The Washington Capitals authored a thrilling 6-3 win over their biggest rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, on Saturday. Now they will try to do it again a day later against the team that ousted them in last year’s postseason, the Boston Bruins.
The Capitals will suit up without second-line center Nicklas Backstrom who is out due to [gestures at everything] “body maintenance” per the team.
Today’s game is big, big, big for both teams (see the standings). Boston is fighting to stay out of the first wild card position in the East, while the Capitals could pull within two points of the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division with one game in hand after today. Passing the Penguins would get the Capitals out of the second wildcard spot where they’d likely match up against the Florida Panthers. So yeah, do that. That’d be good!
Today’s game is on TNT, so give yourself a few grace minutes before puck drop to find the channel. Here are today’s Daily Deals on Caps merch.
Capitals lines
Second-line Eller is the biggest change, with the team without Backy.
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Sheary
Mantha-Eller-Wilson
Johansson-McMichael-Oshie
Larsson-Dowd-Hathaway
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TVR-Schultz
Vanceck vs Ullmark
No Pasta or Lindholm for Boston
Those are two huge losses.
#NHLBruins at #AllCaps warmups underway. Linus Ullmark for Boston. Vitek Vanecek for Washington. No David Pastrnak or Hampus Lindholm for Bruins. No Nicklas Backstrom for Capitals. pic.twitter.com/vLsqfVhjlG
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 10, 2022
Capitals started real slow in this game
The first period was highlighted by some great saves by both Vanecek and Ullmark. The Bruins will start the second period on the waning seconds of a power play.
Through the first 15 minutes of the game, the Capitals have 2 shots on goal
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) April 10, 2022
John Carlson gives the Caps a 1-0 lead in the second period.
Ullmark’s stick got tied up with Evgeny Kuznetsov’s body in front of the net as he tried to slide over to make the save.
Johnny slapperoo pic.twitter.com/somF71i7Tz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 10, 2022
A good run for Carly as of late.
John Carlson gives the Caps a 1-0 lead with his 14th goal of the season. That marks his third straight game with a point (3g, 4a), and he's just one goal shy of his third career 15 goal season.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 10, 2022
Curtis Lazar ties it up a few minutes later after Nick Foligno dekes Viteks Vanecek out of the net.
Erik Haula beats Vanecek with a slap shot glove side. 2-1 BOS.
That’s tough goals given up by Vanecek in the second period after a sensational opening 20 minutes.
Grzelcyk leaves the game with an upper-body injury.
UPDATE: Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body) will not return to today's game.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 10, 2022
Tom Wilson out here doing Tom Wilson things (scoring). 2-2.
THAT'S OUR ALL-STAR 😌 pic.twitter.com/ifhnBwdb9U
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 10, 2022
Lars Eller gives the Caps the lead. Lucky redirect. 3-2 WSH.
Boop pic.twitter.com/zSyKoc2lp3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 10, 2022
Ovi empty netter in the last second. Career goal no. 775.
Read the RMNB recap.
Back-to-back successful afternoon matchups against playoff teams: Capitals beat Bruins 4-2
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