In their three previous games against the Boston Bruins, the Washington Capitals have had their troubles getting the puck past Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas. A desperate Caps team, losers of seven straight, threw everything they had at Thomas, but ultimately lost their eighth straight game in a 3-2 defeat.
The Capitals found themselves down 3-0 at the end of the first period as the Bruins had their way in the offensive zone. Patrice Bergeron, Andrew Ference and Blake Wheeler scored within the first 18 minutes for Boston. In what has become the norm since the beginning of December, the Capitals had to claw their way back.
It looked like Washington would when Matt Bradley scored at 2:18 of the second period to give the Capitals life. Solid forechecking led to David Steckel finding Bradley open on the right faceoff circle. Bradley fired a tough angle shot that fooled Thomas.
Washington would keep up the pressure in the third period, outshooting the Bruins by a astounding 26-2 count. It took about 18 shots before the Capitals snuck one past Thomas. Karl Alzner found himself wide open at the point and fired a slap shot that deflected off of Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk and into the net at 14:32. A furious onslaught continued as Michal Neuvirth left the ice for an extra attacker, but the Capitals could not get the tying goal.
The Capitals' 0-6-2 slide, combined with the Atlanta Thrashers' 7-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, has dropped them from first place in the Southeast Division.