Game Re-Caps

Capitals Fall to Bruins, 5-2, in Final 2022-23 Road Game; Nick Jensen & Tom Wilson Score; Charlie Lindgren Exits With Injury

By Della Young·
Photo: @Capitals/Twitter

The Washington Capitals fell to the Boston Bruins by a score of 5-2 Tuesday night at TD Garden in their final 2022-23 season road game. The loss dropped the Capitals’ record to 35-37-9 and 79 points on the season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 33 saves before leaving with an injury in the third period. Darcy Kuemper made six remaining saves in the loss.

Lines & Pairs

Conor Sheary – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano – Nicklas Backstrom – Craig Smith
Joe Snively – Evgeny Kuznetsov — Henrik Borgstrom
Beck Malenstyn – Aliaksei Protas – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin – Alex Alexeyev

Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper

Injuries: Left-wing Carl Hagelin (hip), right-wing Connor Brown (ACL), right-wing T.J. Oshie (upper-body), defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk (upper-body), left wing Anthony Mantha (lower-body), captain Alex Ovechkin (upper-body), and center Nic Dowd

Transactions: The Capitals recalled forward Henrik Borgstrom from the AHL’s Hershey Bears Tuesday afternoon, and he made his team debut against the Bruins.

First Period

No goals were scored in the first twenty minutes.

Quick Stats

SOG: 12-7 Bruins

Face-Off Win %: 71% (Bruins), 29% (Capitals)

Hits: 10-10

Second Period

Left-wing Brad Marchand would open the scoring on a power play to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead 8:32 into the middle frame.

Boston’s lead would be extended to 2-0 with a goal from left-wing Tyler Bertuzzi on another man advantage at the 14:20 mark.

Sixty-seven seconds later, Jensen (5) would put the Capitals on the board, making it a 2-1 game.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 25-16 Bruins

Face-Off Win %: 69% (Bruins), 31% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 17-16 Capitals

Third Period

At the 4:13 mark, Bruins’ left-wing Tomas Nosek gave the home team a 3-1 lead.

With 14:39 left, Lindgren exited the game after an awkward save, and Kuemper entered the net.

Wilson (12) would put Washington back within one, 3-2, at the 7:13 mark on a power play. Strome (41) and Carlson (20) assisted.

Thirty-six seconds later, former Capital right-wing Garnet Hathaway would give the Bruins a 4-2 lead.

Over in Boston’s net, netminder Linus Ullmark was replaced with Jeremy Swayman after looking “uncomfortable,” according to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa.

Bruins’ left-wing Jake DeBrusk would make it a 5-2 final game late in the period.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 44-27 Bruins

Face-Off Win %: 70% (Bruins), 30% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 25-20 Capitals

Notes Through the Game

  • With the goal, Jensen ties his single-season career high in goals (2021-22: 5g; 2016-17: 5g).
  • This season, Jensen has set career highs in assists (23) and points (28).
  • Wilson extends his goal and point streaks to three games (3g, 2a).
  • Strome extends his point streak to five games (5g, 2a). It marks Strome’s second point streak of at least five games this season (6 games, 3/4/23-3/15/23: 3g-7a–10p).
  • Carlson has reached the 20-assist mark for the 12th time in his career and the 10-straight season.

The Capitals close out their 2022-23 season by hosting the New Jersey Devils on Thursday at Capital One Arena. NBC Sports Washington will have the coverage beginning at 7 PM ET.

By Della Young