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Boston Bruins: Two Advantages to Closing Out Capitals Early

By Scott Roche |
May 17, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (left) reacts after scoring the winning goal against the Washington Capitals during the first overtime period in game two of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (left) reacts after scoring the winning goal against the Washington Capitals during the first overtime period in game two of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
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Following their Stanley Cup playoff win over the Washington Capitals in five games, the Boston Bruins got two days off from head coach Bruce Cassidy. They were scheduled to return to the ice Wednesday morning at Warrior Ice Arena, their practice facility, to prepare for their second-round series. Who that is against still needs to be determined.

Boston will get the winner of the other East Division series between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders hold a 3-2 series lead heading into tonight’s Game 6 on Long Island with a chance to close out the series. A Penguins win forces a deciding Game 7 Friday night in Pittsburgh.

The luxury the Bruins have in closing out the Capitals in five games allows them to sit back and rest and even watch the remaining Islanders/Penguins series with interest. But there are other luxuries that the Black and Gold have in closing out former teammate Zdeno Chara and Washington.

As Cassidy and the rest of the Bruins get ready to watch Game 6 tonight of the Islanders/Penguins series to see it is closed out or extended to a Game 7, let’s look at two advantages they since ending their first-round series Sunday night.

May 23, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Bruins finished the season with a compacted schedule.

In mid-March, the Bruins were forced into their own COVID-19 shutdown that lasted a week. Because of that shutdown, Boston finished the regular season with 27 games in 48 days, which is tough, especially dealing with injuries. Hockey is a game where the body can take a beating on a nightly basis, which can wear down a player over time.

In most cases in the postseason, teams are not allowed the opportunity to have two days off the ice, then have at least three days of practice to work on things ahead of their next series. Closing out Washington in five games gives the Black and Gold that chance now.

It also didn’t help that Bruins had to deal with a pair of early-season COVID-19 of two of their opponents in February. They lost two games at home against the Buffalo Sabres, then some with the New Jersey Devils. Again, their shutdown in mid-March didn’t help their cause either.

Despite the condensed schedule, Boston was still able to finish in third place in the East Division and finished off the second-place Capitals in five games.

May 15, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates in on goal as Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (55) defends in the third period in game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates in on goal as Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (55) defends in the third period in game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Time off allows more time for injured Bruins to heal.

Going into their series with the Capitals, it was no secret that it was going to be a physical series. In the five games, the Bruins suffered two injuries to their defense, which tested their blueline depth.

Jeremy Lauzon took a shot off of his hand in Game 1 and missed the remaining four games of the series. Connor Clifton filled in for Lauzon, but it would be nice if Boston could get one of their top penalty-killing defensemen back.

In Game 4, veteran Kevan Miller took a high hit from Washington defensemen Dmitry Orlov entering the Capitals zone. Miller’s head hit the ice, which forced him to be helped to the locker room and transported to a Boston hospital. Thankfully, all his tests came back positive and he was released.

The status of both players for the second round is still up in the air, but the time off the Bruins have earned this week has given them valuable time to rest their injuries.

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Boston earned their time off this week to rest up and heal up any bumps and bruises they have following five games with the Capitals. Now it’s back to work ahead of the second round, which hopefully starts sometime this weekend.

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