Marco Sturm earned his first NHL win as head coach, Jeremy Swayman looked sharp and aggressive, Elias Lindholm brought edge alongside David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie, and Boston’s special teams won the leverage moments. Full box and timeline via NHL Gamecenter.
Three Things That Defined the Night
1) Swayman set the tone. This was the composed, angle-eating Swayman Boston needed. He denied 35 of 36 while the PK went 5-for-5 (including a 5-on-3). The Capitals outshot Boston 36–21, but the Bruins’ goalie control erased second looks and stabilized the game during the penalty run. See the recap and box details via Reuters and ESPN.
2) Lindholm’s edge (and fit) popped. Lindholm posted a goal and an assist, threw his weight around, and looked immediately comfortable with Pastrnak (1G, 2A) and Geekie (ENG). The go-ahead was a power-play backhand 38 seconds after Tom Wilson tied it—an immediate, veteran response that flipped the building. Highlights and timing via NHL.com recap and the PPG video.
3) Bench energy & special teams carried leverage minutes. Multiple consecutive kills galvanized the group (TNT’s Darren Pang even flagged it on air). Washington went 0-for-5 on the PP; Boston’s PP produced the winner. More angles from on-site coverage: Washington Post noted the swing right after Wilson’s equalizer.
Key Plays
| Moment | Period | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Swayman 5-on-3 sequence | Late 2nd | Boston’s PK bent but didn’t break; Swayman’s reads and rebound control preserved a scoreless stretch and kept belief high on the bench. |
| David Pastrnak opens the scoring — Pastrnak | 3rd | Classic star-power strike that broke a tight game; changed Washington’s risk profile and opened lanes for Boston. |
| Tom Wilson equalizer — Wilson | 3rd | Brief gut-check for Boston; crowd and Caps surged—set the stage for an immediate response test. |
| Elias Lindholm PPG (38 seconds later) — Lindholm | 3rd | Momentum kill. Quick, composed finish on the man-advantage restored the lead and deflated Washington’s push. |
| Morgan Geekie empty-netter — Geekie | Final minute | Sealed the blueprint: defend hard, win specials, let the goalie close the door. |
Where It Wasn’t Pretty (and Why That’s Fine)
At five-on-five, Boston didn’t drive a ton—exits were messy and they finished with 21 shots. The discipline line (five minors) is flirting with danger. But if the recipe is goaltending + PK + star power while Sturm’s five-on-five structure settles in, there’s a path to banking points anyway. Game flow and numbers via Reuters and ESPN.
Angles You Might Be Overlooking
- Sturm’s milestone context. This was Sturm’s first game and first win behind Boston’s bench—an identity note for a coach who’s preached detail and hardness since June. Pre-game feature: NHL.com sit-down.
- Ovechkin backdrop. The opener arrived with ceremony for Alex Ovechkin and a season-arc storyline; Boston spoiled the stage. More from the Washington Post.
- Logan Thompson’s first Caps start. Thompson (18 saves) was fine but outdueled; goaltending may be a weekly separator if Boston’s 5-on-5 shot share lags early. Box and recap via ESPN/AP.
- Broadcast note. TNT crew: Brendan Burke with analyst Darren Pang; the “bench galvanized” observation tracked with how the game turned during the PK stretch.
Bottom line: It won’t always be art, and that’s okay. If Swayman stays this dialed, Lindholm keeps that bite, and the PK remains clean, Boston can grind out wins while the five-on-five game matures under Sturm.
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