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CAPITALS 3, BRUINS 2
[ Game summary ]
Washington exacted a measure of revenge last night at the MCI Center as the Capitals edged the Bruins, 3-2, ending Boston's modest unbeaten streak at two games.
The teams have a rematch in Boston tonight.
After the Bruins' strong play against Pittsburgh Tuesday, it was especially disappointing to Keenan that his club didn't continue its progress. Instead, it slid backward.
''In my opinion, I think we had half the team competing tonight,'' said Keenan. ''I'm very disappointed in a number of people. It's unfortunate we didn't have the passion from probably a good half of the team. They weren't prepared to pay the price or sacrifice. I guess it's the first time since I've been here that I've said that, but it was true. There's no question about it. It was a complete disappointment.
''It wasn't our top players who were disappointing, it was our role players who didn't give us the support we needed. Our defense wasn't physical enough by any stretch of the imagination.''
One player who was crucial for Boston was goalie Peter Skudra, who made 27 saves.
''He played with a lot of competitiveness,'' said Keenan. ''There's no question about it, he was the difference for us to stay in the game.''
It didn't take long for Washington to spark its offense. . Defenseman Paul Coffey was whistled for high sticking 1 minute 26 seconds into the action, leading to the Capitals' first goal. Center Adam Oates, along the left-wing boards, relayed the puck up to defenseman Sergei Gonchar at the left point. Gonchar skated it to the middle of the point and dished to Peter Bondra at the right point. Bondra one-timed a slapper that beat Skudra for a 1-0 lead at 1:40. It was Bondra's ninth goal of the season.
With Capitals defenseman Brendan Witt in the box for holding, Darren Van Impe pulled Boston even at 9:37. Van Impe, at the top of the left circle, fired a shot past goalie Olaf Kolzig (21 saves) to make it 1-1.
Van Impe later was forced to leave the game, missing the third period with what Keenan said was a strained knee.
The second period was all Capitals as the home team held the Bruins, who got into penalty trouble, to two shots. It didn't help that Boston was without the services of Jason Allison for the first seven minutes after the Bruins captain and Washington forward Steve Konowalchuk engaged in fisticuffs at the end of the first, resulting in Allison being assessed five minutes for fighting and two minutes for high sticking. Allison, who is a fierce fighter when challenged, doesn't go that route very often. He had 20 penalty minutes in 37 games last season.
Forward Ulf Dahlen gave the Capitals the lead at 3:05 with his first of two goals. Dahlen skated right to left around the net with Shawn Bates chasing him. Then he reversed direction. He tried a wraparound that Skudra stopped with his left pad. But Dahlen got his own rebound and buried it for a 2-1 lead.
The Bruins pulled even again on a shorthanded goal at 5:19 of the third. With defenseman Jarno Kultanen off for holding, right wing Andrei Kovalenko raced down the slot with the puck, beating Kolzig with a forehander for his ninth goal of the year.
That good fortune lasted just 30 seconds though as the Capitals cashed in on the power play with the winner at 5:49. Defenseman Dmitri Mironov gave the puck to defenseman Calle Johansson at the right point. Johansson's blast was tipped in by Dahlen in front.
Forward Brian Rolston said he thought he was among those who didn't have a good night. ''I didn't think we played the strongest game,'' said Rolston. ''I can certainly say I wasn't at my best. You have to take responsibility because we lost. We could've played better. Everybody in this locker room could've played better. I think Washington played pretty well but our effort wasn't there tonight.''
Keenan said his club will get back to work tonight and try to shake off the loss. ''You appeal to their sense of team,'' he said. ''Whether they want to be a part of this team or they don't want to be a part of this team. It's up to them either to demonstrate it or not.''
This story ran on page G1 of the Boston Globe on 12/2/2000.
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ASHINGTON - Last month, after the Bruins brought in Mike Keenan as their coach, the club's first game was against the Washington Capitals at the FleetCenter. As is nearly always the case, Boston's players were running on adrenaline and the Capitals wound up buried in the fallout that night.