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The Capitals beat the Bruins 5-3 Wednesday night at the Verizon Center. The win raised  the Capitals record to 34-11-6 (74 points). The Capitals next travel Montreal to face the Canadiens on Saturday. Puck drop is an 1:00PM. 

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

Justin Williams was a late scratch due to a lower body injury. He is listed day-to-day”.Jay Beagle was moved to second line in Williams spot. Chandler Stephenson replaced Beagle at 4th line center.

Taylor Chorney was the healthy scratch.

This was the 342nd consecutive sellout for the Capitals at Verizon Center.

QUICK NOTES

• The Capitals would once again score the game’s first goal.
• The Capitals penalty kill continues to wobble. The Caps have given up a power-play goal in six straight.
• The Capitals have scored 12 power-play goals in their last 12 games
• Tonight marks second time in as many games the Capitals have squandered a multi-goal lead vs. the Bruins this season. Led 3-0 on 12/7, won 4-3 in OT. (Mike Vogel)
• Alex Ovechkin of the @Capitals scored his 550th career NHL goal to pass Ron Francis (549) for sole possession of 27th on the all-time list.
• Kuznetsov now with eight goals and 22 points in last 16 games, more than half of season totals of 11 and 41.
• Barry Trotz of the Capitals earned his 692nd career win to tie Dick Irvin for sixth on the all-time list among NHL head coaches.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals struck quick on a beautiful seam pass from Nicklas Backstrom to TJ Oshie, who had a free breakaway, and buried the wrister at 3:06 of the opening frame.

Nicklas Backstrom would stretch the Capitals lead to 2-0 on the knock-in of a rebound at 13:34 of the first period.

The Bruins would cut the lead in half on a power play goal by Brad Marchand at 18:46 of the opening frame.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-1. The Bruins led in shots on goal 9-6 after 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bruins would tie the game on another power play goal by Brad Marchand at 2:49 of the second period.

Alex Ovechkin would grab the lead back for the Caps late in the period on a power play goal from the office at 19:45 of the middle frame.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 3-2. Shots on goal were tied 8-8 for the second period. The Bruins led 17-14 in shots on goal through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would make it 4-2 on a goal by Brett Connolly at 3:29 of the final frame.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would make it 5-2 on a nice give and go at 15:53 of the final frame.

The Bruins would add a goal by David Krejci at the 18:29 mark to make it 5-3, and that would be the final.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

The gates are open! Welcome everyone to Chinese Cultural Night presented by ORG Packaging! #CapsHIFE #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/xagQnOdSCY

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2017

Oshie things #CapsBruins pic.twitter.com/f14KwSyPTo

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2017

👊 for the boys #CapsBruins pic.twitter.com/7GsiL91JlQ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2017

First ⭐️ night for @backstrom19 #CapsBruins pic.twitter.com/Weq3QM1ASa

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2017