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The Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 Wednesday night at Verizon Center. The win improves the Capitals record to 15-7-3. The Capitals will have the day off on Thursday, and head to Buffalo in advance of their game against the Sabres on Friday. 

TJ Oshie returned to the Capitals lineup after missing the last seven games due to an upper body injury he sustained against the Red Wings on November 18th.

Braden Holtby got the start in net for the Capitals. Tuukka Rask got the start for the Boston Bruins.

Taylor Chorney and Brett Connolly were the healthy scratches for the contest.

This was the Capitals 330th consecutive sellout at Verizon Center.

QUICK TAKES

• The Capitals stormed the ice in the first period, notching two goals in the first 8 minutes of play. Both goals were scored by Justin Williams.
• The Capitals quickly grabbed a three-goal lead in the second period, and then the offense shut down. The Bruins outshot the Caps 10-2 for the middle frame, and cut the lead to 3-2.
• The Bruins continued to dominate play in the third period and tied the game at 3-3.
• The Bruins outshot the Capitals 26-4 for a stretch of the second and third periods.
• Shot chart for the first two-plus periods:

• Nicklas Backstrom would pull this game out of the fire and win it for the Capitals in overtime.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals jumped out to a furious start, right from the initial puck drop. The Caps struck quickly as Justin Williams scored on a tip-in off an Evgeny Kuznetsov pass just 23 seconds into the contest.

Dirty. Greasy. Beautiful. #CapsBruinspic.twitter.com/9nhhtKBBdg

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2016

The assist by Kuznetsov was his second assist in as many games and Ovechkin’s first point in four games. Justin Williams would notch another dirty goal at the 7:56 mark of the opening frame, this time unassisted.

Déjà vu. Kuzy → Justin #CapsBruinspic.twitter.com/7YJIdkRoZM

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2016

The first period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Capitals led in shots on goal 13-11. Matt Niskanen left the game late in the period after he took a hit into the boards. Niskanen would not return for the remainder of the game.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 3-0 on a goal by Daniel Winnik at the 5:51 mark of the middle frame. The goal was setup on a great defensive play and rush started by Jay Beagle.

CAPITALIZING on defensive breakdowns. #CapsBruinspic.twitter.com/8AO0HjgI02

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2016

The Bruins would close the gap on a goal by Dominic Moore at 16:35 of the middle frame.

David Pastrnak would close the gap to a single goal with one minute left in the second period.

The second period would end with the Capitals hanging on to a 3-2 lead. The Bruins led in shots on goal 10-2 for the second period.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bruins would continue to dominate play in the third period, as the Capitals had difficulty generating a single shot on goal. The Bruins outshot the Capitals 26-4 for a stretch of the second and third periods. The Bruins would tie the game on a power play goal by Colin Miller at 8:19 of the final frame.

Regulation would end with the game tied 3-3. The Bruins outshot the Capitals 12-4 for the final frame, and 34-19 for regulation.

OVERTIME
Nicklas Backstrom would win it for the Capitals in overtime.

Give and go, slight pause and Nicky rips home the OTGWG. #CapsBruinspic.twitter.com/AwxwVQQ216

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2016

By Jon Sorensen
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