Bruins at Capitals
The Boston Bruins are inching closer to their third consecutive Northeast Division title. The Bruins can take a step in that direction on Saturday, when they visit the Southeast champion Washington Capitals. Boston is even in points with Original Six-rival Montreal but has a game in hand. The Canadiens will play their regular-season finale versus Toronto on Saturday, while the Bruins have Sunday's rescheduled tilt against Ottawa still on their slate.
Tuukka Rask is in fine form heading into the postseason. The young netminder recorded his second consecutive shutout by stopping 30 shots in a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday. Should he get the call versus Washington, Rask's task will be a tough one as Alex Ovechkin continues to torch the competition. The two-time Hart Trophy winner netted his 14th goal in April and league-leading 32nd tally in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to Ottawa.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), CSN (Washington)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (28-13-5): Although Boston already has secured home-ice advantage for the first round, coach Claude Julien isn't letting his charges get complacent. "There's obviously a lot that can happen in the next 72 hours," Julien said after Friday's practice. "... Again, it's always the same cliche: you've got to take care of your own business, and that's what we plan on doing." Leading goal-scorer Brad Marchand has points in three of his five games since returning from a mild concussion.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (26-18-3): While Boston can finish either second or fourth, Washington is locked into the third seed. Although the game has no bearing on the Capitals' situation, goaltender Braden Holtby expects his team to compete with all that it has. "You've got to treat it the same," he said. "That's the best way to have success, is if you treat every game the same, no matter if it’s the playoffs or a game like this that’s meaningless."
OVERTIME
1. Ovechkin had just one assist in two meetings with Boston this season.
2. Former Capitals RW Jaromir Jagr will miss Saturday's game as he continues to be plagued by the flu.
2. Washington has benefited from a potent power play to post a 10-1-1 mark in April. The Capitals are 11-for-36 with the man advantage.