Bruins’ late goal sends Caps to loss in Game 3 For two games, the Boston Bruins wondered where their top-line, skilled forwards were hiding in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Capitals. Maybe in the end it will not matter.
With two goals in two games, it was the third- and fourth-liners who were carrying the Bruins offensively. They did so again early in Monday’s thrilling 4-3 victory at Verizon Center. And it was star defenseman Zdeno Chara who finally provided the game-winning goal with 1:53 left in the third period.
It was a bitter loss for the Caps, who held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 and tied the game late in the third period on a beautiful breakaway goal from forward Brooks Laich. Star wingers Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin also scored, and center Nicklas Backstrom just missed when he rang a second-period shot off the crossbar behind Boston goalie Tim Thomas (29 saves). But a rare flub by rookie goalie Braden Holtby and a defensive-zone lapse on fourth-liner Daniel Paille allowed the Bruins to enter the third period tied at 2-2.
Boston now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 and again has home-ice advantage. Game 4 is set for Thursday night at Verizon Center, and Game 5 is Saturday in Boston at TD Garden.
“It’s tough. It’s nothing to lose,” Ovechkin said. “Series is not ended. Somebody has to win and somebody has to lose, and unfortunately we lost. … I think we played great hockey, but we made a couple of mistakes, and it cost us a goal.”
The tight-checking, hard-hitting play that defined the first two games of this series took a hiatus during Monday’s contest. It wasn’t exactly pond hockey. But both teams had a little more time and space and took full advantage.
After both went a combined 0-for-12 on the power play through the first two games of the series and most of the first period Monday, the Caps finally broke through. With Chara off for a roughing penalty, it took just 29 seconds for Semin to strike. He skated onto a puck in the high slot and ripped it past Thomas for a 1-0 lead with four minutes left in the first period.
Boston, meanwhile, continued to struggle on its power-play chances. The Bruins failed to convert on any of their three opportunities and are now 0-for-11 in the series and 6-for-63 dating to Feb. 28. However, they scored a pair of goals during four-on-four play, including Chara’s game-winning tally that deflected off defenseman Roman Hamrlik’s stick and lifted over Holtby’s shoulder. Holtby finished with 25 saves on 29 shots.
After the game, Backstrom was hit for a match penalty for cross-checking Rich Peverley. That comes with an automatic review by the NHL and a possible suspension. That play came after the final whistle when Peverley tripped Ovechkin to the ice.
