Bruins Vs. Capitals, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 2: Washington Finally Breaks Through, Leads 1-0 After 2

After two periods of Game 2, the Washington Capitals lead the Boston Bruins 1-0. The Caps finally solved Tim Thomas at the end of the period for their first goal and first lead of the series. It was another back-and-forth period before Washington finally got on the board late.

Patrice Bergeron nearly broke the tie for Boston, early in the second period when he put one through the five-hole of Holtby. The Caps' goaltender caught a piece of the puck as it went through his legs and it went just wide of the post.

Washington also had another power play chance after Brad Marchand caught John Carlson in the face with his stick when he tried to go around the Caps defenseman. Marchand did not draw blood, however, and the Bruins killed off the two-minute minor for high-sticking.

The Capitals then finally broke through against Tim Thomas with only two minutes remaining the period. The play was set up by a pretty clear from Karl Alzner, who sent one up the left side and found Alex Ovechkin at the blue line. Ovechkin, who was on a new line as coach Dale Hunter tried to switch things up and get the star away from Zdeno Chara, threw one at the front of the net that hit Boston defenseman Greg Zanon right in front of the crease. The puck dropped in the paint and, as Zanon lost his footing, he was unable to put his glove on the puck in the crease. Troy Brouwer, who was being marked by Zanon, was at the right place at the right time and slammed it through the legs of Thomas to give Washington their first lead of the series.

While there were two penalties in the second period, play was still certainly chippy, highlighted by a dust-up between Ovechkin and Dennis Seidenberg. The two came together along the boards, Ovechkin retaliated after the whistle and went high with his stick, catching Seidenberg in the jaw. The Bruins' defenseman screamed at the referee that he would have been tossed if he did that. The period then ended with both teams having to be separated, with Bergeron and Nicklas Backstrom coming together.

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