The Boston Bruins re-took home-ice advantage on Monday night with a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 at Verizon Center. It was another back-and-forth game in this hard-fought evenly matched series. The Bruins took the lead early in the third period, and after the Caps evened it up, a late Zdeno Chara goal would prove to be the difference.
The Bruins took their first lead of the game just a minute into the third period. Brian Rolston put Boston ahead 3-2, slamming one home in front of Braden Holtby. The Caps netminder mishandled a shot with his glove, which led to a scramble in front and Boston keeping it alive in the zone. Rolston would jump on a rebound in front and dunk it home for the lead. Video of Rolston's goal below:
But Washington responded when Brooks Laich evened it up for the Caps with six minutes remaining, breaking free in the zone for his first goal of the playoffs. Washington caught the Boston defense napping, as Nicklas Backstrom fired one up the boards to Laich, who was camped out at the blue line. Laich got behind everyone, with Chara caught standing. With a free lane to the front of the net, Laich put a pretty move on Tim Thomas and went with a forehand to flip the puck into the back of the net. Thomas was visibly upset with the defensive breakdown, rifling the puck to the corner. Video of the goal below:
With four-on-four hockey, the Bruins went ahead again with a Zdeno Chara one-timer from the point deflecting off the stick of Roman Hamrlik in front. The special teams situation was set up after a scrum in front of Holtby, with Milan Lucic and Matt Hendricks sent to the box for roughing. The four-on-four play had been dangerous for Washington all night, and Chara had a nice lane to rip the hardest shot in hockey from the right side. Dennis Seidenberg set up in front and occupied Hamrlik, creating traffic. Video of the goal below:
Over the final minute and a half, the Caps would put some pressure on the Bruins' netminder but Boston would run out the final two minutes to clinch the win. The Caps will now have an extra day off, before Game 4 on Thursday night in Chinatown.
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.