Bruins/Capitals: Game 2

In game two of the Bruins/Capitals first-round playoff series, we saw the pugilistic spirit from the first game carry over off the get. Right off puck drop, there's a fury of hitting not to mention several breakaway chances for Washington. The Bruins get the first laugh five minutes in when Jake Debrusk pots his second goal in as many games from Coyle, 1-0 Bruins. A minute and a half Washington answers right back, a tip-in shot on the powerplay, tied 1-1. Almost three minutes later, Pastrnak finds Bergeron out front who beats Anderson glove-side for the Bruins' second goal on five shots, 2-1 Bruins. With about three minutes left in the period Washington yet again finds the equalizer on a deflected shot to tie the game at 2. After a scoreless, heavy second period where we saw the Bruins play a more organized, in-sync game. They came out in the third, immediately taking unnecessary penalties, which eventually rear their ugly face in the form of a Washington powerplay goal, seven minutes gone In the period to give the Capitals their first lead, 3-2. The Bruins dig deep and on a play where Taylor Hall brings the puck to net as chaos ensues. Hall skates around the other side of the and manages to poke the puck through amidst the scrum, tying the game at three with 2:49 left in regulation. Marchand makes quick work of the Capitals in the overtime period, just 39 seconds off a Matt Grezclyk feed. Bruins win 4-3, evening the series 1-1, as it shifts to Boston for Game 3 Wednesday evening.

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.