Washington Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom gets OT game-winner to edge Boston Bruins 2-1 -NHL Playoffs
Boston was looking to take a 2-0 lead in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference playoff quarterfinals but Washington was focused on levelling it as Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom scored the overtime game-winner to edge Bruins, 2-1, Saturday
night, April 14, 2012, at the sold-out TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Washington failed to take advantage of two penalties in the opening period and when Capitals came out to score the first of the night, the Boston crowd certainly went into depression mode when the away team went up in the following 20 minutes.
Troy Brouwer put Washington ahead by one with 2:03 remaining as the puck was initially blocked by Boston’s veteran goalie, Tim Thomas, but the Capitals’ player flicked it in through his legs and into the net.
Capitals’ captain, Alex Ovechkin, had a number of breakaway chances and kept the away team ahead on the opportunities but Tim Thomas was definitely a hard nut to crack.
"I would say it's going to be a long series," Capitals forward, Alex Ovechkin, said. "For us, it was very important to win this game and get the series tied, and go back home and have home advantage to play against the Bruins. ... We are pretty happy, but
it was a long game and everybody is tired and needs some rest."
Benoit Pouliot added the last of regulation to level on a lucky strike as Washington goalie, Braden Holtby, came out of his crease to take the puck but the Boston shooter got to it first and pushed it past the goaltender to get another chance in overtime.
Lidstrom was available in the Washington defensive end and took the puck on a turnover and fired it past Tim Thomas, who made 37 saves that night, for the game-winner in double overtime.
"There's not a lot of chances out there," Backstrom said. "This is how it's going to be, I think. For you, maybe it's boring; I don't know. But for us, it's fun."
It was definitely an exciting matchup and the next between Washington and Boston will be on Monday, April 16, 2012.
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