It was a game they had to win against an opponent that has proven so troublesome in recent years.
And while the Capitals had to endure the dreaded shootout to get it, there were no complaints after the 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center on Sunday afternoon.
They simply cued Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” again on the dressing room stereo and began preparations for the home stretch. Because, with just nine games left in the regular season, the Caps’ Eastern Conference playoff hopes are alive and well.
Washington goalie Cristobal Huet stopped 39 of 40 Boston shots, including several critical saves in overtime, and forwards Alexander Semin and Viktor Kozlov each converted their shootout chances to earn the victory.
“I didn’t start the year very good in shootouts,” said Huet, who stopped Boston’s Chuck Kobasew and Phil Kessel on their shootout chances. “But the last two or three have been working for me. It’s good that we have some players who can put the puck in the net, too.”
The Caps (35-30-8, 78 points) crept closer to the No. 8 playoff spot after a loss by the Philadelphia Flyers (35-28-10, 80 points). They also gained a point on No. 7 Boston (37-27-9, 83 points) and kept pace with Southeast Division leader Carolina (39-30-5, 83 points), a 5-1 winner over Ottawa.
“It was an important game, no doubt about it,” said Caps forward Sergei Fedorov, who notched his first goal — a power-play strike late in the first period — since the team acquired him at the trade deadline from Columbus on Feb. 26. “I thought we had good chances in the third and overtime to put this game away. We have to capitalize on those chances next time.”
