Capitals outlast Bruins to pick up third straight win
The Washington Capitals scored two goals in both the second and third periods to top the visiting Boston Bruins 4-2 on Sunday.
Lars Eller gave Washington a 3-2 lead at the 7:18 mark of the third period as he sent a puck toward goal from the left side that deflected off Erik Haula and past Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark. Captain Alex Ovechkin ensured the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds of regulation.
The win was the third straight for Washington (40-22-10, 90 points). Eller and John Carlson each posted a goal and an assist to lead the offense, while Tom Wilson also scored.
Washington's Vitek Vanecek made 28 saves.
Boston (45-22-5, 95 points) has now lost two of three, despite goals by Curtis Lazar and Haula. Ullmark made 29 stops in the setback.
Carlson got the Capitals on the board 4:11 into the second, winding up for a slapper at the top of the right circle. Conor Sheary took advantage of a turnover and set up the defenseman for the opening tally.
Lazar crashed the net at 7:55 for Boston's first of two goals in a one-minute span. Nick Foligno set up the play by intercepting a clearing attempt and cutting to the top of the crease.
The score flipped in the Bruins' favor when Haula ripped a slapper with an assist from Charlie McAvoy in the neutral zone. It was the winger's sixth goal in eight games.
Wilson knotted the score again at 14:50 as he won a net-front puck battle after Eller's shot and beat Ullmark.
Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left the game with an upper-body injury after playing four shifts in the first period. He appeared to favor his shoulder after pinching on Washington's Garnet Hathaway along the boards.
--Field Level Media