After losing Game 1 to the Washington Capitals, 3-2, in overtime on May 15, the Boston Bruins were starring at a 2-0 series deficit 48 hours later in Game 2 at Capital One Arena May 17 against the Washington Capitals, trailing, 3-2, with under just three minutes left in the third period.
Then, all of a sudden, over the next 3:28 of time on the game clock, the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff changed for the better for the Bruins.
Newly acquired left wing, Taylor Hall, was able to stuff home the puck in the crease of Washington goalie Craig Anderson to tie the game with 2:49 left in regulation to force overtime in Game 2. Then, just 39 seconds into overtime, Brad Marchand one-timed a pass from defensemen Matt Grzelcyk past Anderson for a 4-3 win to even the series at a game apiece.
From that point on, the Bruins seized control of the series and went on to win the next three games, one in overtime, to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against either the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. That series is currently tied 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for tonight.
If the Bruins had lost Game 2 and went into a 2-0 hole returning to Boston, could they have won four of the next five games to advance and send the Capitals home for the summer? Of course, since they won four in a row following a Game 1 loss, but it can’t be denied how important that final 2:49 of regulation was and how important Marchand’s goal turned the tide in the series.
Washington had a chance to put the Bruins in a 2-0 series hole as the series shifted to Boston for Games 3 and 4, but it was the Black and Gold that dug deep and found a way to tie the game late in regulation and win it in the first minute of the extra session. Boston did what good teams do, they found a way to win a game and turn the tide in a series in their favor.