and Chara took exception.

16 seconds into the third period, on the power play, Washington cashed in again as Laich scored another power play marker from Backstrom and Semin.

A minutes and 41 seconds later Ovechkin scored off a one-timer from Tom Poti (and Laich).

Patrice Bergeron gave the home crowd something to cheer about as he scored a goal from Steve Begin (newly acquired scrub from the Canadiens) and Mark Stuart.

The only remaining thing that was slightly noteworthy was a fight between Shawn Thornton and Capitals tough guy John Erskine.

Washington goalie Jose Theodore only had to make 19 saves in the win.

Boston and their fans can act like this game never happened by showing up to play tomorrow night against the Hurricanes.