#7 Joel Ward’s Game 7 heroics
It was a thrilling seven game series between the seventh seeded Capitals and the second seeded defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Every game was decided by a goal and Game 7 was no different.
Matt Hendricks put the Caps up 1-0 early in the first period. The Bruins tied it up. At 2:57 into overtime, Joel Ward banged home a rebound off a shot from Mike Knuble to quiet the crowd in Boston and give the Caps the upset win. Rookie goaltender Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots.
"“It’s a nice sense of accomplishment to be able to get over the hump. It’s nice to turn the page, and maybe we’re writing a new script.”"
Joel Ward added, on his goal:
"“When I saw the puck there, I just took a whack at it. It was a sense of relief, a great accomplishment.”"
The rookie Holtby would add this:
"“I’m proud of our team against the defending Stanley Cup champs. I don’t get rattled. It’s one of the things I learned: To be able to get to this level you have to be like that.”"
Thanks to injuries to Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth, Holtby was given a chance to go from third stringer to starter and he did just that.