Kyrou’s Overtime Winner Lifts Capitals Past Bruins, 3-2

The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime Friday night at Capital One Arena, with offseason acquisition Jordan Kyrou scoring the game-winner just 11 seconds into the extra period. Washington built a 2-0 advantage before Boston erased the deficit in the third period, but Kyrou’s power-play goal gave the Capitals the victory in their only preseason game at Capital One Arena. citeturn1news3turn1news7

The game served as an important dress rehearsal for Washington ahead of the regular season. Coach Spencer Carbery used virtually his expected NHL lineup, with captain Alex Ovechkin and injured defenseman Rasmus Sandin among the notable exceptions. Boston also brought an NHL-heavy group to Washington for its final preseason game. citeturn1news11turn1news6

Strome Opens the Scoring

Washington broke through late in the first period after Boston defenseman Jonathan Aspirot received a high-sticking penalty against Ethen Frank. Dylan Strome converted on the ensuing power play at 18:04, knocking home a rebound after Tom Wilson put the puck toward Jeremy Swayman. The goal gave Washington a 1-0 advantage after a strong opening period. citeturn1news6turn0search24

The goal was also an early indication of what would become the biggest story of Washington’s night: its power play. The Capitals entered the game looking to get meaningful work for their revamped special-teams units against an experienced Boston lineup, and they ultimately scored all three of their goals with the man advantage. citeturn1news11turn1news9

Wilson Extends Washington’s Lead

The Capitals needed only 1:39 of the second period to strike again. Pierre-Luc Dubois helped create the opportunity before the puck reached Wilson, who beat Swayman with a backhander to increase Washington’s advantage to 2-0. It gave Wilson his second point of the night after assisting on Strome’s opening goal. citeturn1news6

Washington carried that two-goal advantage through the remainder of the second period. Logan Thompson handled Boston’s opportunities and put the Capitals in position to enter the final 20 minutes with control of the game.

That was particularly encouraging considering the importance of this preseason game. Washington’s roster closely resembled the group Carbery expects to have available when the regular season begins, making the matchup against Boston much more valuable for evaluating combinations than a typical early preseason contest. citeturn1news11turn1news14

Bruins Rally in the Third

Boston finally solved Thompson during the third period. Morgan Geekie scored to cut Washington’s advantage to 2-1, bringing the Bruins back into the game after the Capitals had controlled the scoreboard through the first 40 minutes. citeturn1news6

The Bruins continued applying pressure and eventually completed the comeback when David Pastrnak scored with just over 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Boston had erased a two-goal deficit and turned what appeared to be a comfortable Washington victory into a 2-2 game. citeturn1news9

Neither team produced the deciding goal before the end of regulation, sending the Capitals and Bruins to overtime for the second time during their two preseason meetings. Boston had won the first meeting 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden on Sept. 20. citeturn1search2

Kyrou Wastes No Time in Overtime

Washington entered overtime with a power play, and Kyrou needed only 11 seconds to end the game. Jakob Chychrun moved the puck to Kyrou near the top of the left circle, and the winger ripped his shot off the far post and past Swayman for the 3-2 victory. citeturn1news3turn1search17

The goal was Kyrou’s first as a Capital. More importantly for Washington, it provided another encouraging glimpse of what the talented winger could add to an offense that underwent significant changes during the offseason. The Capitals acquired Kyrou during the offseason, and his speed and shooting ability have given Carbery another dangerous offensive weapon. citeturn1news8

Kyrou’s goal also completed an excellent night for Washington’s power play. Strome, Wilson and Kyrou accounted for the Capitals’ three goals, with each coming on the man advantage. Against a Boston lineup that closely resembled what the Bruins expect to use during the regular season, that special-teams production was one of the most significant developments of the night. citeturn1news9

Strome and Dubois Produce

Strome and Dubois each finished with two points in the victory, giving Washington additional encouraging signs from its forward group. Strome scored the opening goal, while Dubois contributed to the Capitals’ offensive production as Washington continued evaluating its new combinations. citeturn1news7

Wilson also made an impact with a goal and an assist. His combination with Dubois and newcomer Alex Tuch is particularly important to Washington because Carbery has discussed using that line against opponents’ top units while still expecting it to contribute offensively. citeturn1search13

Friday provided another opportunity to evaluate that combination against NHL-caliber opposition. With the regular season approaching, Washington is trying to establish chemistry among a roster featuring several new pieces.

Thompson Gets Another Full-Game Test

Thompson received the start after also facing Boston in Washington’s preseason opener. He had stopped 28 of 30 shots in the first meeting before the Bruins eventually won in a shootout. citeturn1news11

Friday’s game provided another extended test against a strong Boston lineup featuring Pastrnak, Geekie, Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha and several other regulars. Thompson protected a 2-0 advantage through two periods before Boston’s third-period comeback forced overtime. citeturn1news11

At the other end, Swayman stopped 32 of Washington’s 35 shots. The Capitals generated enough pressure to test one of the NHL’s established goaltenders throughout the night, particularly when Boston gave Washington opportunities on the power play. citeturn1news6

Capitals Continue Preparing for Opening Night

Washington improved to 2-0-1 through its first three preseason games. Friday was also the Capitals’ only exhibition at Capital One Arena this preseason, following games in Boston and Hershey. citeturn0news3

The Capitals finish their four-game preseason schedule Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. With many of Washington’s established players reaching their preseason participation limits Friday, the finale is expected to provide opportunities for younger players and roster hopefuls. citeturn1news11

The bigger takeaway from Friday was the opportunity for Washington’s NHL group to work together before the games begin to count. With several offseason additions still learning new teammates and systems, the 3-2 victory provided both encouraging signs and areas that Carbery and his staff can address before opening night.

MSB Take

Friday was about much more than the final score for the Capitals. Washington wanted an opportunity to put something close to its opening-night roster on the ice against legitimate NHL competition, and Boston provided exactly that. The Capitals built a two-goal advantage, generated offense against Swayman and, most importantly, received three power-play goals.

Kyrou scoring the winner might be the most encouraging individual development. Washington brought him in to add another dynamic offensive threat, and a shot like the one he delivered 11 seconds into overtime demonstrates exactly what he can provide. Strome, Dubois and Wilson also had productive nights as the Capitals continue putting together their new-look forward group.

There are still things to clean up. Washington had a 2-0 advantage entering the third period and allowed Boston to force overtime, something the Capitals will not want to make a habit of during the regular season. Still, preseason games are designed to expose those issues while giving teams opportunities to test systems and combinations.

For Washington, the special teams and Kyrou’s finish made this a productive night. The Capitals walked away with a 3-2 victory, but more importantly, they received meaningful work from a lineup that should look very similar when the regular season begins.

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