Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Brooks Laich scored just 44 seconds into overtime to help the Washington Capitals down the Boston Bruins, 3-2, at Verizon Center.
Brooks Laich Scores In Overtime To Give Capitals 3-2 Victory Over Bruins
Dennis Wideman was called for high sticking 24 seconds into the extra frame and Laich put the puck into the net from in front off of an Alexander Semin rebound 20 seconds later for the win.
Washington came into the game having already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy thanks to San Jose’s loss on Sunday and the team now has a club-record 116 points. Boston, meanwhile, is fighting for points and the one point the team gained in the game put the Bruins in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, one ahead of Philadelphia and one back of Montreal.
Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists while Mike Knuble added a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have won three straight. Jose Theodore stopped 28 shots in the win.
Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist while Wideman scored the other goal for the Bruins, who have lost two of their last three games. Tuukka Rask made 27 saves in the loss.
Washington got on the board 7:36 into the game when Backstrom fired a wrister on the fly from the right circle that just crossed over the goal line before being swept out. A replay was done to determine if the puck crossed the line and the on-ice call was upheld.
Boston, though, tied the game with 1.6 seconds left in the first as Wideman fired a one-timer from the left point that beat Theodore.
Boston took a 2-1 lead 7:55 into the second when Bergeron got a lead pass behind the defense and stuffed a forehand shot into the net for his 19th goal of the year.
However, this time it was Washington that tied the game late in the frame as Knuble jammed home the puck in front off of an Alex Ovechkin feed with 28.8 left.
Washington plays its final road game of the regular season on Tuesday in Pittsburgh...Boston hosts Buffalo on Thursday...Ovechkin had two assists in the game and has 104 points on the season, two back of Vancouver's Henrik Sedin for the league lead...Washington has won all three games against Boston this season. The two teams will meet in Washington on Sunday, the last day of the regular season.
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