After coming through with a huge game four win in DC, the Washington Capitals traveled up to Boston for game five with the series tied at two games apiece.
After yet another scoreless first period, each team would explode for two goals in the second. Continuing his stellar play, Alexander Semin would strike first, breaking the tie at 11:16. The opening goal was his third of the playoffs (assists: Dennis Wideman, Marcus Johansson). Up by one, the Caps would not sit on their laurels for long. Jay Beagle, perhaps the most disserving offensive player of the series, would beat Tim Thomas on a long wrist shot at 14:27 to put Washington up by two (unassisted). Boston, however, would dig deep and score twice in the span of twenty-eight seconds to tie the game. First, Dennis Seidenberg (1, assists: Milan Lucic, David Krejci) would best Braden Holtby, followed in short order by Brad Marchand (1, assists: Rich Peverly, Johnny Boychuck).
Mike Knuble, playing in just his second game of the series, would give Washington back the lead, scoring his first goal of the postseason at 3:21 of the third period (assists: Joel Ward, John Erskine). True to form though, Boston would storm back to tie the game once more. After a Dennis Wideman cross checking penalty, Johnny Boychuck blasted a slap shot past Holtby, evening the score at three. Boychuck’s first goal of the series (assists: Dennis Seidenberg, Brad Marchand) was also Boston’s first on the power play, which had gone 0 for 14 up to that point. The game looked as if it was on collision course with yet another overtime until Troy Brouwer decided otherwise. Taking a stretch pass from John Carlson, Brouwer ripped a shot on goal that sped by Thomas’ glove and into the net. The game winning power play goal was Brouwer’s second tally of the series.
With game five in hand, the Caps will travel home to play a potentially deciding game six on Sunday. If Holtby can keep up his unbelievable play in net and they can keep getting timely goals, there is absolutely no reason that the Capitals cannot close out the series at home. Backs against the wall though, the Bruins will come out guns a’ blazing and the Caps, particularly their young netminder, must be prepared for the fight of their lives.
