Welcome to Game 81, friends. And… [pauses to wiggle right hand because it’s nervously shaking] … yeah that’s where we’re at.
Our dear Washington Capitals come into tonight’s game in the second wild card spot in the East and in control of their own destiny. If they can beat the Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night, the Capitals will make the postseason. Anything less and… [gulp] … all the chaos.
“These moments are what you dream about,” said TJ Oshie earlier in the day. I DUNNO, TEEJ. I’D MUCH RATHER NOT BE FEELING THESE FEELINGS.
Charlie Lindgren will get the start for the Capitals in goal — and may start tomorrow night too. Hershey Bears captain Dylan McIlrath will be in the lineup.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is a little after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Scratches: Lucas Johansen, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Mike Sgarbossa
Boston Bruins
Tunnel weirdness
Holy shamoley, let's play some hockey#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/3bYWuHd4qV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 15, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Jeremy Swayman in net. Ovechkin-McMichael-Oshie and Alexeyev-McIlrath get the start.
McIlrath wearing no. 52 is a little jarring.
Boston has no shots in the first 10 minutes of the game while the Caps have 4.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. John Carlson scores on a shot from the point with traffic in front of the net. It’s the ninth time he’s hit double digits in goals in a season. He’s got 14 points in his last 16 games. Assists: Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson. Time of goal 12:00.
Beck Malenstyn picks up a rebound and has a wide open net, but shoots it into Peake’s leg.
About as good of a first period that you could ask for from the Capitals in a must-win against the Bruins. Capitals outshoot Boston 7-4 and out-attempt them 18-11 at 5v5. McIlrath looked good with Iorio. Every player was even or above water in 5v5 shot attempts except 8-24-77.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Through the first 28 minutes of play, the Bruins only have 5 shots. They look disinterested so far.
David Pastrnak is stopped on a semi-breakaway down the left wing by Charlie Lindgren.
Swayman makes a huge save on Wilson on a two-on-one break.
Lindgren stops Pastrnak on another semi-breakaway.
Play is whistled dead as Beck Malenstyn is slow to get up after a late hit from Trent Frederic. He’s helped to the bench by John Carlson. No call.
Through two periods, the Capitals are outshooting the Bruins 22-8 and out-attempting them 45-22 at 5v5.
3rd Period
CAN THE CAPITALS DO IT?!
Capitals get the first power play of the game after Kevin Shattenkirk trips Sonny Milano at 6:12.
Bruins have pulled Swayman.
Capitals have missed the empty net four or five times now. My heart rate is so high.
🚨 2-0 Capitals. Nic Dowd steals the puck from Brad Marchand and scores on the empty net. Unbelievable. He’s going nuts, pumping his fist.
Caps win 2-0.
Not to be mean to my favorite team, but the Bruins look disinterested in engaging them most of the night, trying to protect themselves from injury in the postseason. But still, a complete game from Washington when they needed it. Totally snuffed Boston out tonight.
Capitals outshoot the Bruins 25 to 16 and out-attempt them 50 to 36 at five-on-five.
Charlie Lindgren was the only goaltender the shutout the Bruins this season. He did it twice.
The playoffs are just one win away: Capitals beat Bruins 2-0
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