Boston Bruins: 5 Studs Against the Capitals
After losing five of their previous seven games, the Boston Bruins were facing the Washington Capitals for the second time in three nights Friday night at the TD Garden.
Following a 2-1 shootout loss Wednesday night, the Bruins were looking to gain a split from the mini two-game series with the Capitals. Emotions ran high after Caps tough guy Tom Wilson hit B’s defensemen Brandon Carlo and knocked him out of the game and subsequently sent him to a Boston hospital. In the end, the Black and Gold got the best form of revenge, on the scoreboard.
Boston got several performances from many different players that helped them beat the Capitals, 5-1. Here are five “Studs” for the Bruins that helped them win their 13th game of the season.
5. Charlie McAvoy
In the first period, Charlie McAvoy went to hit Garnet Hathaway and got the worst end of the contact, which ended up with McAvoy heading to the locker room with a cut above his eye. After that point, the Bruins young defensemen had another night where he was a rock on the blueline.
He had a plus-4 through two periods, with Boston holding a 4-0 lead and he set up rookie Trent Fredric with the first of three second-period goals with one of the better passes of the season. The puck came to him at the point and he wound up to take what looked like a slap shot, only to slide a pass to a wide-open Frederic in the slot and he was able to redirect the pass into an open net for a 2-0 advantage.
McAvoy, who was second on the team with 22:36 of time-on-ice and finished with a plus-3, picked up an assist in the first period on a Brad Marchand’s goal. What started out as an “Oh no” moment in the first period when he went to the locker room following his collision with Hathaway, ended up being another solid night for the young blueliner.
4. Jaroslav Halak
In keeping up with the theme throughout the season, coach Bruce Cassidy alternated goalies, and after Tuukka Rask played in Wednesday’s loss (and played very well to help the B’s earn a point), it was Jaroslav Halak‘s turn and the veteran backup was up to the challenge.
Halak stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced. The only goal he allowed was a tally by Washington’s Jakub Vrana in the third period with 6:21 left in the game on a well-placed wrist shot from the right circle.
In a game that featured so many storylines and for different reasons, Halak was one of those players whose name you didn’t really hear much, but his performance quietly helped the Bruins build a five-goal lead early in the third period and keep the Caps at bay for the night.
3. Matt Grzelcyk
Since returning from his lengthy absence with an injury, Matt Grzelcyk has proved to be a valuable piece to the Boston blueline. He had a strong skating game, was active all over the ice, and had a hand in the Bruins breaking things open in the middle period.
Although he didn’t register an assist on Frederic’s goal, he stepped, stole a pass, and got the play in motion in the Capitals’ end. Then with just under five minutes remaining in the period, he sent a cross-ice pass to Marchand at the far post, who tapped the puck into an open net.
Like McAvoy, Grzelcyk had an impressive plus-4 through two periods and finished with a plus-3. Grz did a nice job of being aggressive all night and stepping up when he had to.
2. Brad Marchand
The Bruins leading goal-scorer got things going early in the game and then added insurance later in the game.
He opened the scoring in the first period when the Bruins top-line had a strong shift forechecking and it ended up with Patrice Bergeron getting the puck behind the net, finding a wide-open Marchy who lost his defender and he was able to roof a backhander over Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek.
In the second period, he returned to the favor to his captain for an assist on a one-timer from the slot for a 3-0 lead. He finished off his night with his second goal on a great cross-ice pass from Grzelcyk.
Brad Marchand also got under the skin of the Caps and in the third period, was the center of attention of a scrum following a whistle and he even got a push from former teammate Zdeno Chara, who didn’t approve of Marchy’s actions.
1. Patrice Bergeron
It was one of those nights where a team looks to their leader and Patrice Bergeron is the B’s leader and his calming presence and leadership helped them stay on course in the victory.
After Carlo went down, his teammates were clearly angry, and rightfully so, no penalty was called. Instead of going headhunting, the Bruins let Wilson know what they thought of the hit and so did Bergy.
At the beginning of the second period, Bergeron was seen talking to Wilson, with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. It was a calm conversation, but the results were telling. Newcomer Jarred Tinordi stepped up and fought Wilson. Following the fight, the B’s scored three second-period goals and after his goal, Bergeron skated towards the Bruins penalty box and tapped his stick on the glass to his newest teammate in a show of appreciation.
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It would have been easy for the B’s to get caught running around and taking liberties, instead, behind the claiming presence and leadership of Bergeron, they got the best possible revenge, a 5-1 blowout win, and two key points in the East Division standings.