FINAL: Capitals 3 , Bruins 0 - Bruins embarrassed on home ice

This has to be the most embarrassing loss of the season as the Bruins were shutout on home ice by a score of 2-0 to the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon. At least in the Calgary game on Tuesday Boston scored in the third period to cut the deficit in half, which allowed the crowd to get into the game for a short period of time. That was not an option today as the Bruins were clearly sleepwalking throughout all three periods today. It felt like a preseason game where they were just going through the motions with no energy on the ice or in the arena. Those were the loudest boos I've heard from the TD Garden crowd this season, and rightfully so, after Boston put a goose egg on the scoreboard today. This is not a good start to the seven-game home stand (1-2) and it doesn't get easier as Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay pay a visit to TD Garden on Tuesday night. 

The first period was a mess as the Bruins struggled to complete basic passes or stay in their offensive zone for an extended period of time. Boston's first shot on goal did not even occur until around the 11:30 mark thanks to Anthony Richard. The Bruins were outshot 14-4 at the first intermission. Matt Grzelcyk was called for a five minute major misconduct for spearing. This power play carried over to the second period when T.J. Oshie scored to make it 1-0. 

The Bruins were no better in the second period as they continued to lack energy and urgency. They struggled throughout the game to hold onto the puck and get good looks at the net. The shots were 23-7 in favor of the Capitals. Washington scored again in the third period when Oshie set up Alex Ovechkin to Ryan Strome which made it 2-0. 

Ovechkin put the cherry on top for Washington with an empty net goal to make it 3-0. 

The Bruins will be back in action Tuesday night when they continue their seven-game home stand to face the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• This was easily the most embarrassing loss this season. Jeremy Swayman was the only Boston player that showed up today, and without him it could have easily been a lot worse.
• This felt like a preseason game where the Bruins were just going through the motions and had no energy on the ice, which transferred to no energy throughout the building. Not a good start to the seven-game home stand as they sit at 1-2 and face a good Lightning team next.
• The only positives that I can think of are that Swayman had a good game and Richard was able to get a shot off in his Boston debut. Other than that, it was a boring one today. 
• Bruins had three power plays and only had three shots. 

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

3. Jeremy Swayman  (25 saves)

2. Charlie Lindgren (18 saves)

1. T.J. Oshie (one goal and an assist)

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WHO: Capitals (22-20-7) at Bruins (32-10-9)
WHEN: 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston. 
TV: ABC
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

BOSTON
Marchand –  Coyle –  DeBrusk
Van Riemsdyk –  Zacha –  Pastrnak
 Lauko –  Geekie –  Frederic
Heinen –  Boqvist –  Richard

 Grzelcyk –  McAvoy
 Lindholm –  Carlo
 Forbort –  Wootherspoon

 Swayman
 Ullmark

CAPITALS
Ovechkin-Strome-Oshie
Protas-McMichael-Mantha
Pacioretty-Sgarbossa-Wilson
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK

Fehervary-Carlson
Sandin-Jensen
Edmundson-Bear

Lindgren

PREGAME NOTES
The Bruins welcome in the Washington Capitals for a matinee matchup at TD Garden set for 3:30 p.m. Anthony Richard is expected to make his Bruins debut today after being called up on Thursday to replace Matt Poitras. “Speed,” Jim Montgomery told reporters when asked what interested him about Richard’s game. “We'd like to create more anxiety on other teams, and there's different ways to do that – speed is one of them. That really makes people back off or make plays quicker than they want to. Physicality is another one," Montgomery continued. Richard has been an offensive weapon down in Providence with 19 goals, 19 assists and 38 points in 41 games. Montgomery also noted that Richard has five short-handed goals in the AHL this season, so they will try to slowly work him into the penalty kill. 

Pavel Zacha has recorded six points (two goals and four assists) in his last four games. "I don't think I was concerned,” Jim Montgomery explained. “I think I was concerned for him, because you could see it wearing on him…the frustration. I think he just needs to relax…even though outwardly I think he comes across as a very composed person, I think inwardly he puts a lot of pressure on himself," Montgomery continued. Charlie Coyle is riding a 10-game point streak after recording two assists Thursday versus Vancouver. 

Boston faces a Washington team that enters having lost six-straight games, most recently Thursday night at the Florida Panthers by a score of 4-2. The Capitals are good when leading after the first or second period but fall to 3-15-5 when trailing after the first period and 4-17-2 this season when trailing after the second. The keys for the Bruins today will obviously be to score first and put the pressure on Washington early. The Capitals have struggled on the power play this year ranking 27th in the NHL at only 14.6%. Their penalty kill isn't much better as they are 17th in the league at 79.3%. Dylan Strome paces Washington with 19 goals on the season with Anthony Mantha right behind at 16. Strome is also tied with Alex Ovechkin in points at 33. Ovechkin also enters today on a three-game goal streak.