The Washington Capitals dropped their second straight to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, 4-1, at TD Bank Garden. The Capitals were looking to bounce back after falling to the Bruins, 3-1, at Verizon Center on Tuesday.
The main theme in both games is the play of Tim Thomas and the inability to consistently get traffic in front of the net. Thomas stopped 39 shots on Thursday night bringing his two-game total to 74.
Thomas stopped several quality chances for the Capitals early to prevent the Caps from taking an early lead, then make several eye-popping stops in the second period after the Bruins had taken the lead.
Thomas stopped both Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble on rebounds in tight in the middle of the second period. Thomas had to stretch across the net to make both saves.
Katie Carerra of the Washington Post had an article in the paper today highlighting the slow start the Capitals are off to this season offensively.
Carerra is dead on, but the main reason for the slow start is the Capitals inability to get consistent traffic in front of the opposing net. Yes, the Capitals have great skill, but skill does not win on a nightly basis and you can't expect to go through an entire season scoring sniper like goals.
Washington's penalty killers finally turned in an awful performance Thursday seeing their perfect start to the season come to an emphatic end.
Boston scored on its first power play late in the first period on a goal by Michael Ryder. Nathan Horton and Zdeno Chara also tallied power play goals for the Caps.
We all know the Caps weren't going to go through the whole season and not allow a power play goal, but what I saw tonight was frighteningly familiar.
Last season the Capitals had several three and four game stretches of not allowing a power play goal. Once those streaks ended the flood gates opened as the Caps would give up power play goals in bunches.
Giving up three in one game after not allowing one for six straight games makes me nervous.
Washington is back in action Saturday night at Verizon Center against Southeast division foe Atlanta.