Boston Bruins Round Table: Predictions for playoff series against Capitals
By Matt Hawkins
![Apr 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (63) and center Patrice Bergeron (37) are congratulated at the bench after Marchand scored as Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) skates away during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports Apr 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (63) and center Patrice Bergeron (37) are congratulated at the bench after Marchand scored as Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) skates away during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5dfdbf7e368dc4f2bbd2e378690312c41b7682a2d20eed9cf11f66933694f1a5.jpg)
Boston Bruins – Washington Capitals Series Prediction:
Bryan Murphy
For years, the Washington Capitals have owned the Boston Bruins. But that’s all changing now. The B’s went 4-2-2 this season against the Caps, and their only two regulation losses have big asterisks next to the games – one game with barely any of the Bruins’ top-6 defensemen, and the season finale which mostly featured AHL players in the Bruins’ lineup.
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The two teams have high-powered offenses, great special teams, and solid defending. The difference in this series? Goaltending.
The Capitals will most likely rely on Vitek Vanacek, whose numbers this season don’t exactly pop – 2.69 goals-against average (GAA) with a .908 save percentage (SV%) and a record of 21-10-4. It’s the biggest weakness of the Capitals, while the Bruins will go with Tuukka Rask and Jeremy Swayman, both who have been better than Vanacek or backup Ilya Samsonov.
It’s going to be a gritty series with the Bruins facing former captain Zdeno Chara and a Capitals team who loves to be physical. However, the Bruins have been one of the hottest teams since the trade deadline and with goaltending a big question mark in the Capitals’ crease, the Bruins should take this series.
Prediction: Bruins win in 7