The Washington Capitals, fresh off their sixth straight loss, will look to reverse their unvictorious ways against the Boston Bruins, which is another tough test.
The Bruins are tied with the Canucks for the most standing points in the NHL with 73. They sport one of the highest scorers in the league in David Pastrnak who has 33 goals and 75 points through the first 51 games of the season. They’re also getting stellar goaltending from Jeremy Swayman, who has a 16-4-7 record and a.922 save percentage.
The Capitals will turn to Charlie Lindgren in net and Nicolas Aube-Kubel will return to the lineup. Max Pacioretty will also become a much richer man.
Today’s game is on national television at 3:30pm and it’s airing on ABC. Sean McDonough and Ray Ferraro have the call.
Lines
Alex Alexeyev and Matthew Phillips are the Capitals’ scratches.
Lineys#CapsBruins | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/3FTqNpz5Tc
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 10, 2024
The lines for this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/h2V6cN6tzI
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 10, 2024
Caps weirdness
⚽️ crisis averted pic.twitter.com/kcpVnkthA4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 10, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Jeremy Swayman in net. Ovechkin-Strome-Oshie and Fehervary-Carlson get the start for the Caps.
A few minutes in, Alex Ovechkin has blocked a Caps dump in into the zone and Dylan Strome blocked a Capitals point shot.
5 second rule pic.twitter.com/WKrCpJ1nWw
— dj (@gingsnapz) February 10, 2024
Anthony Mantha turned away on a semi-breakaway by Swayman.
Hampus Lindholm to the box at 7:49 for holding Max Pacioretty.
Thirteen minutes in, the Capitals have eight of the first nine shots of the game. A great start for Washington, but nothing to show for it so far.
Swayman robs Alex Ovechkin right in front of the net with a beautiful glove save. Ovechkin has goals in three straight games coming into the matchup.
Pacioretty gets speared in the peen by Matt Grzelcyk in front of the net. Grzelcyk has been given a five minute major for spearing and a game misconduct at the 18:13 mark. Pacioretty to the locker room.
Not an expert in a lot of things over here but very familiar with the location where Pacioretty got hit, that's a spear, can confirm, rules expert is correct, thank you rules expert
— RMNB (@rmnb) February 10, 2024
The Capitals outshot the Bruins 15 to 4 in the first period and out-attempted them 16 to 6 at five-on-five. The Capitals will remain on a long power play to start the second period. They need to score here or it will tough sledding.
2nd Period
🚨 1-0 Capitals. TJ Oshie scores from the bumper spot on the power play 1:05 into the period. Pacioretty, whose Rettys are healed up after going to the locker room early, nets the primary assist. That’s Oshie’s ninth goal of the season.
The Capitals are outshooting 17 to 4 with 14:32 left in the second period. They have 9 scoring chances to the Bruins’ 1. I’m more worried about the fact they only have one goal to show for it because at some point Boston is going to wake up here.
TJ Oshie to the box for slashing Lindholm at 6:19.
Brad Marchand gets a mock cheer from the Boston Bruins crowd with 1 minute remaining in the period as he puts a weak shot from the left circle on net.
The Bruins are being booed off the ice. So far they just don’t have it.
The Capitals are outshooting the Bruins 23 to 7 and are out-attempting them 28 to 18 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-0 Capitals. Dylan Strome scores on a two-on-one break with Alex Ovechkin at 3:24. Strome has 20 goals for the third consecutive season.
Max Pacioretty to the box for tripping at 8:30. Big kill here.
John Carlson to the box for tripping at 12:35.
Connor McMichael can’t score on a shorthanded breakaway as Swayman closes the five-hole just in time.
Alex Ovechkin to the box at 17:04 for tripping David Pastrnak.
🚨 3-0 Capitals. Alex Ovechkin scores career goal no. 834 on the empty net. He now has the most empty-net goals in NHL history, passing Wayne Gretzky.
Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leader in empty-net goals
Shutout for Charle Lindgren. Capitals outshoot Boston 28 to 18 and out-attempted them 32 to 26 at five-on-five. Their six-game losing streak is now over.
Read the RMNB recap.
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