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Preview: The puck drops on the playoffs as the Bruins and Caps play Game 1

Let’s do it!

By Dan.Ryan
Washington Capitals Vs Boston Bruins At TD Garden Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7:15 PM

Where: Capital One Arena - Washington, DC

How to follow: NBC, CBC, TVAS, 98.5 The Sports Hub
As a reminder, tonight’s game is not airing on NESN as well.

Rival SBN site: Japers Rink

Know your enemy

  • Nicklas Backstrom: 15G-38A-53PTS; John Carlson: 10G-34A-44PTS; TJ Oshie: 22G-21A-43PTS; Alex Ovechkin: 24G-18A-42PTS
  • Vitek Vanecek: 21-10-4, 2.69 GAA, .915 save percentage

Game notes

  • Here we go! Game 1 is on tap. A weird regular season in a weird year is in the books. Now, the real games begin. GET PSYCHED.
  • This one is an NBC exclusive, airing after the network’s coverage of the Preakness Stakes. Expect at least 3 or 4 comments from Eddie Olczyk about horse racing.
  • Barring a last-minute change, Charlie Coyle should be back in the Bruins’ lineup tonight after missing the last handful of regular season games. Based on the lines at practice on Friday, Coyle will go back to the right wing slot on the third line, with Sean Kuraly as his center.
  • The Caps have some intrigue in the injury/unavailability department, as Evgeny Kuznetsov apparently remains in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. It’s entirely possible that he’s cleared tomorrow and jumps back in the lineup, but appears unlikely based on how things are trending.
  • Vitek Vanecek left the Caps’ practice early today, but it wasn’t due to injury; instead, it appears that the practice was optional, so Vanecek did his part and then bailed. Can’t hate on that!
  • In a big boost for the Caps, John Carlson should be ready to go tonight after missing time at the end of the regular season.
  • However, it remains unclear whether TJ Oshie will play tonight or not, as he’s dealing with a lower-body injury.
  • Capital One Arena has a capacity of just over 20,000 people during normal times. Based on DC’s reopening rules, it appears that they’ll be allowed to have 25% capacity tonight, so expect 5,000 fired up Caps fans in the stands. Hopefully they don’t let that horn guy in.

See ya tonight!