Backstrom, Caps top Bruins in OT
WASHINGTON -- Nicklas Backstrom scored with 3:24 left in overtime, and the Washington Capitals defeated Boston 4-3 Wednesday night at Verizon Center, snapping the Bruins' three-game winning streak.
Backstrom broke in two-on-one with Nate Schmidt. He fed Schmidt, who sent the puck back, and Backstrom waited momentarily before firing past goalie Tuukka Rask.
Washington won its seventh straight against Boston despite surrendering a 3-0 lead and being outshot 34-20.
Justin Williams scored twice and Daniel Winnik added a goal for Washington in regulation. Braden Holtby made 31 saves.
Dominic Moore, David Pastrnak and Colin Miller scored for Boston. Rask stopped 16 shots.
Pastrnak's goal was his 16th, surpassing his total of 15 goals in 51 games last season.
Miller tied it with two seconds left on a power play when he one-timed a blast past Holtby from high in the slot at 8:19 of the third period.
The Capitals went without a shot on goal for over 25 minutes during one stretch beginning in the second period.
Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen appeared to hit his head when he was boarded by Patrice Bergeron in the first period. He skated off but did not return. The team later announced he would be re-evaluated Thursday.
Washington (15-7-3) took a fast 1-0 lead when on a rush when Evgeny Kuznetsov sent the puck on net and Williams deflected it in midair past Rask 23 just seconds in.
Williams made it 2-0 at 7:57 of the period. This time, as Kuznetsov drove toward the net, the puck was knocked from his stick right to Williams, who banged home for his fourth of the season.
The Bruins (15-10-2) outshot the Capitals 11-2 in the second period and pulled within one. First, however, Jay Beagle sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Winnik on a two-on-one, and Winnik fired high past Rask to give Washington a 3-0 lead at 5:51 of the middle period.
Boston finally got on the board at 16:38 when Dominic Moore poked home the rebound of Anton Blidh's shot. The assist was Blidh's first NHL point.
The Bruins pulled within 3-2 when Pastrnak stole the puck from Kuznetsov, came in alone on Holtby and slid a backhand shot thru the 5-hole with one minute left in the second period.
NOTES: Washington RW T.J. Oshie returned after missing seven games with an upper body injury. The Capitals were 3-3-1 in his absence. ... Capitals G Braden Holtby's first career win came against Boston in November 2010 in relief of Michal Neuvirth. ... Washington's scratches included D Taylor Chorney and RW Brett Connolly. ... Boston D John-Michael Liles, who sustained a concussion Nov. 27 against Tampa Bay, missed his fifth consecutive game Wednesday. He has yet to resume skating. ... D Joe Morrow was scratched for Boston. ... The Bruins play the second of back-to-back games Thursday night when they host the Colorado Avalanche. Washington plays at Buffalo on Friday night.