Yahoo Sports A Bruins, Capitals Playoff Series Would Be Intense
When you think about the Boston Bruins’ top rivals, the Washington Capitals are not the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs or New York Rangers.
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However, the Bruins and Capitals have turned into a decent rivalry and that’s been on display during the first two games this season. After Boston’s impressive 4-1 win over the Capitals on Dec. 23 at TD Garden, Washington responded with a 3-1 win Tuesday afternoon at Capital One Arena. The third and final game of this season series will be played April 1 in Boston.
If the first two games are any indication, a seven-game playoff series between the Bruins and Capitals could be epic.
These games have been intense. There’s been significant bite from both sides. Pace, speed, physicality and goaltending have all been solid. Despite Tuesday’s loss, the Bruins played well for the majority of the game but couldn’t pull it off.
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Listen, there’s nothing better than an Original Six rivalry. There’s a genuine hatred between the Bruins and Canadiens, dating back 100 years. In fact, the teams have played a total of 763 games during that span. The Bruins have played the Capitals only 182 times, but it seems like more than that because this rivalry is starting to pick up steam. These teams last played in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2021 with the Bruins posting a 4-1 series win. Previously, the Capitals beat the Bruins, 4-3, in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. No doubt a playoff series between the clubs this spring would be a phenomenal matchup, but the Bruins need to get there first.
It also helps that Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin (870 career goals) is 25 shy of passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most goals in NHL history. Ovechkin should be closer to that mark the next time Washington plays the Bruins, so that only adds to the intense play from both teams. Speaking of history, it’s also fitting that Bruins legend Cam Neely scored his record-setting 50th goal of the season against the Capitals on March 7, 1994 at the Boston Garden.
It’s also crazy to think Ovechkin was only 9-years-old when Neely reached that milestone.
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