Bruins lose 5-3 to Capitals

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins makes a save against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on January 24, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Another game where the Bruins didn't put in a full 60-minute effort equals another loss. Tuesday night the Washington Capitals without Alex Ovechkin beat the Bruins 5-3. This was the first meeting this season between the Bruins and Capitals. Nathan Horton was out obviously, with a mild concussion, and Zach Hamill was back in the lineup. Will Hamill every score his 1st NHL goal? Tuukka Rask played in net against Tomas Vokoun.

In the first period, Rich Peverley scored his 8th goal of the season, as he attempted a pass to Milan Lucic but Karl Alzner, while on the ice, swung his stick on the ice and knocked the puck past Vokoun.

In the second period, Capitals Cody Eakin scored to tie the game 1-1. Only 41 seconds later, Mathieu Perreault scored, making it 2-1 Capitals. Later, Tyler Seguin stole a pass in the Capitals d-zone, went in and backhanded a shot that got by Vokoun, tying it 2-2. It was a great individual play and great defensive play stealing the pass. He's learning from Bergeron. A little later, Mathieu Perreault scored again for the Capitals, making it 3-2 Capitals. Later, Brad Marchand scored his 17th goal of the season, a power-play goal to tie the game 3-3.

In the third period, Mathieu Perreault would score again getting himself a hat trick, 4-3 Capitals lead. With Rask pulled, Dennis Wideman scored an empty net to finish off the Bruins 5-3.

Game notes
The Bruins led the game in shots 32-22. The Capitals led the game in hits 30-16 and blocked shots 21-15. Both teams had 28 faceoff wins.

The Bruins went 1-for-2 on the power-play while the Capitals went 0-for-1.

Tuukka Rask made 18 saves on 22 shots. Rask is now 11-5-2 with a 1.82 GAA and a .938 save percentage this season.

David Krejci blocked a shot in the first period and after that he didn't seem to be himself. Hopefully he is ok by the next game. Krejci was -2 and went 1-9 in the faceoff circle tonight.

Daniel Paille and Dennis Seidenberg led the Bruins in shots with 5 apiece.

Adam McQuaid led the Bruins with 4 blocked shots.

Zdeno Chara led the Bruins in hits with 5.

Onto the next one
This was the last game for the Bruins before the NHL All-Star break. The Bruins won't play again until Tuesday, January 31st against the Ottawa Senators in Boston at 7pm ET. The Bruins are now 31-14-2 with 64 points (1st in Northeast Division and 2nd place in the Eastern Conference).