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Boston Bruins: 3 Keys Against the Capitals

By Scott Roche

Feb 1, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) scores the go ahead goal on Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) scores the go ahead goal on Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 09: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Alex Ovechkin #8 after scoring a goal on Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins during the first period in an Eastern Conference Round Robin game during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 09, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 09: T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Alex Ovechkin #8 after scoring a goal on Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins during the first period in an Eastern Conference Round Robin game during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 09, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /

2. Bruins penalty kill vs. Capitals power play

The Bruins have the third-ranked penalty kill and the Capitals bring the league’s fourth-ranked power play to the TD Garden. The outcome of this game could very well be decided in this battle.

Washington has no shortage of talent on their unit. Alex Ovechkin is one of the game’s gifted goal scorers and 262 of his 713 goals have come on the man advantage. Add in T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Jakub Vrana, and John Carlson, then you can see why they are a successful group. There is not much of a drop-off with Conor Sheary, Tom Wilson, and Lars Eller on the second unit.

In their first two meetings this season in the Nations Capital, the Bruins went 2-for-5 on the PK combined in both games, an overtime loss to the Caps and a four-goal third-period rally for a 5-3 victory.

1. Bruins get more secondary scoring

In Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers, the Bruins got much-needed secondary scoring to end a two-game losing streak.

Charlie Coyle scored two goals (one into an empty net), while Trent Frederic and Charlie McAvoy also found the back of the net. Secondary scoring has been an issue for some time for the Black and Gold, but Sunday, it powered them to a win.

light. Must Read. Bruins: Jakub Lauko best prospect to keep an eye on

Some offense from Jake DeBrusk, Craig Smith, or anyone else from the blueline would be beneficial, but at this point, the Bruins would take points from anyone not named Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak.

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