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The Washington Capitals play the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their opening round 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs series on Friday night at 6:30 PM EST (NBC Sports Washington, NBC). The Caps are looking to even the series at two games apiece, after falling in double overtime on Wednesday night.

CAPITALS 

Goal Leader(s): Garnet Hathaway, Nic Dowd (2)

Assist Leaders: Alex Ovechkin (2), Dmitry Orlov (2), Anthony Mantha (2), T.J. Oshie (2); six other players with one assist

Points Leader: Alex Ovechkin, Garnet Hathaway, T.J. Oshie (3)

Goaltender: After veteran Craig Anderson started Games 1 & 2, young netminder Ilya Samsonov got the nod in Game 3, playing solidly by stopping 40 shots and recording a .930 Save Percentage, with a miscommunication error with defenseman Justin Schultz in double overtime being the only true blemish on his night.

Key Notes: Center Lars Eller, who left Game 2 with a lower-body injury, skated during the team’s optional practice on Thursday, but Head Coach Peter Laviolette stated that he is unsure of Eller’s status for Game 4, despite progressing.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin made history once again on Wednesday night, scoring his 70th playoff goal of his career, tying him with Steve Yzerman for 17th-most in NHL history. It also marked his 800th overall goal (playoffs and regular season) of his career.

BRUINS

Goals Leader(s): Jake Debrusk, Taylor Hall, Brad Marchand (3)

Assists Leader(s): Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelyk, David Pastrnak, Craig Smith (2); six other players with one assist

Points Leader(s): Craig Smith (3), eight other players with two points

Goaltender: Veteran Tuukka Rask has manned the net in all three games for the B’s, and has stopped 100 of 108 shots for a Save Percentage of .926, and a Goals-Against Average of 2.27.

Key Notes: The Caps and B’s have now played 12 consecutive one-goal games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including eight overtime contests (both teams have split the extra-frame decisions).

The definition of CLOSE. pic.twitter.com/DiuCyGJlki

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 20, 2021

By Michael Fleetwood