As we saw last season, things can get wild in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as regular season success doesn’t always translate to a long postseason run.

However, if things fall into place and the two current top teams in the Eastern Conference meet in the playoffs, Monday’s contest could be a preview of what we are in store for.

Not necessarily the score, but the physical tone that was set in the tilt.

The Bruins entered Monday losers of seven of their last eight, while the Capitals came into Boston with wins in 15 of their last 16 against the defending Eastern Conference Champions.

In a game where the Bruins beat the Capitals on home ice for the first time since March 6, 2014, it was more than a lopsided 7-3 victory for the Bruins.

It was more about going toe-to-toe with a team that has smacked the Bruins around for the last 15 years, and surviving with health in a game that got a little wild towards the end.

Frustrated by a four goal first period by the Bruins, the Capitals ramped up the physical play in the second and third periods.

Some of it clean?

Yes.

Some of it not so clean?

Cassidy won't say one way or another, but he imagines Christmas Eve may be a busy day for the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

“There was a few incidents tonight, I imagine player safety might be a little bit busy. I know if it was a guy like a [Brad] Marchand of the world, they’d be getting looked at, so there was a few spears and some of those,” said Cassidy.

“I don’t want to say it was clean or dirty because I have not looked at it and imagine it will get looked at. They’ll have to judge that accordingly, right?”

With a roster that features big bodies like Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, among others, the Capitals like to throw their bodies around and wear opponents down with a physical game.

A style of play the Bruins saw first hand in the Stanley Cup Final a year ago.

According to Cassidy there’s two ways to beat that style of play. The Bruins used one of those styles perfectly Monday night, earning a big win entering the holiday break.

“They’re a physical team, and there’s two different approaches. You can match them hit for hit or you can use your foot speed and smarts and stay out of the box and try to frustrate them,” added Cassidy. “I think what we did early in the first period. Was probably a smaller lineup for us, so it’s something to think about that way.”

Washington brings a physical game to the table on a nightly basis, but it seemed the Capitals had the physical play turned up to a 10 for last night’s contest.

Could it been frustration of a 4-0 deficit? Or perhaps, knowing that the Bruins are expected to be right there with the Capitals in May drove the capitals to turn the physicality up?

“They started to run around, you can tell they were a little frustrated,” said Marchand who snapped a 12-game scoring drought Monday night.

“When we got up by a few, some of their guys started to run around, kind of what they do. They compete hard, they’re a physical team, a lot of big strong guys that finish their checks. We were ready for that; we knew it was going to happen.”

As fun of a game as it was for the Bruins, they did lose two of their top defensemen as both Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy left the game after big hits by Wilson and TJ Oshie respectively.

Both hits were clean, hard hockey hits with an unfortunate result.

“I could see it developing, but I didn’t see the final hit,” Cassidy said of Oshie’s hit on McAvoy late in the third. “Upper-body for Torey, didn’t return obviously so he’ll get, like everybody, evaluated. Charlie, went and saw him, he seems to be okay but again, until he gets looked at. I think those were the only two, correct?”

I’m for one a fan of physical hockey and furthermore, fighting in the game. I think keeping fighting in the game holds players accountable for their actions.

With that being said, I would have liked the Bruins to do a little more to stick up for their teammates Monday.

Now I’m not talking an eye for an eye, or taking a run at a guy like Ovechkin, no. But when David Pastrnak gets speared in the midsection and then is taking Wilson punches to the mouth, it would have been nice to see someone other than Pastrnak going after Wilson.

“Pasta, he’s a proud guy and he doesn’t back down,” Marchand added. “Good to see him get in there and stick up for himself.”

Sure, the Bruins were not afforded much of an opportunity to hold Wilson accountable for his actions as Wilson’s night ended early with his third period misconduct. And sure, maybe it would have been a different story had Zdeno Chara, (jaw procedure) Kevan Miller, (setback in recovery from knee surgery) or David Backes (scratched) been in the lineup. But regardless, it would have been nice to see someone, anyone come to the aid of Pastrnak.

Putting the physicality aside, it was a win the Bruins desperately needed especially given they’ll be away from the rink until Friday when they travel to Buffalo for a home-and-home set with the Sabres.

“That’s a good team over there,” said Charlie Coyle who scored his 100th career goal in the win. “We were desperate for a win, especially heading into the break like this. We came out of the gate and got right to it early on and kept at it. That’s what happens when you play the right way. I think every little bit helps. It’s fun, it’s fun to score, it’s fun to win games like that against good teams.”

A win against a good team like the Capitals entering the break makes the holidays and time spent with family and friends a little more enjoyable.

Holiday plans Brad?

“Hanging low, enjoying myself with some eggnog,” Marchand said with a smile. “And a little Captain [Morgan].”

Eggnog, Captain Morgan and a nine-point lead in the Atlantic Division.

Sounds like the perfect holiday break to me.

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