BSJ Game Report: Bruins 7, Capitals 3 - Bruins snap out of losing skid in slugfest at TD Garden

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 7-3 win over the Capitals in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

TWO THINGS TO KNOW

The Bruins finally get over the hump against Washington: The month of December has not been particularly kind to the Bruins, but the B’s managed to assuage many a fan’s worries on Monday, sending the TD Garden crowd home happy by putting the bow on a 7-3 victory over the Capitals. 

Given Boston’s 1-4-4 skid, a regulation victory over the top team in the NHL (points wise) is already a great step forward for the Bruins going into the Christmas break. But you also factor in Boston’s recent track record against the Caps, and it makes the B’s four-goal outburst in the opening stanza even more mind-boggling.

The Bruins, losers of 16 of their last 17 games against Washington, managed to post their first home victory over the Caps since March 6, 2014 — a game in which Gregory Campbell and Loui Eriksson both lit the lamp. 

Facing off against Braden Holtby, who entered the matchup with an 18-3-0 record against Boston with a .944 save percentage, the Bruins sent the netminder packing after the opening 20 minutes — with Holtby relegated to the bench after relinquishing four goals on 11 B’s shots. 

It was far from a perfect effort from the Bruins, who managed to get outshot, 42-17, on the night. But given the strides made from Boston’s slumping power play (two tallies), a perfect showing from the PK (5-for-5) and a return to form for Tuukka Rask, the B’s will certainly take Monday’s convincing victory going into the holidays. 

B’s lose Torey Krug in physical bout: 

It just about sums up this recent stretch for Boston that even on the night in which they post their first regulation win on home ice since Dec. 3, they were still dealt a pyrrhic victory of some sorts — as Torey Krug exited the game in the second period due to an upper-body injury. 

Krug was buried in the second period off a heavy hit from Tom Wilson, leaving the contest for good after slamming into the boards. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1209282386447552512

Plenty of other Bruins took their lumps in Monday’s win. Matt Grzelcyk was dinged up after getting tripped up by Alex Ovechkin, while T.J. Oshie knocked Charlie McAvoy out of the game in the final two minutes of regulation with this heavy hit into the boards. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1209304306010251266

Postgame, Cassidy said that he did not have an update on Krug, adding that he thought McAvoy “seems to be okay”. 

A few off days on the holiday break should do Krug some good, but if he has to miss some time, Boston at least should have a contingency plan in the form of Grzelcyk, who logged 2:10 of ice time on the man advantage and tallied an assist on a power-play tally.

FOUR UP:

Tuukka Rask: Boston might have cashed in early and often against Holtby, but the B’s would have been in a tough spot if it wasn’t for Rask — who stopped 39 of the 42 shots that came his way in the win, including all nine shots on the Caps’ power-play TOI. 

Charlie Coyle & Boston’s third line: Boston’s third line once again was shuffled ahead of Monday’s matchup, with Sean Kuraly slotted up to the wing and Anders Bjork flipped over to Charlie Coyle’s right. Cassidy’s latest configuration in the bottom six paid off, with the trio combining for two goals and four total points in the win. Coyle’s shorthanded tally not only effectively put an end to the Caps’ night, but it also stood as the 100th goal of his NHL career — and first tally since Dec. 3

Special Teams: Boston’s power play took a step in the right direction on Monday, cashing in on two of its six chances on the man advantage by way of tallies from Jake DeBrusk and Patrice Bergeron in the first period. Perhaps even more impressive was the play of the penalty kill against a loaded Caps’ power play — with Washington limited to zero goals and just two high-danger scoring chances in 10:00 of 5v4 TOI. 

David Krejci & the usual suspects: A game removed from getting benched during Saturday’s OT loss to the Predators, Krejci bounced back with a three-point night, while Boston’s top line of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Bergeron teamed up for three goals and six total points. 

TWO DOWN: 

The Refs: At the end of the night, another goal didn’t factor all that much in Monday’s final result, but the B’s rightfully have a bone to pick after an own goal from Washington was waved off thanks to a ref with a quick trigger finger when it comes to his whistle. 

https://twitter.com/emarinofsky/status/1209282903701671936

Per the NHL: “The Referee informed the Situation Room he blew the play dead prior to the puck crossing the goal line, therefore, this is not a reviewable play.”

Sheesh.

Tom Wilson: Whether it be dropping Torey Krug, picking fights with the likes of Danton Heinen and Matt Grzelcyk or spearing David Pastrnak — it was an eventful night for Wilson, who was eventually removed from the game as a result of a game misconduct.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1209300586425921536

PLAY OF THE GAME: Pretty nifty way to tally your 100th career goal:

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1209283639340683265

PARTING THOUGHTS: 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1209286821013835777

Looking Ahead: Upon returning from their Christmas break, the Bruins will take part in a home-and-home slate against the Sabres, starting with a road matchup on Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.