The Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals look to kick off New Year’s Eve with a win as they meet for the second time in eight days on Tuesday afternoon in the nation’s capital.
Both teams have won six of their last 10 games, with the Bruins riding a three-goal third period to a 4-1 home win over the Alex Ovechkin-less Capitals a week ago Monday.
Ovechkin has returned from a 16-game absence (fractured left fibula) and scored in each of Washington’s two games since last week’s meeting — a 5-2 Saturday win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and a 4-2 Sunday loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
“We’re excited (to have him back),” teammate Tom Wilson said. “When he’s walking up to the ice, people are climbing on top of each other to get videos of him and he’s taking the hockey world on a crazy ride right now. It’s rock star stuff. He’s the man.”
Ovechkin now has 17 goals in his 20 games and 870 for his career, moving him within 25 of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. Dating back before his injury, the Capitals’ captain has seven goals in as many games.
“Every goal is hard to score in this league, so if you want to try, put on skates and go six on five,” he said. “I tried to feel how I feel with the puck, mentally, physically. And as soon as the first shift (on Saturday) ended, I was feeling like, ‘OK, now I could play.'”
While the Bruins’ fast finish dropped the Capitals in Boston, a fast start made the difference on Sunday. Four Detroit goals on the first 12 shots put Washington in a first-period hole that was too deep, and it only mustered a Nic Dowd goal in the third.
“I never characterize one play as it defines the game. It was a culmination,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “Listen, we made a bunch of mistakes in that first period.”
The Bruins have split a home-and-home with the Columbus Blue Jackets since returning from the holidays, pitching a 4-0 Saturday shutout after a 6-2 road loss the previous night. Goals from Justin Brazeau, Morgan Geekie and Cole Koepke, with one from David Pastrnak in between, showed offensive depth in “a professional win” for interim coach Joe Sacco’s team.
Playing in a top-six role on a line with Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha of late, Geekie has scored five of his eight goals in December. He had a goal and an assist on Saturday.
“(I’ve been) just trying to stick to my game and be responsible on both ends,” Geekie said.
With the Bruins looking to eliminate efforts like Friday’s in Columbus and maintain more consistency, focusing on a responsible game is key.
“Just sticking to our identity and knowing if we take care of one side of the ice, the other side will take care of itself,” goaltender Jeremy Swayman said. “I think the way we (bounced back on Saturday) was most exciting. We played a full 60 minutes, exactly what we’ve been harping on.”
Swayman, who is 7-1-1 in his last nine starts, is coming off an 18-save effort for his second shutout of the season.
Former first-round draft pick Fabian Lysell made his NHL debut with the Bruins on Saturday, but he was returned to AHL Providence the following afternoon.
“He didn’t hurt his chances for another opportunity at some point. He did some good things,” Sacco said. “(Washington) has a little bit of a different lineup (than Columbus), so we’re going to go with a different lineup.”
–Field Level Media
