For the second straight game, the Bruins and Capitals needed a few more minutes to solve 60 minutes worth of low-scoring hockey.
There were a couple of differences in the sequel Saturday, first that the game went into a second OT this time out and secondly, that the Caps found a way to beat the Bruins, earning a 2-1 victory.
Nicklas Backstrom proved to be the hero for Washington as he found the net 2:56 into the second extra session. The series is now tied at one game apiece heading into Monday’s game in Washington (7:30 p.m., NESN).
Here are three things we learned Saturday afternoon:
Caps have some fight
The Bruins literally shoved Washington goaltender Braden Holtby around early and often, and for the most part of the contest, it looked as though as the Caps were living up to their passive reputation.
But Troy Brouwer’s second period goal, in which he slid the puck between the legs of B’s goaltender Tim Thomas, seemed to give Washington the confidence to combat the Bruins’ edge in the toughness category.
Backstrom and Patrice Bergeron mixed it up late in the second and Backstrom again proved to be an agitator when he got Thomas to take a jab at him around the net.
Mike Green also hit Daniel Paille high along the boards with 3:53 left in the first overtime.
Can’t hold Ovechkin down
At some point, Alex Ovechkin was going to hold his own against Zdeno Chara.
Ovechkin broke away from Chara late in the second and rifled the puck towards the Bruins net. Brouwer was able to come up with the puck and it resulted in the first goal of the game for either team.
Hot ‘tenders
Both teams are riding their respective goaltenders straight to victories thus far in the series. At this point it simply seems as though the winner of the seven game set will be whichever team’s goalie is able to keep up something close to his current pace.
Thomas recorded 37 saves Saturday afternoon while Holtby’s out-of-nowhere tale continued to amaze as he deflected 43 shots.
