Final: Capitals 4, Bruins 3 (SO)

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Capitals erased a two- and one-goal deficit en route to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins Thursday night at Capital One Arena. The Capitals have now won 12 straight against the Bruins. Alex Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal in the shootout.

David Backes scored twice for the Bruins and he has seven goals and five assists for 12 points in his last 12 games.



Pregame notes

Defenseman Adam McQuaid and forward David Krejci both made the trip with the team, but will not play.

Masked men: In his last start, Khudobin snapped a two-game losing skid with his sixth career shutout in a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 19. He's 4-4-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in nine career starts against the Capitals. Overall, he's 8-2-2 this season.

• Torey Krug was benched.

• Washington ties it and it's because Sean Kuraly failed to get the puck deep to avoid the offside.


• Boston didn't score on the PP but David Backes scored his second of the game to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead at 7:19.


• Charlie McAvoy sold that penalty. Big chance for the Bruins on the PP.


• Gotta see something from the Ryan Spooner, Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork line.


• Let's see what kind of response the Bruins give this period.

• Dumb holding penalty by Kuraly. Fortunately for the Bruins, they killed it off.


• That was a heads-up save by Khudobin on Alex Chiasson, who went right and looked to shoot left, but the goalie didn't cheat and made a timely blocker save.


• Bruins are sitting back.


• The Capitals entered that man-advantage 1-for-23 on the power play in the last 10 games and Alex Ovechkin finally connects on the one-timer to tie that game at 2-2.


• Now, the Capitals are going on the power play as Jakub Vrana went right around Torey Krug, who's going to the box.


• That was a sick shot by Lars Eller to beat Khudobin to cut Washington's deficit to one goal. Puck was rolling and at the shot knuckled in at a high rate of speed. Khudobin had no chance.


• Spooner's been pumping in the assists of late, but would like to see him drive home a goal.


• The Capitals have registered only two shots midway through this period.


• Danton Heinen doesn't lose too many puck battles.


• A power-play goal right here for the Bruins would be crucial.

• Big first period by the Bruins and finish with 14 shots and a 2-0 lead.


• Brad Marchand has never been stronger with the puck on his stick. Consistently fends off defenders. He registered three shot in the opening period.


• Imagine if Spooner was this committed in the past.


• Huge right-pad save by Khudobin to stifle a quality 2-on-1 scoring chance by the Capitals.


• That's a huge penalty kill for the Bruins. Khudobin with timely saves. Nash and Chara with good sticks in lanes, preventing the puck to get to Ovechkin.


• Last night, it was Tim Schaller stepping up to protect a teammate after a hit. Tonight, Schaller is on the receiving end of an open-ice hit by the Capitals' Brooks Orpik and Kuraly jumps in and drops the glove.


• Sustained O-zone time for the Bruins to start.


• Wow. Bruins have a 2-0 lead only 2:12 into the game. This time Acciari with the goal.


• Riley Nash's line does it again. David Backes scores from Nash and Danton Heinen to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.


• That was a full minute shift for Bergeron's line.


• Bergeron's line starting against Ovechkin's line.