Capitals Beat Bruins, Take 1-0 Series Lead
After splitting the season series 4-4, the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins matched up for game one of the first round playoff series. A back and forth game provided physical play, goals and a lot of energy. The Capitals have faced adversity throughout the entire season and after their goalie went down early, they continued to battle.
Early in the first period, Tom Wilson bagged the first goal of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs and put the Capitals up 1-0. Wilson’s goal was assisted by Daniel Sprong and T.J. Oshie. Sprong’s assist marked his first career playoff point in his playoff debut. Then, the Bruins were able to tie the game at one after a face-off win. On that goal, Vitek Vanecek went down with a lower-body injury. To take his place, the almost 40 year old, Craig Anderson.
In the second, Brendan Dillon scored his first career playoff goal putting the Capitals up 2-1. Anthony Mantha and Alexander Ovechkin assisted on Dillon’s goal. Mantha’s assist was his first career playoff point, also playing in his playoff debut. Late in the second, the Bruins tied it up, able to sneak one past Anderson in net.
There were no goals scored in the third, although both teams had quality chances. Then, in overtime, Nic Dowd was able to lift the Capitals past the Bruins on a deflection from an Oshie slapper. This marked Dowd’s first career overtime playoff goal and put the Capitals up 1-0 in the series.
The Capitals take a huge game one victory and will look to build on that in game two on Monday (5/17).
