BSJ Game Report: Capitals 3, Bruins 2 - Learning experience for McAvoy

Everything you need to know from the Bruins' loss to the Capitals on Saturday night at TD Garden.

HEADLINES

Playing against the elite: Bruins rookie Charlie McAvoy will experience the typical ebbs and flows of a first-year NHLer. Every shift, every game the young defenseman will learn something, and the way he processes that will make a huge impact on his continued development. He witnessed first-hand the elite play of Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. McAvoy was turned around a few times, which is understandable for his first time playing against one of the world's best. You could see McAvoy was clearly frustrated, which is a good sign, because it means he is learning and will remember Ovechkin's tendencies for the next time these teams face off.



 

Another tough start: Bruce Cassidy time and again reiterates to his players, especially the young core, that you have to "be on time" and ready for the opening drop. The Bruins have struggled in that area this season and that was the case again tonight against the Capitals. Washington gained a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. As the game progressed, the Bruins chipped away and nearly pulled off a comeback but fell a bit short.



TURNING POINT

The Bruins went 1-for-4 on the power play, but it was their inability to convert on a four-minute power play early in the third period that hurt their chances. The Bruins earned the man-advantage after the Capitals’ Brooks Orpik caught David Pastrnak with a high stick. At one point during Boston’s power play, Washington was outshooting the Bruins, 3-1. So, Cassidy took a timeout in an attempt to regroup. However, the Capitals were able to kill it off. The Bruins were off balance the entire four minutes. Their zone entries weren't good and when they did gain the zone, the Capitals did a good job of keeping Boston to the perimeter and did not allow any quality scoring chances.

CHIRPIN’ POINT

OK, so I've been critical of Matt Beleskey's performances this season. On Saturday, he was in the lineup for the second consecutive game after being a healthy scratch in four of the previous five games. He wasn't effective on Thursday against the Golden Knights, but he was much better tonight against the Capitals. He was playing with energy. He was being physical. He was engaged and his line did its job. If he continues to provide that type of effort, Frank Vatrano will be watching from the press box more often than not with the way the lineup is currently constituted.

NOT ON THE SCORE SHEET

Brad Marchand was on the receiving end of a big hit by the Capitals’ Tom Wilson early in the first period. Marchand was clearly shaken up on the play and cautiously made his way to the bench. He never went to the room and didn’t miss a shift. He appeared to be a step behind for the rest of the night but still impacted the game by assisting on Pastrnak's second goal of the game, a power-play tally, at 17:28 of the third period.

UP NEXT

The Bruins host the Minnesota Wild at 7 p.m. on Monday night at TD Garden.