The Washington Capitals didn’t have their best but had enough to take two points from the Boston Bruins on New Year’s Eve. Washington gritted their way to a 3-1 victory, overpowering the Bruins in the special teams battle to get the win.
Good way to head into 2025. Let’s hope they can find their game again later this week.
- The five-on-five numbers from this game are ugly. Boston was majorly positive in shot attempts (70-47), scoring chances (36-18), high-danger chances (13-10), and expected goals (3.36-1.92). The 36 five-on-five scoring chances are the most Washington has allowed in a single game this season – four more than against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 3.
- Logan Thompson was the primary hero of the game, which is becoming more and more common. The 27-year-old netminder made 26 stops in his 15th win of the year. Per MoneyPuck, he saved 2.66 more goals than expected.
- Aliaksei Protas had his second two-goal game in his last five outings. He has 16 goals in 37 games this season, putting him on pace to record 35 goals over an 82-game slate.
- Washington went 1-for-2 on their power play, getting a goal from Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun left the game tied with Cale Makar and Zach Werenski for the most goals by a defenseman (11) in the NHL. The Capitals’ penalty kill also was perfect, killing off two penalties.
- The Capitals blocked 28 shots in the win – their second-highest single-game total this season. They blocked 30 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 2.
- Really, really rough night for the top line. With Alex Ovechkin on the ice at five-on-five, the Capitals allowed 16 scoring chances.
