SBNation.com - Capitals Vs. Bruins, Game 6: Boston Forces Game 7 With 4-3 Overtime Win

Capitals Vs. Bruins, Game 6: Offense Makes An Appearance In As Boston Survives

2012-04-23T14:08:36Z

The series between the Bruins and Capitals has been an offensive struggle and was more of a faceoff between goaltenders heading into Sunday's showdown at Verizon Center. However, Game 6 gave both teams' big guns a chance to shine. While Boston came out the victor, both sides' performances were well-timed and badly needed to give their teams the best chance to win.

On the Caps' side, X-factor Mike Green had been struggling to contribute offensively. He also didn't have a good start to the postseason defensively, as he was the culprit of a number of turnovers in the Caps' end. He has picked up his game as the series has gone on, but much like the whole year since Dale Hunter took over, he was still lacking in production. Down 1-0 in Game 6, the offensive defenseman seemed to get his scoring touch back with a patient play and a blast from the high slot to knot the score.

The biggest moment for Washington came with 4:52 left in the game as the Capitals were down 3-2. Alex Ovechkin was pretty quiet on the offensive front, despite solid physical play away from the puck. The Caps' captain scored only once this series, which was expected with Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg on Ovechkin like white on rice. Hunter changed things up, putting Nicklas Backstrom on the same line with Ovechkin, yielding a goal to tie the game, sending the two teams to overtime. Probably the best time for a team's superstar to come around.

To regain the lead, though, the Bruins got their second goal on the power play, which was anemic due in part to the failure of David Krejci to get going. His blunder with the pane of glass in the second game of the series was funny at first, but then some had concerns that Krejci might not be all right after being unable to score or even get into position to score. The Bruins' third leading scorer finally got his first goal of the series with the man advantage.

The player who was struggling the most for either team came through in overtime to keep the Bruins alive. Tyler Seguin had the most shots in this series by an individual player, but to no avail. Expectations of Seguin -- Boston's top scorer this season -- to play more assertively finally came through, as he took advantage of the Caps' tired troops and sent this series to seven games.

With all the timely performances from both teams' stars, it sets up for a very interesting Game 7. Washington relied less on Braden Holtby toward the end of the game and more on its talent to win the game, while Boston gave pushing the Bruins' offense a shot since Tim Thomas was finally playing up to speed in net. Both teams may either continue or abandon these styles, but as those that needed to step up, will one of these players -- Green, Ovechkin, Krejci or Seguin -- be the hero for Game 7?

GIF: Caps Fan Does Not Approve Of Overtime Goal

2012-04-22T22:33:33Z

We're heading to Game 7 in the NHL playoff series between the Capitals and Bruins after Boston netted an overtime goal to take a 4-3 win on Sunday. Game 7s are awesome, and you should be excited about this, unless you're a Caps fan who just watched their team come so close to taking the drama out of everything on Sunday.

There was one such fan in the crowd that summed up the feeling for fans in Washington after the game, so we GIF'd him. The poor guy is left holding his beer, shaking his head, wondering what in the world just happened.

Just take one more drink, sir. It'll be okay.

Capitals Vs. Bruins, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Tyler Seguin Goal In OT Sends Series to Game 7

2012-04-22T22:31:04Z

We'll have a deciding Game 7 in Boston-Washington, as a pretty goal by Tyler Seguin gave the Bruins a 4-3 victory and knotted the series at three games a piece.

Nicklas Backstrom gave the puck away on a pass that ended up with Boston's David Krejci. Krejci passed it forward to Milan Lucic, who gave Seguin the puck with an opportunity to score one-on-one against Braden Holtby. Holtby came out to contest the shot and Seguin remained patient, held on, and took an easy shot at an open net after sliding past the goalie.

Here's video of Seguin's game-winner:

This Caps fan really says it all:

This has been an exciting series, to say the least: After six games, each side has scored the exact same number of goals. That won't remain true, as one side will pull ahead by winning Game 7, and the series.

For the Boston fan perspective, head to Stanley Cup of Chowder and SB Nation Boston. For thoughts from the Caps side, head to SB Nation D.C. and Japer's Rink.

Capitals Vs. Bruins, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Alex Ovechkin Goal Sends Game To Overtime

2012-04-22T22:04:12Z

Just like the first five games in the Washington-Boston series, the sixth will be decided by one goal. After regulation, the teams are tied at three, with a sudden death overtime coming up.

The Bruins took a lead with a score off of a rebound by Andrew Ference, but Alex Ovechkin came through for the Capitals to tie the game with under five minutes to go and send the game into overtime.

Ference's goal came on an odd-man rush created by an Alexander Semin turnover. Braden Holtby was able to stop the initial shot by Tyler Seguin, but the puck bounced right to Ference, who was able to slot it into the uncovered left side of the net.

A few minutes later, Nicklas Backstrom won a faceoff in the Bruins' zone which popped out to Ovechkin. The Capitals' captain snapped the puck towards net and somehow it trickled its way through the Bruins' defense and past Tim Thomas into the net.

Ovechkin had put a shot off of the crossbar earlier, but not this time. Ovie has seven shots on goal in the game - expect more.

For the Boston fan perspective, head to Stanley Cup of Chowder and SB Nation Boston. For thoughts from the Caps side, head to SB Nation D.C. and Jasper's Rink.

Capitals Vs. Bruins, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Washington Ties Game at End of Second Period

2012-04-22T21:14:20Z

Tim Thomas was able to hold off the Capitals for almost the entire period, but Jason Chimera's tally with under a minute left has the Capitals and the Bruins tied headed into the third.

The Capitals were the aggressors all period; after Alexander Ovechkin's double minor penalty for high-sticking Zdeno Chara in the face only resulted in one power play shot by the Bruins, the Capitals were able to string together a series of chances which Thomas did a good job handling.

However, Thomas didn't have a chance on Chimera's shot: Chimera had taken down Brad Marchand in Washington's zone. NIcklas Backstrom took the puck up ice and drew the attention of the Boston defense, allowing him to thread a beautiful pass to Chimera for an easy shot at an open net.

Here's video of the score that knotted the game.

Here's the hit by Chimera that set up his goal:

Ovechkin's earlier high stick didn't go without retaliation: Alexander Semin took a shot to the head from Patrice Bergeron that he didn't appear to enjoy much.

And so, the Caps and Bruins are tied with a period left. For Boston, it's do or die time - if they come out on the wrong end, this will be the end of their Stanley Cup defense.

For the Boston fan perspective, head to Stanley Cup of Chowder and SB Nation Boston. For thoughts from the Caps side, head to SB Nation D.C. and Jasper's Rink.

GIF: Zdeno Chara Skates Into Alex Ovechkin's Stick

2012-04-22T20:49:20Z

Note to NHL players: if you allow Zdeno Chara to skate into your stick, you will receive a four-minute penalty. Just ask Alex Ovechkin. Moving pictures after the jump:

This was clearly unintentional -- Ovechkin isn't even looking at Chara as he comes charging in -- but still, Ovie probably shouldn't have been waving his stick around so high in the first place. What funny is that if Chara weren't so freaking huge, the stick probably would have cleared his head. Instead, he's a 6-foot-9 giant, so he took it square on the bridge of his nose. Needless to say, it left a mark:

Capitals Vs. Bruins, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Rich Peverly, David Krejci Fighting To Keep Boston Alive

2012-04-22T20:29:14Z

Looks like the Bruins aren't ready to give up their Stanley Cup defense just yet. Facing elimination in Washington, Boston leads the Capitals by the score of 2-1 after the first period on Sunday.

The Bruins 23-2-0 when leading after the first period this season, which is ridiculous and bodes well for this series going to Game 7. But enough stats. To the goals!

Six minutes into the game, Richard Peverly struck first as Andrew Ference and Patrice Bergeron were in on the assist. Bergeron got the credit at first, but it was switched to Peverly, who had a heck of a redirect to to tip in the puck.

Not four minutes later, Mike Green tied the game with a blast that glanced off a Bruins and slipped around Tim Thomas. Nothing the Boston goalie could do on a shot coming that fast, and changing direction's that quickly ... especially when his vision is impaired by a scrum in front of the net. It was Green's first goal of the playoffs, and he picked a good time to show up. (Then lots of people on Twitter made jokes about "Green" scoring on "Earth Day." Jokes!)

This goal is best enjoyed in GIF form:

The final goal of the period was delivered by David Krejci on the Bruins power play. The tally came with three minutes left in the first period, reclaiming the lead for the Bruins. It was also Krejci's first of the postseason, and a nice comeback for him after he was KO'd by a pain of glass. Hmmmm. Did the refs miss an interference call on Bergeron that lead to the goal?

For the Boston fan perspective, head to Stanley Cup of Chowder and SB Nation Boston. For thoughts from the Caps side, head to SB Nation D.C. and Jasper's Rink.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Capitals Vs. Bruins Game 6: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

2012-04-22T14:00:42Z

The Boston Bruins appeared to be in control of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup with the Washington Capitals after three games. Boston had snatched home-ice advantage back from the Caps in Washington and found its scoring stride by putting in four goals in Game 3. Then momentum shifted slightly to the Capitals, who won the next two games, giving Washington a chance to close out the Bruins in Washington on Sunday.

The series itself has been about as tightly contested as Stanley Cup playoffs series get: the first two-goal lead came in Saturday's Game 5, and lasted just less than three minutes. But the Capitals have gotten sizable contributions from young goalie Braden Holtby and four points each from Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich, and the Bruins' Tim Thomas hasn't been as sharp as he is at his peak, leaving the door open for Washington to exorcise some playoffs demons by pulling a first-round upset.

No. 2 Boston Bruins at No. 7 Washington Capitals
3 p.m. ET -- Game 6, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals | Capitals lead, 3-2
National TV: NBC, CBC, RDS

For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. For more on the Capitals, visit Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. For more on the Bruins, head to Stanley Cup of Chowder and SB Nation Boston.