Washington Capitals fall to Bruins in shootout in preseason opener

The Washington Capitals opened up their six game preseason slate on Sunday evening against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena. Despite losing in the shootout 3-2, a lineup of mostly young bucks still impressed. Most of the veterans sat out in this one but the future Caps were ready to step up.

The Caps took an early lead at 4:15 with a goal from Joe Snively. Snively got the puck from Martin Has and despite being pushed down by a defender still shot the puck through the net. Hendrix Lapierre had the secondary assist. For Snively it was a goal that came full circle. He’s a native of local Herndon, VA and played for the Little Caps.

At 12:56 the Bruins tied it up with a goal from Jake DeBrusk. 1-1 was the score after one with the Caps leading in shots 11-6.

Erik Haula doubled the Bruins lead to 2-0 with a goal at 1:09 in the second period. 2-1 was the score after 40 with the Caps leading in shots 11-8.

At 5:26 in the third period the Caps tied it. Lapierre found Martin Fehervary who fed it to Garrett Pilon. Pilon finished with a backhander. The Caps were outshot 9-5 in the third period but they still got the all important game tying goal. The Caps had four shots in overtime but couldn’t get any across and the game would be decided in a shootout.

Daniel Sprong scored the first goal of the shootout. Haula tied it. Lapierre and Fabian Lysell both got stopped. Connor McMichael missed. DeBrusk won the game.

Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette told the media after the game via Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com:

“It was the first game. I thought there were some good things we did. There were some things that we definitely can do better. I thought we were a little loose in front of our net; it seemed like on some of the goals we had lots of people around the area but didn’t defend the area very well. I thought as the game got toward the middle part we started to generate some good chances offensively, so some good things to see, some good signs.”

For Snively, although it was only the preseason it may have been the biggest goal of his life (so far, we’ll see what happens in a few years. He spoke about the moment:

“It was pretty special to do it in front of family and friends. Getting it in the first period too was nice.”

The Caps continue their preseason on Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils.