Boston’s Four Goals Give Them 3-1 Series Lead

(Photo: Fred Khoury III/Icon Sportswire)

As they finished their regular season, I posed the question whether the Boston Bruins had what was needed to be effective in the playoffs. After falling to the Washington Capitals in overtime in Game 1 of this playoff series between the two teams, Boston has continued to show that they remain calm and focused regardless of the score. And that has given them wins in the next three games, including Friday night’s Game 4.

Unlike Wednesday’s game where the hits were hard, the tempo high, and the pace quick, Friday’s game seemed to feel more like a regular season game at the beginning. The never ending parade to the penalty boxes also gave it that feel. Playoff games tend to overlook what Bruce Cassidy refers to as the “ticky tack” penalties, such was not the case Friday night. The teams together were assessed 16 penalties through 60 minutes, as opposed to the 10 meted out through the 85:48 minutes played on Wednesday.

There was a sense that the focus of the Capitals wasn’t as much on making plays as it was on trying to disrupt the Bruins, often with a hit, though not all of those connected. And as mentioned above when they did, they were not of the level usually seen in a playoff game. The first period had a somewhat leisurely flow to it, which was shown in the shots on net for both teams; four for Washington and 11 for the Bruins. As for the hits, each team had 14 and they were even in faceoffs as well, having won nine each

As the game progressed the tempo did increase mostly with the hits from the Capitals, giving credence to their focus not being as much on putting rubber on Tuukka Rask. It was also during the second period that Dmitry Orlov’s hit on Kevan Miller sparked a level of animosity that will likely carryover to Sunday’s Game 5. 

The hit appeared high and to have come in contact with Miller’s head. Miller went down. While Orlov’s shoulder didn’t get Miller’s head, his hand appeared to punch Miller’s head and the hit was late. Though he was helped off the ice, moving somewhat under his own power, it was later made known that he was taken to the hospital for tests. Orlov was originally assessed a five-minute major which the referees then downgraded to a double minor for “roughing.” Charlie Coyle had taken Orlov to task after the hit and he was also assessed a two minute roughing, which gave the Bruins just a two-minute power play. Certainly not what Boston was expecting for what was done to Miller. However, perhaps the goal Brad Marchand scored during that power play showed they had Miller’s back and were thinking of him.

For Boston, that goal turned the tide in their play. Though they went into the second intermission leading by just that one goal, they started the third with 1:45 of carryover power play time—an interference call on Anthony Mantha at the end of the second—David Pastrnak gave the Bruins a two-goal lead just 29 seconds into the final frame. Coyle responded 34 seconds later with his own goal and the Bruins led 3-0.

Alexander Ovechkin did manage to ruin Rask’s bid for a shutout while on the power play, Marchand having been sent off for an interference call, but it wasn’t enough. And while the Capitals continued to outhit the Bruins, Boston was outshooting Washington, despite the Capitals having three power play opportunities. Ilya Samsonov was even pulled for the third, giving the Capitals a six-on-four advantage. Through those three power plays, Washington managed only the one shot from Ovechkin that got in the net.

Of the five goals scored between the two teams, only Coyle’s at 1:03 of the third was scored at even strength. Matt Grzelcyk would put the dagger in with his first playoff goal of the season coming at 14:50 of the third—Mantha again in the box, this time for goaltender interference; for which he was fined. Charlie McAvoy notched his third helper of the game, a career high in the playoffs for him.

The Bruins lead the series 3-1 and the teams are headed back to Washington, D.C. for Game 5 on Sunday. Home ice advantage and a must win situation for the Capitals should mean a big push from Washington on the Bruins. Boston would expect nothing less.