BSJ Game Report: Capitals 8, Bruins 1 - Washington obliterates shorthanded B's roster

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 8-1 loss to the Capitals in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

B's decimated D corps gets smoked by Caps 

Disappointing? Yes.

But surprising? Unfortunately, far from it.

With Bruce Cassidy forced to trot out a shorthanded D corps without its regular stalwarts in Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller, the Capitals feasted against Dan Vladar and the Providen...err, Boston Bruins on Sunday evening — posting a lopsided 8-1 victory over the B's at TD Garden.

Every single forward in the Caps' lineup recorded a point in the massacre, while the B's were held to a goal or fewer for the 11th time in their first 39 games of the 2021 season. Craig Smith scored the lone goal of the evening for Boston, while Vladar was tabbed for all eight goals against.

All things considered, that lack of pushback down the other end of the ice might be the most concerning takeaway from a night like this — because, let's be frank, Boston was already going to be up against it with a D corps like this matched up against one of the most potent offenses in the league.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1381254767872253956

And while, yes, the expectation is for a team like the Bruins to never be on the wrong side of such a lopsided score — it's not worth channeling too much doom and gloom out of a contest in which the club's last lines of defense against the Caps were: Jeremy Lauzon, a waiver-wire pickup (Tinordi), a rookie (Zboril), two depth D-man (Clifton/Kampfer), a 2020 college undrafted free agent (Ahcan) and a rookie between the pipes in Vladar.

Because let's be frank, you don't need to be Scotty Bowman or some other hockey maven to be cognizant of the fact that this team isn't going anywhere with its D corps as constituted. Getting healthy bodies back — with Miller and McAvoy (potentially) set to return on Tuesday against Buffalo — standing as a step in the right direction.

But for the Bruins to not generate much down the other end of the ice with a largely intact forward group is another issue entirely. Be it another woeful night for the top power-play unit and a quiet performance once again from a slumping David Pastrnak, one might have expected a much more spirited pushback if Boston's veteran cogs managed to land a few punches in what might has well been a scheduled defeat.

Next up — the trade deadline.

TWO UP

Chris Wagner: Unfortunately, he didn't fare too well in his bout, but give credit to Wagner for at least trying to give his shorthanded teammates a lift following the opening face-off by scrapping with Brendan Dillon. Given that the odds were clearly not on the B's side going into the contest, at least Wagner tried to do what he could to drum up some momentum in the opening minutes of play.

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Craig Smith: Smith got the Bruins on the board at 3:00 in the third period, knocking a loose puck past Vitek Vanecek on the power play. Despite getting bumped down to the third line ahead of puck drop (likely in an effort to get a slumping Pastrnak going with Bergeron+Marchand), Smith has continued to produce — tallying 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 12 games.

THREE DOWN

The whole defense: I mean ... duh. It's not worth handing out individual demerits from the performance of Boston's defensive structure, because it was simply ugly all-around. And that's not just knocking players in over their heads like Ahcan or more concerning play from expected rotational regulars at this point like Zboril. Even Boston's defensive coverage from its forwards were lacking, with the Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line getting caught up ice and giving Washington a 3-on-2 rush in the first period — leading to Conor Sheary's first goal of the evening 9:42 into the contest.

David Pastrnak: A lot of no-shows up front for the Bruins tonight, but another listless performance from Pastrnak remains the most concerning development. Bumped back up to the top line after a rough tenure with David Krejci, Pastrnak didn't do much to warrant the lineup switch, going scoreless for the sixth time in his past nine games. Does Boston need to get healthy on D? Yes. Does Boston need more scoring help? Of course. But this team isn't going anywhere if Pastrnak doesn't start lighting the lamp with regularity again.

Penalty kill: One of the strengths of this club all season, Boston's PK was dented all night against the high-powered Caps — relinquishing power-play tallies on three of its first four shorthanded stints. A lack of netfront protecting undid the Bruins on Sunday, with the Caps cashing in on easy tap-ins and clear shooting lanes in and around Vladar. Of course, that was also to be expected with guys like Carlo and Miller still out of the lineup.

PLAY OF THE GAME

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1381414727096623104

PARTING THOUGHTS

Sure could have used this guy tonight if you were the Bruins.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1381388097129222144

QUOTE OF THE DAY

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1381425163338711041

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their homestand on Tuesday with a matchup against the cellar-dwelling Sabres. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.