In a chippy first period to start their 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Washington Capitals played the Boston Bruins to a scoreless draw. The Caps hung back over the first ten minutes, feeling out the Bruins before amping up the pressure during the second half of the opening period. Getting the call with Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth injured, Braden Holtby had an impressive start to the playoffs, stopping all nine shots the Bruins sent his way.
It was a rough start to the game, with both teams chippy right from opening draw. Early in the first, Milan Lucic put a cheap shot on Jason Chimera which sent him to the ice after the whistle. In a clear sign that playoff hockey had arrived, both teams had to be separated after the whistle on multiple occasions. The first period ended with a four-minute high-sticking penalty on Jay Beagle, who drew blood on David Krejci out of a face-off at center ice. The Bruins will start the second period with 2:28 remaining on the power play.
Krecji was whistled earlier in the period for boarding Washington's Dennis Wideman, but the Caps were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage. An animated gif of the penalty below -- irony is having your head rammed into an Advil sign:
We'll have plenty more on these games and the rest of the 2012 NHL Playoffs on SB Nation D.C., so keep it locked to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates. For more news, analysis, and discussion on Capitals hockey, please head over to Japers' Rink. For the opponent's perspective all series, check out Stanley Cup of Chowder. You can also head over to the SB Nation NHL hub page for more on hockey news as the playoffs begin.
