The Washington Capitals rebounded from their overtime loss to the PIttsburgh Penguins with a 5-3 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. It was the Caps first game without Alex Ovechkin, who was suspended for three games for a hit on Zbynek Michalek in Sunday's game.
It was a fast-moving third period, with few whistles. The Capitals took a 4-3 lead on Mathieu Perreault's third goal of the game - the first hat trick of his career. Leading up to the goal, Washington applied heavy pressure in the Boston offensive zone, with Alexander Semin just missing on a breakaway chance about a minute before the Perreault goal.
Roman Hamrlik set up the play, barely saving the puck at the blue line to keep it in the zone. As soon he controlled it, he put a quick wrister on Boston goalie Tuukka Rask. The puck bounced off Rask for a big rebound in front. Perreault was there to clean it up and push it past a diving Rask, who got caught out too far off the rebound. The Bruins' defensive line also got caught out on the ice for an extended shift, and Perreault, who came onto the ice after a high-sticking penalty on Zdeno Chara was there to take advantage.
Dennis Wideman added an empty-net goal to make it 5-3 with under 30 seconds left to play. Wideman appeared to try and clear it after a face-off in the Caps zone, flipping it down the center of the ice and into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season.
With a quality home win under their belt, Washington now heads to the All-Star break.
For more on the Caps, visit SB Nation's Caps blog, Japers' Rink.
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Bruins Vs. Capitals Final Score: Mathieu Perreault Hat Trick Leads Washington To 5-3 Win Over Boston
Jan 24
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