April 16: The Washington Capitals defeated the visiting Boston Bruins 2-0 on Monday to maintain control of the last Eastern Conference playoff place. Goals came from John Carlson and Nic Dowd, and Charlie Lindgren posted a 16-save shutout.
Carlson scored the game-winning goal at 12:00 of the first period, his fifth in the previous 13 games and his tenth of the season. In the last three games, Carlson has scored points.
For Washington (39-31-11, 89 points), which is tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the second Eastern Conference wild card, one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and two points ahead of the Flyers, Dowd added a late empty-netter. Tuesday in Philadelphia marks the end of the regular season for the Capitals.In the third period, Lindgren made eight stops en route to his sixth season shutout.
A team-high five shots were taken by David Pastrnak for Boston (47-19-15, 109 points), who had Jeremy Swayman’s 23 saves. With two points, Boston might have taken the lead in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins, who lead the Florida Panthers by one point, play the Ottawa Senators at home on Tuesday to wrap things up.
It took Boston until 11:36 to register a shot on goal, and it took just 24 seconds for Washington to take the lead as Carlson’s one-timer from the blue line went through the slot and over Swayman’s shoulder.
Even well into the third quarter, the score was still one goal. Six minutes into the third, Lindgren made a crucial block to stop Jakub Lauko, who was on a four-man rush to close the spot.
Just beyond the halfway point of the third, Swayman made a similar move to halt a one-timer after Aliaksei Protas had passed to Tom Wilson in a two-on-one. Two minutes or so later, Lindgren blocked an open chance that Boston’s Morgan Geekie made after stealing the ball and feeding Pastrnak.
