The Boston Bruins open the regular season tonight against Alex Ovechkin and everyone's favorite bandwagon team the Washington Capitals. Last season all four games between the two teams were decided by one goal, with two of the games going to overtime (Bruins technically won both OT games... as Dennis Wideman scored the game winning goal once... for the Capitals). Boston come out on the Canadiens short end, going 1-2-1. Washington outscored Boston 11 to 8.
The only two non bandwagon fans the Capitals have will know that the Boston Bruins are ahead in the all-time series (Boston has 74 wins, 38 losses, 21 ties and 3 overtime losses). The Bruins have outscored the Capitals 467 to 369 all time.
The key match up tonight, as it usually is any time a team faces the Capitals, is Ovechkin vs the Boston D.
Newcomers Derek Morris and Matt Hunwick will have to learn to keep an eye on Ovechkin as he usually hangs out around the blueline in the defensive zone, watching as his team tries to fend off the opposition and hoping for a pass to spring him on a breakaway. They also have to learn quick that you cannot put your stick near Ovechkin's skates, as he will take an Olympic grade dive to the ice and hold his face like he was shot... even though the stick never went anywhere near his face.
If the pre-season is any indication this year's Bruins team will be even less likely to put up with Ovechkin's cheap shots than last year. Ovechkin may be the face of the league, but he really just happens to be a cowardly diver who takes the Kronwallian approach to delivering a hit, but can rack up points like no other. Of course, when you say "screw you" to your team and take 20 shots a night, you're bound to rack up goals.
The game will also be a good test for the "better on the forecheck, faster" Boston Bruins. The speed and skill on the Capitals should put Boston's puck moving capabilities to the test and show whether or not they can make it past the neutral zone (The Carolina Whalers exposed this weakness HUGE last season).
In some potentially good news for the Boston Bruins, center David Krejci is expected to be in the line-up tonight. If Krejci can shake off the rust early and be the magician around the net he was last season, half of of the BangWagon Caps fans should be tuned out by the second period.
The last time the Bruins opened the season against the Capitals was on October 8, 1987 back when the Caps had fans that could name people on the roster past the first line. The Bruins won that game 4-3.
Should be a great game, but really we're just super excited to see the puck drop on another season!
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