Phil Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 (E2) Washington Capitals vs. (E3) Boston Bruins REGULAR SEASON RECORDS: Capitals: 36-15-5, 77 points Bruins: 33-16-7, 73 points SEASON SERIES: WSH 4-4-0; BOS 4-2-2 [table=width: 650, align: center] [tr] [td]GAME BREAKERS:[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom led the Capitals with 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists), the first time he's done so since 2016-17. And though he's not usually the one finishing off the plays, Backstrom is often the one setting them up, his brilliant passing creating so many of the chances the Capitals have scored on over his 1,011 NHL games. Backstrom leads Washington with nine points (one goal, eight assists) against Boston this season. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Bruins: It's not clear how he's doing it, but Brad Marchand is getting better with age. The left wing, who turned 33 on Tuesday, averaged 1.30 points per game this season, the highest of his NHL career. He also averaged an NHL career-high .55 goals per game, and he's playing more in control than he ever has before.[/td] [/tr] [/table] [table=width: 650, align: center] [tr] [td]GOALTENDING:[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Capitals: The Capitals might not have expected Vitek Vanecek to get the bulk of their starts this season, but the rookie has held his own in net. Vanecek started 36 games, going 21-10-4 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. The Capitals also have rookie Ilya Samsonov, who started 18 games, going 13-4-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .902 save percentage. The third option for the Capitals is veteran Craig Anderson (2-1-0, 2.13 GAA, .915 save percentage).[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Bruins: Tuukka Rask hasn't had the smoothest of seasons, but he is ending it right where he wants to be: healthy and on a roll heading into the playoffs. Rask is 7-1-0 in his past nine starts, with a 2.00 goals-against average and .923 save percentage and. Cassidy said on Tuesday that he will use rookie Jeremy Swayman (7-3-0, 1.50 GAA, .945), who has arrived in the NHL ahead of schedule, to back up Rask. Cassidy also has veteran Jaroslav Halak (9-6-4, 2.53 GAA, .905) who missed three weeks in April because of a positive test for COVID-19 and saw Swayman pass him on the depth chart.[/td] [/tr] [/table] [table=width: 650, align: center] [tr] [td]X FACTORS:[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Capitals: The Capitals added a key piece before the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline, acquiring Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings on April 12. Mantha scored a goal in each of his first five games, including one against Boston. Mantha has never played in the playoffs in his six seasons in the NHL, but he could play a meaningful role in his first chance.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Bruins: Taylor Hall has been a different player in Boston since his April 12 trade from the Buffalo Sabres. He scored 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 games with the Bruins after scoring 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 37 games with the Sabres. Hall is a player with the talent to win the Hart Trophy, which he did in 2018 with the New Jersey Devils; he's playing like that guy again. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [table=width: 650, align: center] [tr] [td]WILL WIN IF:[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Capitals: They stay healthy. The Capitals have run into injury issues of late, with Ovechkin (lower body), Oshie (lower body), Carlson (lower body) and Backstrom (lower body) all missing time in the past week. Add to that the fact that Kuznetsov remains on the COVID-19 protocol list and the Capitals aren't heading into the playoffs at full strength. But they can get back there quickly. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Bruins: Their defensemen hold up. The Bruins took a gamble in the offseason, allowing Chara and Torey Krug (St. Louis Blues) to sign elsewhere as unrestricted free agents and deciding to go with some youth. It has been rocky at times, but the defense (and goaltending) have held opponents to 2.39 goals against per game this season, fourth-lowest in the NHL. And trading for defenseman Mike Reilly from the Senators on April 11 has strengthened the group, though Boston is still relying on Kevan Miller and his surgically repaired knee.[/td] [/tr] [/table] More: https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-boston-bruins-playoff-preview/c-324612332?tid=287339198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Chara versus the Bruins. Same as the Isles-Pens series, I'm hoping for an absolute war with multiple overtimes. I hope whoever comes out, comes out barely breathing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 Think about it: the Bruins let Chara walk in free agency, now he and the Capitals play the Bruins in the first round. This series could be going to be physical and could go to seven games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddynyc Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 Another first rounder where I dislike both teams but going with the Caps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 This one is honestly going to be pretty lopsided. I think the Bruins have been too good lately with Hall on a tear. The Caps might be too banged up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveIn94 Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 agree, 4-2 Bruins at worst. Bruins depth>Capitals depth without Ovi, backstrom,.kuz, oshie pulling weight.This one is honestly going to be pretty lopsided. I think the Bruins have been too good lately with Hall on a tear. The Caps might be too banged up. Sent from my Z981 using Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Without Washington's scoring depth, I see Boston winning this series. It could be in six or seven. Also, a certain #43 for the Caps will be covered by a certain #63 for the Bruins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 I'm going to be sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 LOLCHARA!!! You ran into your own goaltender! :lol::lol::lol::rofl::rofl::rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Game one, overtime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Oshie ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4EverRangerFrank Posted May 18, 2021 Share Posted May 18, 2021 Marshit in OT. Watching these teams play is like one of them playing in a mirror they are so evenly matched. Both teams have skill, skating and that heavy-body approach to finishing their checks. Watching last night, I get the sense that we need more of some of that in our lineup. Pretty tic-tac-toe passing goes only so far when you are getting pounded every shift. Fun to watch in the regular season but a recipe for disaster when teams buckle down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Marchand, fuck I can't send that aggravating punk, but there's no denying he just steps up and brings it when the team needs it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 lmao Samsonov coughs up the puck and BOS wins it in 2OT. Fuck Wilson. Fuck the Capitals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Looks Ovie gave Samsonov a real earful as he was coming off the ice. Hopefully he didn't get clocked in the tunnel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddynyc Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 The late 3rd period penalty by Dowd was a killer and that's 2 games in a row the Bruins have scored late in the 3rd to tie. DAMN...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4EverRangerFrank Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Looks Ovie gave Samsonov a real earful as he was coming off the ice. Hopefully he didn't get clocked in the tunnel. Ovie super-pissed. That puck left behind the net the way it happened was a HUGE fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 I fell asleep during the 1st OT, and decided to go to bed instead of staying up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I fell asleep during the 1st OT and decided to go to bed instead of staying up. I stayed up for both OT periods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 BOS really starting to flex tonight. Fucking Caps going to get pushed to the brink. Fuck them and Wilson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 What a goal lmao! Complete ownage. 3-0 BOS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 What a goal lmao! Complete ownage. 3-0 BOS. And of course Wilson is a prick after the whistle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 And of course Wilson is a prick after the whistle Completely unstable maniac. His roid rage bouts are going to get him sent off the ice on a stretcher at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Domination by the Bs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albatrosss Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Completely unstable maniac. His roid rage bouts are going to get him sent off the ice on a stretcher at some point. We said the same about Stevens and Ruutu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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