Bruins/Capitals: Game 1

In the first game of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Bruins, the #3 seed, faced off against the Washington Capitals, the #2 seed. In a game defined by physically, we saw both teams delivering equal punishing hits. The Washington defense lived up to their billing, making life difficult for the Bruins every time attempting to enter the zone. The puck drops and, as I previously stated, hits were at a premium, and shots seemed to take a back seat, at least to start the game. Washington broke the scoreless tie about six and a half minutes into the game when Charlie McAvoy broke his stick on an attempted slapshot. Washington transitions the puck the other way on a breakaway chance while their best defenseman is trying to defend without a stick. Tom Wilson roofs the puck over Rask's left shoulder to give the Capitals the early 1-0 lead. A little more than 3 minutes later, right off the faceoff, Jake DeBrusk rockets a missile into the back of the Washington net, tying the game at 1. The shot sent Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek into a split trying to stop the attempt, which saw him exit the game in favor of 39-year-old Craig Anderson. The heavy back and forth affair carries onto the second, and at around almost nine minutes into the period, Brendan Dillon fires in a bouncing puck that changes direction off of Jeremy Lauzon's stick, putting the Capitals ahead 2-1. Play continues, and about eight minutes pass when Nick Ritchie, while on the power play, dribbles one past Anderson that barely squeaks over the goal line, all even at 2. After an eventful yet scoreless third period, the game is extended to overtime. During the extra frame, TJ Oshie rips a shot from out high on Rask that Nick Dowd manages to get a stick on that dribbles through Rask's five-hole for the game-winning goal,. In order to remain competitive in this series, the Bruins need to up the physicality, fine-tune their game, particularly that of the first line, who seems to be half a second behind on each play. The two teams get back at it Monday evening for game two.