It wasn't long before Ovechkin would make an impact in this one. On an early power play for the Capitals on an interference call to Stephane Yelle Ovechkin powered a wrist shot toward Manny Fernandez that Nick Backstrom was able to tip into the net, 1-0 Washington.
The Bruins started to pick up their play after the goal and got some quality shots on Brent Johnson. Johnson stuffed both Patrice Bergeron and Chuck Kobasew from in tight which was a sign of things to come.
With roughly seven minutes remaining in the first period the Bruins went down a skater but had a golden opportunity to tie the contest. PJ Axellson had a short handed break away but put the shot right into Johnson's bread basket and the Capitals kept the lead.
The Bruins had some good chances in the latter third of the period but Johnson stood tall and Washington took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Coming out in the second period the Capitals had the lead but didn't out play the Bruins in the first, but that soon changed. For the first five minutes of the period the Capitals were on the offensive and took it at Manny Fernandez. At the 4:52 mark the net crashing paid off. Tom Poti's original shot was stopped by Fernandez but the rebound was not taken care of and Alexandre Giroux potted the Capitals second goal.
When it looked like the Bruins would enter the third period down two goals they were finally able to catch a break. Zdeno Chara forced a turnover and Phil Kessel took the puck off the side boards and fed Milan Lucic who knocked the puck into an empty net. It was a very well executed 2-1 by the Bruins, and with the goal Kessel extended his point streak to 13 games.
Early in the third period the Capitals had a shot to extend their lead on a Giroux penalty shot but Fernanez was up to the challenge.The rest of the third period was full of back and forth action and some solid opportunities, but Johnson was a wall for Washington.
The Bruins tried to tie the game late but with the net empty for the B's Ovechkin was able to pot an exclamation point.
Washington with the W, 3-1.
NEWS AND NOTES
*Although the Bruins recalled Vladimir Sobotka to the big club he didn't get to lace them up tonight. Stephane Yelle was able to play tonight despite originally thinking he would miss the game with a middle-body injury. Stephane Yelle's ribs aren't broken, according to x-rays and it is believed to be just a muscle spasm. Expect Sobotka to head back to Providence.
*Aaron Ward missed his fourth straight game, while Marco Sturm missed game number 10 in a row tonight.
*The Bruins next play a home and home series against the Atlanta Thrashers with the next game coming Friday night in the ATL. On paper this looks like a mismatch as the Bruins are first in the conference with 42 points while Atlanta sits in the thirteenth spot with 22 points.
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