BOSTON – A Johnny Boychuk miscue turned into a Nicklas Backstrom goal with just 2:56 elapsed in double overtime as the Washington Capitals beat the Bruins 2-1 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at TD Garden.
Backstrom had just lost a faceoff to Patrice Bergeron, when Boychuk fanned on a clearing attempt. Marcus Johansson wound up with the puck below the goal line, and he passed it to Backstrom for the game-winning goal from the left faceoff dot.
Backstrom’s shot beat Tim Thomas high to the stick side.
“I don’t know if it hopped or he poked it or something happened and I don’t know what,” Boychuk said. “I didn’t really see the replay. I know as soon as it hopped over he passed it back and then that guy shot and scored.”
Said Thomas: “I just had time to yell ‘screen’ and then I think I picked it up about halfway to me, but it was one of those knuckle [shots]. You can’t get a read on exactly where it’s going. It is what it was.”
For more on Backstrom and the Capitals’ victory, read my NHL.com recap.
The series is now tied 1-1. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night in Washington
▪With Benoit Pouliot scoring the Bruins’ only goal, Boston’s third line has now matched the output of Washington’s top six in the series. Absent from the score sheet has been the Bruins’ top six forwards – Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Rich Peverley, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin.
For more on Boston’s offensive struggles, read my CBSBoston.com column. But to me, here’s the money quote from the always-honest Krejci. He was asked if the Washington defense pair of Karl Alzner and John Carlson was too tough to play against.
“I just don’t think we’re playing our game, especially my line,” he said. “I don’t know what it is, but we have to find a way to help each other out there. Sometimes it seems like one guy’s working the two others are just waiting and hoping for the puck to get a good scoring chance. It doesn’t work like that. We’ve got to help each other out there, and if we do that, we have good players and we have a good team and if you do that we should be able to get some scoring chances.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bruins respond in Game 3 now that they’re offense wasted a great defensive and goaltending effort.
▪Pouliot scored his goal by going to the net and flipping a backhander past Braden Holtby. There was then a collision between the two players.
“Well I think I kneed him pretty good in the head, but no I think the puck went in first so it was fine,” said Pouliot.
▪When Thomas allowed Washington’s first goal to Troy Brouwer at 17:57 of the second period, he had his playoff shutout streak snapped at 161 minutes, 41 seconds. He hadn’t allowed a postseason goal since Game 6 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
[...] just lost a faceoff to Patrice Bergeron, when Boychuk fanned on a clearing attempt. Marcus [...] The Bruins BlogNo related posts. Backstrom, Bruins, Krejci, late, nothing, strikes, Washington Address: [...]
I remember this: http://hookedonhockeymagazine.com/top-15-nhl-teams-of-all-time-12/
McTeagle
The first game of the playoff, I thought Boychuk played pretty well. He misplayed the puck on the last goal, but I thought his game was pretty good up until then. As well, I think Ferrence plays his best hockey when he plays with Boychuk. Your right in the case of Corvo, his play has been sketchy.
Clearly all is not yet right with Boychuck… he just hasn’t been the same since coming back from the knee-on-knee.
Joe, you took the words out of my mouth regarding Peverly/Seguin, Caron and that 4th line. Not sure about Mottau, though. As sketchy as Corvo has looked to me, I haven’t seen anything out of Mottau that makes me think he can be the answer. And let’s face it, Corvo has been on the ice for both of the Bs goals so far this series. So he can’t be all bad, right? Right?
Anyway, I’m pretty sure that CJ knows exactly what’s wrong with this team, and I believe he will get it fixed.
A few thoughts…
1) Rolston should be at the point on the power play, not down low or on the half wall. Great shot and isn’t afraid to let it fly. Also makes good, quick decisions on the point. He isn’t nearly as effective on the half wall or down low. The PP looked very good down the stretch with him at the point, not sure why the change to move him down low
2) Mottau should be in Corvo. Corvo looks jumpy to me and I’d rather have the steady hand of Mottau back there on the 3rd D pairing.
3) Peverly and Seguin clearly need to be flip flopped. The 1st line needs a jump start and Seguin had some success in the regular season with the 1st line. Peverly fits better with a quick, cycling center like Bergeron or Kelly anyway. He’s an above average player, but doesn’t seem to fit well with 46 & 17
4) 4th line looks a bit off as well, I’d go with Caron over Paille. That was the lineup down the stetch when the B’s were on fire. I like Paille, and I’m sure they’ll need him before it’s all over, but for now, Caron should get the call
Lines:
17-46-19
63-37-49
67-23-12
22-11-28
D pairings
33-44
21-55
6-27
PP units
17-46-19 with 33-12
63-37-67 with 55-49
One man’s opinion…..now, can someone please pass all this onto someone in B’s management ?
Big Jim on fire again. B 16 making the usual good points. I am all for trying Caron out for sure. Timmy seems really solid. Bergy is an increadable player who really creates a b ubble for his other two linemates. If Seguin or Marchand did’nt have Bergy as their centerman one of them would be in the press box not even a question. Seguin seems to have the ability to be a top 5 offensive threat in the league yes he is young but I believe he might have an over inflated opinion of himself. Not looking for him to be a pressance in the corners but try and read the play and stop trying to score on slappers from the hash marks up on the boards its low percentage and he usually misses the net which sends the puck all around the boards and out. Marchand plain an simple stop trying pee-wee moves through the legs. Dump it in and outskate the D wheel it to the slot where Seguin should be square at the goal no more angles.
Billy
You are right about the second goal, although it appeared to hop/skip on him, but the first goal your wrong. You can’t fault him on that goal, clearly someone else had poor position on the goal scorer. Previous to the play, one of our forwards was checked off the puck. You can’t panic and point fingers at someone who has had a good season. One loss in the playoffs doesn’t make a season.
Big Jim, Corvo is not the problem. He hasn’t played poorly in games 1 or 2. Boychuk on the other hand directly influence both caps goals in game 2. Failed clear on the first kept the play in the bruins defensive zone, and he mishandled the puck on the second goal. Watch the game and don’t make judgements based on what you saw in the regular season.
Big Jim
I think they try to play him sparingly, and usually when the better scoring lines are not on the ice. I have not been a fan of Corvo’s, but they must have not been impressed with Mottau. I think the coaches feel Corvo is okay on the power play and that gives them a chance to rest Chara or Sidenberg more.
I thought Seguin bailed a couple of times when he should have taken the hit to make the play. He should watch Sidenberg, Bergeron, or Boychuk more so he recognizes that you have to be hit in order to make a play sometimes. Up until the Pouliot’s goal, I thought Rolston was playing like his feet were in cement. They may look at dressing Caron and having him play with Lucic and Krecji. Krecji needs space in order to show his skills and Caron is more physical than Peverley. I think Horton’s play of 2010-2011 helped give Krecji the room to operate more, and become a better player. If Caron dresses, it won’t be Peverley being a healthy scratch and I don’t know who will go to the press box. The lineup will probably remain the same, if last year taught us anything it was to be patient.
Get better soon McQuaid!
These first two games offensively remind me of the first two games last year in both the Canadeins and Canucks series.
why the hell is joe corvo playing? the guy is terrible. every time he’s on the ice the caps get scoring chances. i realize they’re without mcquaid but for crying out loud motteau can’t be this bad.
and the bruins offense is killing themselves. this is not some intimidating defense. no reason the bruins should be settling for shots from the perimeter all game long. pathetic.
Well here are my thoughts. One this is by far and away the dullest of all of the playoff series going on right now. Thomas, Chara,sieds, Bergy, and the Kelly line are the whole team. once again our goal scorers Seguin and Looch are plain awful.. Seguin looks confused and not sure how to make a play. We should be killing this team they have two players to shadow which seids and Charra are doing and the rest of the caps play defense. But as is the case with the B’s and the season showed it you never know who is going to score so yes this is a bore but the B’s will have a break out game for sure.