Recap: McAvoy’s late goal lifts Bruins over Capitals

Down two forwards, it looked the Boston Bruins were going to survive regulation, get the point and see if they could get the extra one in OT/shootout on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Given the circumstances, it would’ve been a win for the Bruins. But for Charlie McAvoy, it wasn’t enough.

McAvoy scored with 45 seconds left in regulation to lift the Bruins to a 4-3 win over the Capitals.

David Pastrnak had two goals, Jake DeBrusk delivered a goal and an assist and Erik Haula dished out two helpers in the win.

Boston improved to 2-0-0 against the Capitals this season and 23-12-2 on the season.

1st period

Evgeny Kuznetsov got the Capitals on the board first with a shot that Linus Ullmark likely wants back.

Well placed shot, but looks like Ullmark is hugging the post a little too much for a shooter that doesn’t exactly have no angle.

But the Bruins responded less than a minute later with a goal by Pastrnak.

I genuinely am not sure if Taylor Hall intended on a pass there or if he whiffed on a shot, but Pasta put it home to even the score.

1-1 tie heading into the 2nd.

2nd period

Pastrnak struck around on the power play in the second to give the Bruins the lead.

Is it just me or do the Bruins not score much on breakaways? I can’t really remember Pastrnak scoring on a breakaway this season. Anyway, Bruins grab their first lead of the night.

Before the end of the period, Washington tied the game with a Lars Eller shot.

Right by the ear of Ullmark. You’d like hime to make the save, but it’s a well executed shot by Ullmark where it’s tough to get the grab there in time.

Once again, it’s a tie after the frame.

3rd period

It looked like Patrice Bergeron had a goal in the third, but the officials waved it off and play kept going. Eventually the horn whistled meaning Toronto believed it was a goal, it went to review and it indeed was.

Trevor van Riemsdyk was just a half second too late swiping out it and DeBrusk gets credit with his sixth of the season.

Well, that lead didn’t last long. 36 seconds later and the game was tied again.

BAD, BAD, BAD turnover by Brandon Carlo. Not very like him. 3-3.

The Bruins got a late power play thanks to a Nic Dowd trip and McAvoy had a little late magic for the team.

A great shot by McAvoy but that’s one hell of a play by DeBrusk. He waits, doesn’t get rid of the puck for no reason and finds McAvoy high in the slot for the goal.

The Bruins pull out the 4-3 win at home.

Notes

• Whew, what a game. These two teams always get chippy (more on that in a bit) and Washington has ALWAYS had Boston’s number until recently. Good to see some wins against the Caps
• Jake DeBrusk, have a game. His trade stock is certainly rising, but if he keeps playing this well, would he want to stick around in Boston? Who knows but either way, it works for the Bruins
• I said in the first period it’s nice being on the right side of a goal that is scored immediately after your opponents score … and then the Bruins did the exact opposite in the third and let the Caps score 36 seconds after they did. It’s a trend this season and not one I’m a fan of
• Seriously though, how many breakaways have the Bruins scored on this season? I know Haula and Hall each have one, Marchand maybe does? There certainly isn’t a ton and to be honest, it doesn’t feel like they get a ton of chances either
• OK so the Bruins lost Anton Blidh and Brad Marchand in this one. The Tom Wilson hit on Blidh? Perfectly clean. I know everyone’s reaction was it was dirty strictly because it’s Tom Wilson but that’s why you can’t be so reactionary. Good, clean, hard, hit by Wilson. Hope Blidh’s OK
• The Garnet Hathaway hit on Marchand however? Yeah that was bad. Right in the numbers from behind and it was clear something was up with the right shoulder. Hope Marchand is OK, not sure if the league will consider looking at it, but it was a dangerous play
• Ullmark had a rougher night than usual. The first two goals were definitely on him. Well placed shots, yes, but the first one he’s out of position and you can argue the same with the second. Didn’t matter in the end tho
• Brandon Carlo has made some very un-Brandon Carlo-like plays as of late. For a good that’s typically nearly flawless in his own zone he’s had some turnovers and bad passes this week. Not sure what’s up with him

What loss to the Hurricanes? That was clearly a blip. A stinker. An outlier. Not how this Bruins team normally operates.

Thursday was a much better effort and one that they needed. Especially getting the win as well. Two more games on this home stretch that can be closed out with some more dubs.