The Washington Capitals entered Wednesday night's game against the visiting Boston Bruins looking to get a full 60-minute effort. Despite a 4-1 start to the season, the Capitals and Coach Bruce Boudreau were not happy with the inconsistency in their performance.
The Capitals played with consistent energy Wednesday night, but were unable to overcome to early Boston goals and fell for the first time at home this season, 3-1. The loss was the Capitals' first to the Bruins at home in regulation since January of 2006.
The Capitals turned the puck over in the neutral zone midway through the first period, which led to a 2-on-1 break-in for David Krejci and Nathan Horton. Horton fed Krejci, who beat Capitals' netminder Michael Neuvirth for a 1-0 advantage.
Just two minutes and 45 seconds later, the Bruins were on the board again. Jeff Schultz was late attempting to clear David Boychuck's rebound, which allowed Milan Lucic to put the puck past Neuvirth. Just like that, the Bruins led 2-0. Neuvirth left the game at that time and went back to the locker room with the flu, with Semyon Varlamov.
The Capitals did manage to get on the board at 7:42 of the second period. Rookie center Marcus Johansson took a pass from Jason Chimera from behind the Boston net and beat Tim Thomas five-hole to cut the Capitals deficit to 2-1.
The Capitals had several opportunities to tie the game, even having a late second period power play spill into the third period, but were unable to capitalize.
David Hunwick scored for Boston just 2:08 into the third to give Boston a 3-1 lead. The Capitals appeared to get on the board at the 10 minute mark of the third on a goal by Alex Ovechkin, but the goal was quickly waved off as Ovechkin had knocked the puck into the net by slapping it out of mid-air.
The Capitals did manage to kill all four Boston power plays to remain perfect in 25 opportunities on the season, but that was the only good news in a disappointing loss.