After a long, grueling regular season the Bruins and Capitals open up their second season tonight in Boston. The season where legends are born, Tim Thomas, and champions are crowned, 2010-2011 Boston Bruins. After winning the Northeast Division and ending the regular season north of 100 points the Bruins were awarded the 2 seed in the East and home ice advantage in round 1 against the perpetually underachieving Washington Capitals and superstar forward Alex Ovechkin. During the regular season the Caps took 3 out of 4 matchups winning the last 2 after splitting the first 2. During tonight’s game I’ll be giving a breakdown of my thoughts on what’s going on down and what I think is going to happen moving forward at the TD Bank Garden after each period. Enjoy ladies and gents.
End of Period 1: Washington 0 Boston 0
After one period of play the Bruins and Capitals are deadlocked at 0-0. Here are my thoughts, some reflections some streamlines, on what I witnessed during the first 20 minutes of playoff hockey:
-The Bruins did a good job of controlling possession and the tempo of the game throughout the first 20 minutes. Outshot the Caps 9-5.
-Rookie goaltender Braden Holtby has risen to the occasion so far befuddling the Bruins offensive attacks.
-On the other end of the ice Tim Thomas has been solid as usual only allowing two really good attempts by the Capitals, one was a loose puck scramble and the other was a tough angle shot by Alexander Semin.
-Shawn Thorton has been flying all over the ice including two big hits that he’s dished out. Great energy from the 4th line.
-The captain Zdeno Chara has been doing a good job of keeping Alex Ovechkin in check with his physical play. On one shift Chara chipped Ovechkin around center ice and then Dennis Seidenberg buried him into the corner boards and kept him there.
-David Krejci got rung up for the first penalty of the game with a boarding penalty on Dennis Wideman at the 12:54 mark giving the dangerous, though occasionally enigmatic, Capitals power play an opportunity. On that power play the Capitals looked ugly, couldn’t establish the zone and only got off one shot on Timmy.
-Roughly 5 and a half minutes later David Krejci draws a double minor on Jay Beagle for a high stick that drew blood. Krejci won the faceoff, got tripped up by Beagle, and then Beagle popped him in the nose with the butt end of his stick drawing blood and a 4 minute minor. Bruins power play gets their first opportunity on the power play to end the first and start the second period. The portion before the break was ugly with the Bruins finding it hard to establish the zone just as Washington had a few minutes earlier.
-Per usual Patrice Bergeron did a magnificent job in the faceoff circle setting the tone by consistently winning the draw.
A quick check on the other Eastern Conference matchup (#1 Ranges vs. #8 Senators) shows the Rangers up 1-0 after the 1st. For the second period I’d like to think that the Bruins are going to finally break through and put one on the board against the Capitals and their inexperience, rookie goaltender but don’t count out the Capitals offense lighting the lamp either. Now, back to the action!
End of Period 2: Washington 0 Boston 0
After two periods of play the teams are still deadlocked in a scoreless pitchers duel. Here’s the breakdown.
-Bruins again dominated play throughout the entire 2nd period chalking up roughly 4+ minutes of power play time but couldn’t break through. Bruins are outshooting the Caps 25-7 overall and 17-2 in the 2nd period alone. The crowd seemed to be getting pretty anxious/nervous by the end of that period. Washington is doing a great job hanging around and as coaches always say if you let a lesser team hang around too long they will strike and steal the game.
-The Bruins power play moved the puck efficiently and quickly during their first stretch on the power play but again Holtby was a stonewall in front of the Capitals net. Bruins can’t seem to figure him out. On one play Peverley skated in front all alone then got stoned by Holtby collected his rebound and was again turned away by the rookie goalie.
-The Capitals did a great job killing off the Beagle double minor only to have Troy Brouwer get called for a delay of game penalty that he argued deflected of Tyler Seguin before getting up and out of play. Try again Brouwer the replay showed that you missed hitting Seguin by about a foot. Bruins did a great job of moving the puck at the end of the double minor but looked shoddy on their next power play attempt. Holtby standing on his head considering at the 10:00 mark of the second mark the Bruins are outshooting the Caps 10-0 in the 2nd.
-Again during the 2nd period the Bruins sent out Chara and Seidenberg to rough up Ovechkin. Seidenberg landed a big hit around center ice on Ovechkin sending him sprawling against the half wall while simultaneously sending himself back onto his own ass. It looked like Seidenberg actually got the brunt of the hit but the point got across that he’s going to throw his weight around against the Caps star winger.
-Throughout the middle portion of the period there was some intense back and forth hockey with good saves by both goalies.
-You know who’s been playing a hell of a game tonight? Brian Rolston. He looks rejuvenated and is clearly thrilled to be playing in a playoff game.
-Bergeron fed Paille all alone in front of Holtby but again Holtby was tall to the task.
-Krejci and Carlson got into a little scrum after Krejci bumped into and knocked over Holtby leading to a mini breakout between the two teams. In the end Krejci and Carlson are both hauled off for 2 minutes. The intensity that both teams are bringing to the table finally shows itself in true hockey form. Shortly into the 4 on 4 Washington takes another penalty allowing the Bruins a rare 4 on 3. Bruins get great puck movement throughout the 4 on 3 but again Holtby and the Caps defense stands strong and leave the crowd restless. Holtby appears to be building a Berlin wall style brickhouse in front of the Capitals net.
-Capitals have had unlimited opportunites with Ovechkin yet to get off a shot on Timmy Thomas.
Another check on the Rangers/Senators has the Rangers up 4-1 in the 3rd. Onto the 3rd period of action between the Caps and Bruins with the Bruins carrying the momentum but the Capitals hanging tough and still in a good position to strike a stake into the Bruins heart.
End 3rd: Washington 0 Bruins 0
Three periods in the books and the Bruins and Capitals are in a dead heat. Nobody has put one on the board yet overtime here we come! Recap of the 3rd.
-The Capitals came out of the locker room after a sluggish first two periods full of energy and absolutely dominated possession for the entire first part of the period. The Bruins didn’t clear the puck and get a stoppage in play until under 17 minutes to go. One problem with the stoppage that occurred is that it was because of a cross check by Big Z at the 3:12 mark of the 3rd. Huge opportunity for the Capitals power play to break the deadlock and put them on top early in the 3rd.
-On the subsequent power play Tim Thomas made a HUGE SAVE on Alex Ovechkin. Sliding across the crease left to right mirroring the pass as it made its way onto Ovechkins stick below the right circle. Big save to keep the Caps and 8 off the board. Thomas again for the second straight postseason proves that a team’s best penalty killer more times than not is its goalkeeper.
-After another sluggish 5 or 6 minutes the Bruins finally turn up the heat with around 9 minutes to go. Great offensive zone pressure leads to Joe Corvo panging one off the right post as Holtby attempted to get deep in his net. Closest call of the night for either time as the iron rang true. Thomas continued to hold strong on the other end of the night as he looks to be getting into a rhythm.
-Ovechkin is trying to get out into space but Chara and Seidenberg refuse to give him any space to work in. He’s being bottled up pretty good tonight by the Bruins top defensive pairing.
-Capitals respond to the Bruins energy burst with one of their own led by Holtby keeping the Bruins off the board after Kelly came in riding the defender on Holtby’s left but couldn’t bring it back to his forehand. When he tried to slide it back to his forehand for a quick shot the puck exploded on him and Pouliot was making a rush to the net but just wasn’t in position in time to stuff it home. Big opportunity missed by the Spoked B.
-Bruins are trying to absorb the blows being delivered by the Capitals here in the 3rd period after basically being in a complete defensive shell the first 2 period. This looks like a different Capitals team offensively putting pressure on the Bruins D and skating into space. Bruins though seem to still be getting the better scoring chances between Corvo, Kelly, and a centering pass by Seguin that fell on emptiness as neither Bergeron nor Marchand could get in a clean net drive to stuff home the pass.
-As the period neared its end Thomas once again appeared to working up a sweat and getting into a good rhythm as he stonewalled the Capitals forwards and did his best Braden Holtby impression. On the other end of the ice Holtby is doing it all for the Caps.
-That’s the end of the period and we are headed to overtime!
Final check on the Rangers/Senators shows the Rangers chalking up a 4-2 win. No surprise there. The Bruins decided to save their sloppiest period for last but luckily the Capitals weren’t able to capitalize on the Bruins being awestruck throughout the first 10 minutes of the period. Capitals outshoot the Bruins 9-3 in the period. Bruins hold a 29-16 shot advantage through regulation.
Final: Washington 0 Boston 1 ---- Bruins lead the Series 1-0
Onto overtime let’s see what the Bruins and Capitals can provide for extra entertainment.
-GOALLLLLLL!!!! Chris Kelly takes the breakout pass from Benoit Pouliot after Tim Thomas made a huge save on a Capitals one-on-one, Rolston gathered the rebound found Pouliot who looked up and found Kelly. Kelly came down the left side on Holtby’s right, wound up, and fired off a wicked slap shot from just above the circle. Holtby had come out to cut down the angle but there was no stopping Kelly’s blast. It beat Holtby glove side high putting the Bruins on the board 1-0 and giving them the early advantage in this best of 7 series. Goal came 1:18 into overtime and didn’t leave much time for anything else to happen. Thomas save, Rolston lead pass, Pouliot finds Kelly, Kelly shoots he scores. That about sums up overtime. Going back to the beginning of last postseason the Bruins are now 5-1 in games that have gone into overtime with their only loss coming in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Vancouver Canucks.
There you have it folks my live feed of how I felt the game was going from period to period. The Bruins get the hard fought win and take a 1-0 lead with a home ice win in game 1. Capitals put up a hell of a fight though and I don’t see them going away easily they’ll give the hometown Bruins a run for their money it should be a great series from game 1 through game 7, if it goes that long and as a Bruin fan I hope it doesn’t.
Until we cross paths again…GO BRUINS!!
Geoff Jablonski
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