Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports
One year ago today, it was all over for the Boston Bruins‘ chances of a repeat Stanley Cup championship. The resurgent Washington Capitals and their star rookie goalie Braden Holtby ended those hopes with an overtime goal in Game 7 of the conference quarterfinals. Now, on the penultimate day of the 2013 season, the two teams meet again. No, it’s not the playoffs right now, but the Bruins could stand to earn as many points as possible in this busy weekend and a meeting in the nation’s capital could certainly help with that.
Once again, the Capitals have been resurgent. At the start of the season, they seemed mired in mediocrity, struggling to adapt to a new coach’s system. Alexander Ovechkin seemed especially like a shadow of his old self, but now he leads the league in goals and has even been talked about for Hart Trophy consideration. Because of this, Tuukka Rask said that he needs to be extra careful and pay attention when number 8 is in the zone, which seems to reveal who the Bruins will go with in goal tonight. He is just coming off a shutout win and is probably going to be coach Claude Julien‘s guy heading into the playoffs.
Sadly, if the Traveling Jagrs have made the trip to Washington, they won’t be able to see their favorite. Jaromir Jagr is fighting the flu and stayed behind in Boston, so we won’t be able to see him face off against another of the teams that used to be his. Other than that, and Nathan Horton still nursing injury, pretty much everyone is accounted for, even though this morning’s skate was optional and a few guys took the option. The schedule is tight this weekend, so that makes sense.
The season series with Washington is tied right now. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime on March 5, but Boston nabbed a 4-1 win later last month.
Once again, tonight’s game will be shown on NESNplus starting at 7 p.m. This is a consequence of the lockout-shortened season seeping deeper into April than normal–the Red Sox get the preferred treatment on flagship NESN.
