GOLD STAR: Alex Ovechkin did absolutely nothing for the first two periods in a scoreless game, and then all of a sudden pounced in the final 20 minutes. He assisted on both of Washingtons goals and led the Capitals with five shots on net after having only one after the first 40 minutes of the game. Ovechkin finished with 23:32 and became a big factor in the game even if Tim Thomas was able to stone the Russian sniper during the shootout. The tales of Ovies demise with the Capitals were perhaps a little premature after all.
BLACK EYE: No shots and two giveaways for Rich Peverley in 17:57 of ice time that didnt amount to much for the Black and Gold. He wasnt alone in that regard and certainly gets some slack after jumping back into things full bore after missing six weeks with a sprained knee, but he was definitely one of the many Bruins players that didnt have their legs against Washington. Perhaps some of that prompted Claude Julien to tinker around with the lines a little bit in the final 40 minutes trying to find something that could spark his team full of pooped players.
TURNING POINT: Patrice Bergeron had a point blank bid in front of the net after Benoit Pouliot flipped a pass from the left wing, and the Bs center tried to go backhanded to forehand as he was gliding by the net. Instead Michael Neuvirth poked the puck away as Bergeron was getting ready to score the first goal of the game, and that gave Washington some momentum in the final period. Minutes later Dennis Wideman had their first goal and the games action finally started moving at a brisker pace.
HONORABLE MENTION: David Krejci had his game face on and was very good against Washington. He finished with two points and a plus-1, and had a nice tip in the middle of the slot on Zdeno Charas wrist shot from the point. Krejci also dominated in the face-off circle to the tune of 11 wins in 13 draws, and it appears that both top Bs centers are getting into a face-off zone prior to the playoffs. The irony should not be lost that one of Bostons few minus players for the season was one of only two with a plus in Thursday nights loss.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1-14-2the Bruins record this season when theyve been held scoreless after two periods.
QUOTE TO NOTE: Chimera came off bench and he was going pretty hard. Maybe it was a little bit reckless, but theres no doubt in my mind it wasnt intentional to injure." Claude Julien talking about the Jason Chimera charging hit from behind that knocked Adam McQuaid out of the game in the first period.