Bruins Aim to Build on Shutout Win vs. Columbus, Capitals Look to Bounce Back

Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals

As 2024 draws to a close, the Boston Bruins (20-14-4) and Washington Capitals (24-10-2) are set to face off in a critical Eastern Conference battle at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday afternoon. Both teams enter this matchup looking to finish the year strong, with Boston coming off a shutout victory and Washington aiming to rebound from a recent road defeat.

Bruins Looking to Build on Shutout Victory Against Columbus

The Boston Bruins, currently sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division, are coming off a dominant 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. After a tough loss in the first game of the back-to-back series, Boston bounced back at home to extend their recent success, solidifying their position just behind Florida and Toronto.

Despite the victory, the Bruins have struggled offensively this season, ranking 26th in goals scored per game with an average of just 2.66 goals. Their offensive woes are compounded by their 30th-ranked power play, converting only 13.2% of man advantage opportunities. However, their defense has remained solid, ranking 14th in goals against, allowing 3.03 goals per game, and 4th in penalty kill, successfully defending 76% of shorthanded situations.

Boston’s win over Columbus saw them dominate in all areas. They outshot the Blue Jackets 28-18 and had a balanced attack, with contributions from Justin Brazeau (8th goal of the season), Morgan Geekie (8th goal), and David Pastrnak (13th goal). Jeremy Swayman delivered a stellar performance in goal, stopping all 18 shots he faced to earn the shutout. Expect Swayman to start again as Boston seeks their second consecutive win on the road.

Capitals Look to Bounce Back from Road Defeat

On the other side, the Washington Capitals are coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the second game of a back-to-back road set. Despite the defeat, the Capitals remain in a strong position, sitting just one point behind the New Jersey Devils for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, though they have three games in hand.

Washington’s offense has been one of the league’s most potent, ranking 3rd in goals per game with an impressive 3.67 goals per contest. Their power play has been 15th in the league, converting 21.7% of their chances with the man advantage, while their penalty kill ranks 6th, successfully stopping 83% of opposition power plays.

However, fatigue appeared to play a factor in their loss to Detroit, as they trailed 4-1 at the end of the first period after being outshot 13-6 in the opening frame. The team did respond in the second period with a 9-7 edge in shots, but could not overcome the deficit. Alex Ovechkin continued his dominance, scoring his 17th goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. Nic Dowd added a late tally, his 10th goal of the year, but the Capitals fell short.

The Capitals remain a well-balanced team, with Charlie Lindgren making 23 saves in the loss, though his effort wasn’t enough to keep his team in the game. Logan Thompson is expected to get the start in goal for Washington in this matchup as the team looks to avoid back-to-back defeats.

Conclusion

As the calendar year 2024 wraps up, both the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals have plenty to play for, aiming to finish the year on a high note. With Boston struggling to generate consistent offense but boasting a solid defense, and Washington riding a potent scoring attack but facing defensive inconsistencies, this promises to be a matchup of contrasting styles. Fans can expect a high-intensity contest as both teams look to assert themselves in the final stretch of the year.

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