A strong start for the Bruins the first couldn’t carry over into the final two periods as Boston closed out 2024 with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday afternoon at Capital One Arena.
The Bruins got off to a hot start with Justin Brazeau scoring his third goal in four games to give Boston a 1-0 lead just 1:21 into the first period. But the momentum swung in the Capitals’ favor and they went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead on goals by Aliaksei Protas and Jakob Chychrun, the latter of which came on the power play.
The score stayed even in the second period even though the Bruins had two power play chances. Boston went 0-2 in its chances in two weak performances. The Bruins had very little effort after Chychrun’s call Brad Marchandand were defeated 3-0.
The Capitals took the Bruins up the middle of the ice, blocked 19 shots over the first 40 minutes and held Boston without a shot for the final 8:53 of the period.
Needing to start the third with a burst of energy, the Bruins mustered just two shots on net through the first 12 minutes. Despite a push in the final three minutes with the extra skater, the Bruins couldn’t find the back of the net.
Protas added an empty-netter to seal Washington’s 3-1 victory after the Bruins lost a faceoff in their own zone with 16.1 seconds left and fell to 20-15-4 on the season.
Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves in the loss. Their road trip continues Thursday with a game against the New York Rangers.
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