BOSTON – TJ Oshie scored one of his two goals in the first of the Washington Capitals’ three goals, and former Bruins defender Zdeno Chara played his first game for Boston’s fans on Sunday night.
Conor Sheary and Lars Eller each also passed twice, and Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd each had one of the season highlights the Capitals achieved in their first victory in regulation against Boston this season. The Bruins got at least one point in the club’s five previous meetings (3-0-2).
Rookie Vitek Vanecek stopped 34 shots but lost a chance for his second exclusion when Craig Smith scored a power goal within 3 minutes in the third point.
“I definitely think it’s important to get that playoff game moving forward,” Sheary said. “We want to play these important games this time of year. You do not want to be, maybe it sounds bad, but you do not want to be too far ahead, where you are a kind of play-off game.”
Washington is level with the New York Islanders for the first time in the NHL’s East Division. The islanders outscored the New York Rangers on Sunday night with overtime.
The Bruins played a video tribute to Chara on the video board halfway through the opening period, with Washington already 2-0 ahead. He received standing ovations from the TD Garden crowd, which was limited to 12% by the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As he skates near his couch, Chara appears touched, lifts his stick and slaps back at the crowd before hitting his left glove on his chest and waving.
The 44-year-old Chara was the Bruins’ captain for his 14 seasons at the club. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and was a key part of his runner-up in 2013 and 2019.
After all the players had left the ice when the game was over, he took out, waved and went to a corner and pointed to the seats.
Chara, who signed a one-year deal with Washington in the off-season, said during a Zoom interview after the morning skating that his wife and three children, who still live in Boston, are expected to be at the game.
“It was great for him to have it for the fans,” Boston captain Patrice Bergeron said. ‘I know it’s only 12%, but he deserves it. I know he did so much for the organization. ‘
Washington took a 3-0 lead in the first half of the first period, when Oshie passed Nicklas Backstrom’s pass once into the net from the slot in the net for a power play goal at 7:33.
Just 16 seconds later, Eller takes a pass from Carl Hagelin, cuts around Boston defender Jarred Tinordi, and throws a shot over Dan Vladar’s glove.
“We wanted to make sure we had a good 60 minutes,” Wilson said. “I know it’s a cliché, but it was pretty good tonight, and we did the work.”
Sheary passed in a 3-on-2 break to make it 3-0 at 9:42. He also recorded a rebound early in the second time for a power play.
“I don’t think these games are useful to anyone unless your team was arrogant and won all the time, and that it had to be a notch,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It was a tough one for Dan, but a lot of guys before him could have done a better job by fighting it.”
The Bruins lacked four of their best defenders. Charlie McAvoy (third consecutive game), Matt Grzelcyk (Saturday injured) and Brandon Carlo (fifth consecutive game) are each with an unknown torso injury. Kevan Miller, who is recovering from knee surgery out of season, did not play because it was a consecutive day of games.
The Bruins announced after the game that they had supplemented some depth in their inflated blue line by trading a third-round pick in the 2022 Ottawa Senators for Mike Reilly.
The 27-year-old defender on the left has 19 assistants in 40 games this season with the Senators.
The NHL’s deadline for trade is Monday. The Bruins, despite losing both days over the weekend, are still in the no. 4-play position in the Eastern Division and can further strengthen their depth.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.