The Washington Capitals will conclude their slate of games before the holiday break tonight against the Boston Bruins. And you know what?
The Capitals will go with 11 forwards and 7 D, going with Dylan McIlrath as an extra D over Henrik Rybinski or Hendrix Lapierre playing. This may be the first aggressive lineup Spencer Carbery’s made this season — let’s see how it works out.
The Capitals-Bruins game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Alan May — Craig Laughlin is out due to a persona matter — have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
More hits than shots in the first 6 minutes of the game.
Tom Wilson and Charlie McAvoy exchange huge hits with each other on the same shift.
Aliaksei Protas draws the game’s first penalty on the Bruins’ Mason Lohrei for tripping at 7:58.
Martin Fehervary to the box for John Beecher ant 17:54.
🚨 1-0 Boston Bruins. BOS PPG: Justin Brazeau (7). Assists: M. Geekie (7), M. Lohrei (14). Time: 19:12.
The 6-foot-6 Brazeau screens Lindgren, finds a rebound, and chunks it home on the backhand.
At intermission: The Bruins are outshooting the Capitals 6 to 3 in a period that was more demolition derby than hockey game.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brandon Carlo to the box for interfering with Tom Wilson at 2:59.
🚨 1-1 tie. WSH PPG: Jakub Vrana (7). Assists: R. Sandin (10), P. Dubois (21). Time: 04:50.
Jakub Vrana has goals in three straight games. What a huge one-timer.
David Pastrnak is at the bench in some discomfort.
Matt Roy to the box for tripping at 12:04. A ticky-tack call, to be honest.
At intermission: The Bruins lead in shots 13 to 7 while the Capitals lead in attempts at five-on-five 23 to 17. A very low event game to say the least. Carbery has benched Ivan Miroshnichenko and Dylan McIlrath.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ten seconds in, Martin Fehervary is boarded badly by Oliver Wahlstrom, getting shoved head first into the end boards. He’s down the tunnel. The play is under review and was initially called a major penalty.
Wahlstrom gets a five minute major and game misconduct, getting ejected from the game. The ruling comes due to Fehervary’s face injury per the refs.
The power play will last from 19:50 to 14:50 of the third period.
Bruins have gotten the better opportunities on this five-minute power play than the Caps. No shots for Washington.
Martin Fehervary is back. His nose had a cut.
Dubois and Marchand animatedly exchanging words back to the bench.
Fehervary nailed by Brazeau on his first shift back on the ice. Bruins appear to be targeting him after his hit in the first period.
David Pastrnak will not return to the game due to injury – it appears to be a lower-body issue.
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Elias Lindholm head to the penalty box with matching minors for unsportsmanlike conduct. They were both shoving each other behind the play. Four-on-four hockey.
Bruins to a power play after Trevor van Riemsdyk hooks Elias Lindholm at 10:45.
🚨 2-1 Boston Bruins. BOS Goal: Elias Lindholm (6). Assists: B. Marchand (14). Time: 13:40.
Lindgren falls for the shot fake and Lindholm dekes past him for the backhand layup. Great pass by Marchand to set him up with the semi-break down the right wing.
🚨 3-1 Boston Bruins. BOS Goal: Brad Marchand (15). Time: 15:58.
Coyle sets up Marchand for a layup. This game is unraveling fast for the Caps.
Capitals pull Lindgren for an extra attacker.
🚨 4-1 Boston Bruins. BOS ENG: Brad Marchand (16). Time: 15:58.
Marchand blocks Chychrun’s shot and scores a tap-in for the empty netter. The Caps go after Lindholm after Marchand scored. Lindolm taunted the Capitals bench after his goal earlier in the period. Strome and Linholm leave the game with 1:22 left after their melee – Strome got an extra minor. The Caps and Bruins play again in 8 days.
Capitals lose 4-1. Bruins doubled up the Caps in shots 22 to 11. Caps had nothing for them.
A loss that felt like getting coal for Christmas: Bruins beat Capitals 4-1
Merry Christmas everyone. We’ll keep posting, but please have a wonderful holiday with your family and loved ones. We are grateful for you.
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