It is hard to imagine that the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals have only met twice in the playoffs. The Capitals have only been around since 1974, but one would have though that this wouldn't only be the third time they would have faced off during the post-season. During the 1989-90 season the Bruins would sweep Washington in the Conference Finals 4-0 while the Caps would beat the Bruins in six games during the 1997-98 Quarter Finals. The Bruins are the favorite going in the this present series however but the Capitals would love to pull off the upset to take the all time series lead.
During the 1990 playoff series the Bruins would embarrass the Capitals with a 4-0 sweep and outscoring Washington 15-6 in the series. Cam Neely would lead the Bruins in scoring during the series with 5 goals and 4 assists. Andy Moog would shut the door on the Caps offense earning himself 4 wins a 1.50 goals against and a shutout during the series. Current Capitals coach Dale Hunter had a dismal series scoring only 1 goal, no assists and recording a -4 plus/minus. The Capitals were no match for the the power house Bruins team who would go on to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers.
The Quarter Finals during the 1997-98 series wouldn't go quite as well for the Bruins as their first meeting with the Capitals. The would lose the series 4-2 during a long and grueling series that included three overtime games. Goalies Byron Dafoe and Olaf Kolzig who were both best men at each others weddings, traded shoot outs late in the series, with the Capitals taking game four 3-0 and the Bruins winning game five 4-0. Rookie Joe Thornton didn't record a single point in the season and the only real noise he made was when he and Mark Tinordi fought early in game six. After beating the Bruins, Washington would make it all the way to the Cup Finals where they would eventually be swept by the Detroit Red Wings.
Now that the two have won a series against each other, most will forget about the past and move on to the future. With the likes of superstars Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas, Patrice Bergeron, Alex Ovechkin and (he may not be a superstar but anything that help get you guys riled up) Dennis Wideman. The series should be full of action and hopefully the good guys end up on top in the end.
Mark Tinordi vs Joe Thornton Nov 21, 1998 (via hockeyfightsdotcom)