Final: Capitals 3, Bruins 1 - Bruins lose final game of 2024 unable to score in final 2 periods

In the final game of 2024, the Bruins fall to the Capitals 3-1 in a lackluster offensive performance.

Most of the offense in the game happened in the first period as Washington and Boston combined for three goals. 

Just like in Saturday's game against Columbus, Justin Brazeau scored the first goal of the game in front of the net. When Parker Wotherspoon dumped the puck in Washington's defensive zone, the puck took an odd bounce off the boards and landed onto the stick of a forechecking Brazeau.

However, Brazeau's goal was the only offense Boston was able to produce, as the Capitals scored two goals by the end of the first period. A good forecheck from Washington's second line resulted in a goal from Aliaksei Potras, and Jakob Chichrun put the Capitals in front with a power play snipe from a Mark Kastelic penalty.

For the remaining 40 minutes of the game, the Bruins went scoreless. Even after two attempts on the power play in the second period, Boston couldn't find consistent time in their offensive zone which resulted in multiple turnovers against Washington's penalty kill. 

The Bruins had better chances in the third period, but strong goaltending from Logan Thompson kept the Capitals in front.. With a minute left in the game, Protas scored the empty net goal for the Capitals sealing a Washington victory.

Overall, the Capitals were the better team in this game. The Bruins couldn't find any offensive groove. Their power play on the man advantage couldn't produce, and there were periods in this game where Boston couldn't record a shot on net. Logan Thompson was the better goalie in this game too, outplaying Jeremy Swayman and making saves when it mattered most. Not a great way to end 2024.

On Thursday, the Bruins take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (20-14-4) vs Capitals (24-10-2)
WHEN: 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak

Marchand - Lindholm - Coyle

Koepke - Frederic - Brazeau

Beecher - Kastelic - McLaughlin

Zadorov - McAvoy

Wotherspoon - Carlo

Lohrei - Peeke

Swayman

Korpisalo

Washington

Ovechkin - Strome - McMichael

Protas - Dubois - Wilson

Mangiapane - Eller - Miroshnichenko

Duhaime - Dowd - Raddysh

Sandin - Carlson

Fehervary - Roy

Chychrun - Van Riemsdyk

Thompson

Lindgren

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins take on the Capitals for the second time in a week for an afternoon New Year's Eve matchup. In last week's matchup, Boston defeated Washington 4-1 in the T.D. Garden.

After making his NHL debut Saturday against the Blue Jackets, former 2021 first round pick Fabian Lysell was called back down to the AHL. 

“The message was basically that he didn’t hurt his chances, obviously, for another opportunity at some point,” Sacco told reporters about Lysell. “He played a good game, did some good things out there. And was an opportunity for him to get up his first NHL game, because he got it based on his play, it was based on merit."