(2) Bruins - (7) Capitals preview - 04-10-12
(2) Bruins vs. (7) Capitals
Bruins Leading Regular Season Scorer: Tyler Seguin (right), 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists).
Capitals Leading Regular Season Scorer: Alex Ovechkin (below), 65 points (38 goals, 27 assists).
Bruins Expected Starting Goaltender: Tim Thomas, 35-19-1, 2.36 GAA, .920 SV%.
Capitals Expected Starting Goaltender: Braden Holtby, 4-2-1, 2.49 GAA, .922 SV%.
Bruins Regular Season Statistics
Capitals Regular Season Statistics
Bruins Injuries: Defenseman Johnny Boychuk (knee) is probable. Defenseman Adam McQuaid (eye) is questionable. Goaltender Tuukka Rask (abdominal/groin) is out. Right winger Nathan Horton (concussion) and center Marc Savard (concussion) are on injured reserve.
Capitals Injuries: Goaltender Michal Neuvirth ("lower body") is day to day. Goaltender Tomas Vokoun (groin) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Tom Poti (groin) is out.
Bruins with Stanley Cup bling: Patrice Bergeron, C; Johnny Boychuk, D; Gregory Campbell, C; Zdeno Chara, D; Andrew Ference, D; Nathan Horton, RW; Chris Kelly, C; David Krejci, C; Milan Lucic, LW; Brad Marchand, LW; Adam McQuaid, D; Daniel Paille, LW; Rich Peverly, C; Tuukka Rask, G; Brian Rolston, RW; Tyler Seguin, C; Dennis Seidenberg, D; Tim Thomas, G; Shawn Thornton, LW.
Capitals with Stanley Cup bling: Troy Brouwer, RW; Mike Knuble, RW.
Something worthwhile about the Bruins: The Bruins had a winning percentage of .861 this regular season when they scored first, best in the NHL.
Something worthwhile about the Capitals: The Capitals had 16 road wins this past regular season, fewest among any playoff team.
Something useless about the Bruins that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: Former Penguins center Derek Sanderson holds the Bruins' record for most shorthanded goals in a single postseason. He had three in 1969.
Something useless about the Capitals that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: Olaf Kolzig holds the Capitals' single-game record for postseason saves. He made 62 against the Penguins in a 3-2 four overtime loss in Game 4 of a 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.
Former Penguins on the Bruins: Andrew Ference, D.
Former Penguins on the Capitals: Jim Johnson, assistant coach.
Who needs to be the difference for the Bruins: Chara, Ference, Seidenberg, Boychuk, etc. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup last season largely on the efforts of their blue line which battered opposing fowards anytime they entered the Bruins' defensive zone. Chara and company will need to do the same against Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and others.
Who needs to be the difference for the Capitals: Mike Green, Dennis Wideman, Karl Alzner, John Carlson, etc. The Capitals blue line will need to make life as easy as possible for whoever starts in net. The Bruins are aggressive up front and will try to make things miserable for Holtby or Neuvirth.
Best Bruins YouTube Video We Could Find: Horton's series-clinching overtime goal in a 4-3 win against the Canadiens in Game 7 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Canadiens last postseason:
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Best Capitals YouTube Video We Could Find: Center Dale Hunter's series clinching overtime goal against the Flyers in a 5-4 win in Game 7 of a 1988 Patrick Division semifinal round:
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EN Prediction: This is pretty simple. It come down to goaltending. We'll pick the team with the all-star who is a year removed from a Conn Smythe run as opposed to a team with a goaltender who has hasn't been in the NHL for a full season. Bruins 4-1.
(Photos: Seguin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Ovechkin-Rob Carr/Getty Images)