The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins in a game that took a shootout to decide it. 2-1 was the final score and it was Washington’s fourth in a row. The Caps played a complete game and overcame some early adversity after a goal was overturned.
T.J. Oshie struck first for the Caps or so we all thought as the Bruins challenged for offsides. The refs then overturned the goal and the game remained scoreless after the first period. The Caps outshot the Bruins 7-2 in a period that didn’t have a lot of offense.
In the early part of the game, Zdeno Chara got a touching tribute video from the Bruins in his return to Boston as a visiting player. It is a shame fans weren’t there to give him the proper ovation he deserved.
The second period was scoreless and once again had less offense as the Bruins outshot the Caps 7-4.
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The Bruins finally broke through for the game’s first goal at 1:19 in the third period on a goal from David Pastrnak for his 10th goal of the season. That lead would be short lived.
The Caps would tie the game at 6:14 in the third. A shot from Nick Jensen was saved off the blocker of Tuukka Rask. Richard Panik chipped at it but was stopped but Lars Eller was there to poke it in for his fifth goal of the season.
1-1 would be the score as the Caps led in shots 12-9. Nobody would score in the three on three overtime so the game required a shootout. The Caps led in shots 5-1 in the overtime period and 28-19 overall. Vitek Vanecek made 18 saves for a .947 save percentage.
In the shootout Vanecek stopped Jake DeBrusk. On the other side, Jakub Vrana would score the lone Caps goal and the only goal of the shootout. Vanecek stopped Pastrnak and Brad Marchand to end the game.
Brenden Dillon talked more about the win after the game. Via Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic:
"“This is what we’re built (for) as a team, to play those physical games. We can play the skill games. We can play offensively. We can also play the hard physical ones. Top to bottom, we feel comfortable in any type…of game.”"
The Caps and the Bruins will meet again this Friday night at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington. They have the day off today. The Caps will enter the weekend in first place of the East Division.