By Steve Ginsburg
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) – The Boston Bruins edged the
Washington Capitals 4-3 on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in their
Eastern Conference quarter-final series and recover the home-ice
advantage.
Zdeno Chara scored the game winner when he fired a long
slapshot that deflected off Washington defenseman Roman Hamrlik
and past rookie netminder Braden Holtby with 1:53 left in
regulation.
Game Four of the best-of-seven series is on Thursday, also
at the Verizon Center in Washington. The teams split the first
two games of the series, each needing overtime to win.
Brian Rolston poked in a rebound past Holtby at the start of
the final period to give the Bruins their first lead of the
night, 3-2, and stun the red-clad, capacity crowd.
But Washington’s Brooks Laich countered with a breakaway
goal with six minutes left, the veteran center taking advantage
of Boston goalie Tim Thomas falling to the ice too early.
Thomas saved 29 shots, while Holtby turned aside 25 in the
hard-checking affair that had its share of nasty shots by both
teams.
(Reporting By Steve Ginsburg; editing by Patrick Johnston)
