Recap: Bruins drop 2-1 to Capitals in shootout

After a scoreless 40 minutes, the Boston Bruins fell to the Washington Capitals 2-1 in a shootout tonight at the TD Garden.

“It seemed like the ice was heavier, the puck was bouncing around,” Bruce Cassidy said. It didn’t lend itself to a lot of crisp plays. We found our legs in the second. We made a bad play and it cost us.”

First period

The Bruins started the game and most of the first period on the defensive. The Bs didn’t get their first shot of the game until 15:28 minutes into the period, as it was an all Capitals’ offensive period.

Jake DeBrusk set David Pastrnak up on a breakaway in which the Bruins should have had their first shot and goal of the game six minutes into the game. BUT Pastrnak hit the post.

It looked like the Capitals were going to take the lead midway through the period on what would have been a goal from Jarred Tinordi…I mean a goal from T.J. Oshie. Richard Panik fanned on a shot from the slot but found Oshie on Rask’s glove side. Oshie’s shot hit the stick of Tinordi and went in. Luckily the Bruins challenged for offside on the play and Tinordi subsequently dodged a unwanted first game moment.

The Capitals outshot the Bruins 7-2 in the first period. DeBrusk and Carlo were the ones who put pressure on Vitek Vanecek.

Things started to get chippy at the end of the period, a trend which would continue, especially with Trent Frederic.

Second period

After not seeing much offense, the Bruins controlled the play in the offensive zone. They didn’t have anything really to show for their efforts, with only two shots on goal in the first six minutes, but the Bs set the pace with good puck movement.

Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelyck did a good job shutting down the Capitals’ offense, especially staying on Ovechkin and taking away his shooting lanes. Pastrnak contributed on the backcheck. Tuukka Rask made quality saves on the few shots he faced.

Honestly, there wasn’t much of anything going on for either team during the second period. Both teams had a lot of space to get plays going, but couldn’t create quality chances. BUT the Bruins did outshoot the Capitals 7-4 so at least there was that.

Third period

The Bruins broke the scoreless game with a goal at 1:19 in the third period. On a 2-on-1 against Brenden Dillion, Marchand fed Pastrnak the puck for a five-hole goal on Vanecek, making the score 1-0.

Then Frederic attempted to drop the gloves against Alex Ovechkin.

“Freddy got a little away from shooting and we’ll remind him about that,” Cassidy said. “He’s decided he’s going to be an agitator. He can bring it as long as he doesn’t get off his game but if he gets other people off their games than I think that’s a positive.”

The Capitals tied the game at 6:15 in the third period. After a bad turnover from Sean Kuraly, Lars Eller picked up the loose puck from the rebound from Panik’s shot to put a goal past Rask low on his glove side. 1-1

Then this happened. Again, Frederic stirring the pot, but Ovechkin wasn’t having it and speared him. Ouch. But that didn’t keep Frederic from agitating Tom Wilson after.

The game couldn’t be settled in regulation and headed to overtime.

Overtime

Rask came up big, as the Capitals had the most opportunities in extra time. He was challenged by Eller, Dmitry Orlov and Ovechkin in the short span. The Bruins couldn’t get anything going and went to the ever exciting shootout which seemed only fitting for how this game would end.

Shootout

Jakub Vrana scored the lone shootout goal to give the Capitals the win.

The Bruins are back at it against the Capitals on Friday.