Preview: Bruins look for series lead against Capitals in Game 3

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 6:30 PM

Where: TD Garden – Boston, MA

How to follow: NESN, NBCSN, TVAS, SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: Japers Rink

Know your enemy

• Playoffs: T.J. Oshie: 2GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS; Garnet Hathaway: 2GP, 2G, 0A, 2PTS; Tom Wilson: 2GP, 1G, 1A, 2PTS; Alex Ovechkin: 2GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS; Dmitry Orlov: 2GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS
• Craig Anderson: 1-1-0, 2.67 GAA, .929 save percentage
• Regular season leaders: Nicklas Backstrom: 15G, 38A, 53PTS; John Carlson: 10G, 34A, 44PTS; T.J. Oshie: 22G, 21A, 43PTS; Alex Ovechkin: 24G, 18A, 42PTS

Game notes

• The Boston Bruins are set for Game 3 tonight against the Washington Capitals. Games 1 and 2 were both decided in overtime, and both fairly quick into extra minutes. Game 1 was settled 4:41 minutes into OT while Brad Marchand’s heroics came just 39 seconds into the extra frame. Neither team has had more than a goal lead in the series, and there have been five different leads between the two so far.
• The physicality of the series was ramped up on Monday. Four matching penalties were assessed in the contest. The Bruins only killed off one penalty in Game 1, but found themselves playing less disciplined in Game 2. It’s lousy taking back-to-back penalties to start a tied third period and then being scored on moments after the second kill expires like last game. It seems like a broken record, but - clean it up.
• Neither the Bruins nor the Capitals have had a real advantage on the power play yet. Both sides have netted one power-play goal out of five (Capitals) or six (Bruins) opportunities. Oshie now has four power-play goals against the Bruins in four out of his last five games against them. Nick Ritchie’s Game 1 PPG was his first power-play point since Feb. 21.
• There’s no doubt that the Bruins have to watch out for Oshie and Ovechkin and take away their chances, but the Capitals’ fourth line has seemed to be the most dangerous in the two games. Garnet Hathaway, Nic Dowd and Carl Hagelin have combined for three goals, including Dowd’s game-winner in Game 1. The line has been effective on the forecheck and have brought that Caps’ physical edge in both games.
• Playoff DeBrusk has arrived and we are here for the ride! While he struggled to contribute for better parts of the year, his efforts in May’s regular season games after being a healthy scratch have carried over to begin this series. Jake DeBrusk has already had plenty of production in Games 1 and 2. He’s netted the first goal for the B’s in both games, which equalized the score in Game 1 and gave the team the lead in Game 2. He has six shots on net through both games, with most coming from high-scoring areas.
• Jeremy Lauzon will miss tonight’s game, Bruce Cassidy said yesterday. I’d expect Connor Clifton to stay in the lineup with him out. Clifton had two shots on net and one block on Monday. Kevan Miller is also cleared for the game. Cassidy said he missed some time in Game 2 to get stitches for a cut.
• For the Caps, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov were both on the ice during an optional skate yesterday. Both were removed from the COVID protocols list a few days ago. The Capitals also recalled two forwards and two defensemen from the AHL’s Hershey Bears yesterday.
• Remember, tonight’s game is a little earlier at 6:30 pm!

See ya then!