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Drop Kicked

April 26, 2012, 7:32 AM ET [599 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
On a team loaded with super novas and game-changers like Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom and Green, Braden Holtby and Joel Ward will live on forever in Capitals' lore as the two men who applied the kill shot to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of their first round match-up. Winning on the road in a hostile barn Boston makes the feat all the more impressive.


It was the first time in NHL history that a playoff series had seven games determined by one goal. Four of the games went to overtime, and two others were decided with less than two minutes left in regulation.

Rookie Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots for Washington in Game 7. Matt Hendricks scored the Capitals' other goal. Tyler Seguin scored for the Bruins.

The kids was sensational in round one, allowing only 15 goals againt in 7 games. He made 248 saves. His .940 save % and 2.00 GAA are outsanding achievements against the defending Stanley Cup champs.

Holtby may well be this season's version of Cam ward from 2006. The rookie who took his team al the way. Lets not get ahead of ourselves.... yet.


North York native, Ward, was activated off the scratched list, and now he's a hero in Washinton. From zero to hero in 2:57 of OT. Great story.



Holtby showed the poise and courage of a ten-year-seasoned veteran in this series. Holtby was very impressive. He stood up to the the physicality and fire power of the Bruins, and he emerged the victor in Game 7.

So much fo the talk about Vokoun and Neuvirth being the #1 goalies in Washington.

Plain and simple: the rookie was better than the old man, Tim Thomas.





thanks, capitals.com


Handshake Alley


thanks, capitals.com


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I watched this series closely and couldn't help but be reminded of how much the Bruins were mising two key pieces to last year's Stanley Cup winning team:

Nathan Horton and Mark Recchi. Last Spring, when the Bruins needed a hero, they turned to Horton who scored three OT GWGs en route to the Cup win. This Spring Horton didn't play due to concussion complications. Recchi added the type of inspirational leadership and scoring for the Bruins last season that I feel was missing from this year's Bruins team.

If you want to go one step further, I'd say that Tim Thomas was better in the pipes last Spring than he was in the round one loss to Washington. Thomas showed glimpses of his 2011 form in this series by making key stops at critical times. His team, devoid of goal scoring for whatever reason, needed him to steal a game or two.

When Rich Peverley ( 3G, 2A) and Andrew Ference ( 1G, 3A) are your leading scorers against the Caps, you've got problems.

Veteran journeyman Brian Rolston played well fr the Bruins. He scored and added two assists.

Where were Krejci (3 pts), Seguin (3 pts), Lucic (3 pts), Bergeron (2 pts), Marchand (2 pts), and Campbell ( 2 pts) ?


The Bruins could not score against a hot, rookie goalie. Season over.

Milan Lucic

thanks, bruins.com


Z Chara

thanks, bruins.com


***

What now will become of Tim Thomas and his future in Boston?

Thomas is 38 years old. His back up, Tuuka Rask, 25 years of age is an RFA.

Thomas had a no movement clause that expires this Summer.

Hmmmmm.....


thanks, csnne.com


I think Thomas will be traded this Summer to one of Chicago, Tampa, Toronto, NY Islanders, Edmonton.

Which ever team doesn't get Roberto Luongo will make a play for Thomas. He's still got rubber left on his tires and his contract will be very cap-friendly. Besides, he may be raedy to move on from Boston and start anew elsewhere.



***

It was weird, and perhaps fitting, to see the Bruins lose a Game 7 and a series on a goalie interference controversy.
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