Ovechkin and the Capitals make the NHL (somewhat) interesting

Last night's game stood out like a sore thumb on the schedule as it matched up the NHL's highest-scoring team (the Washington Capitals) vs. the lowest-scoring team (your Boston Bruins).

The action was entirely predictable as the B's (23-22-9) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period but gave up three third period goals to lose 4-1 at the TD Garden.

The top team in the Eastern Conference and I'd argue the best in the league, Washington (38-12-6) won its franchise-best eleventh game in a row while the hapless Bruins stumbled to their eighth straight defeat.

David Krejci gave Boston the early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal, his 10th of the season, 6:58 into the game from Marc Savard and Dennis Wideman.

Former Bruin Mike Knuble scored his 19th goal (which would make him the team leader for the Bruins) in the second period before Washington's third period finale.

Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon (outstanding name) both scored in the third before Alexander Ovechkin, the two-time reigning MVP, added an empty-netter.

The Capitals' biggest issue is goaltending but the Bruins made Jose Theodore (41 saves) look like Martin Brodeur at the top of his game.

Absolutely everything is going wrong for Boston at this point and injuries are no longer an excuse as Savard, Marco Sturm, Steve Begin and Byron Bitz are all back in the lineup.

Between now and the trade deadline (and keep in mind during the Olympics there's a roster freeze), the Bruins' front office will have to consider whether to make a big move (Ilya Kovalchuk) by dealing some players and draft picks (which they have an abundance of), fire head coach Claude Julien (the wrong call) or just sit and watch the team further implode, if that's even possible.

They host the Canadiens tomorrow night, that bitter rivalry will hopefully breath some life into this lifeless franchise.

Opening Night Flop

When the Bruins Stanley Cup champions DVD comes out next June, it's doubtful that it will feature any footage from last night's pathetic Opening Night.

Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals came in and thoroughly dominated the Bruins 4-1 before a sold-out TD Garden (yes the fucking name changed for the 100th time in the last calendar year).

The loss wasn't surprising since if you'll recall last season, the Caps absolutely owned the Black and Gold, going unbeaten in four games against them (two losses which I saw in person).

Funny thing about the Bruins this season is that they actually have some hype around the city and New England in general, not to mention nationally. Both Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine (where I get all the hockey info. I need) predict that the B's will win the Stanley Cup this season.

Who cares? Nobody but lazy sportswriters and low-life fans.

Until further notice, Pittsburgh and Washington in the Eastern Conference are better than the B's.

After a fast-paced first period, Washington jumped on top with a power play goal from Brooks Laich. Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin assisted on the goal with 2:45 left in the first period.

Ovechkin showed off his crazy Russian moves in the second period when he smoked a snap/wrist shot past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30 saves). Alexander Semin and Backstrom assisted on that tally.

Boston's fate was sealed at the end of the second period as captain Zdeno Chara took a stupid cross check penalty after going after Ovechkin. Mark Recchi had been leveled by Ovie and Chara took exception.

16 seconds into the third period, on the power play, Washington cashed in again as Laich scored another power play marker from Backstrom and Semin.

A minutes and 41 seconds later Ovechkin scored off a one-timer from Tom Poti (and Laich).

Patrice Bergeron gave the home crowd something to cheer about as he scored a goal from Steve Begin (newly acquired scrub from the Canadiens) and Mark Stuart.

The only remaining thing that was slightly noteworthy was a fight between Shawn Thornton and Capitals tough guy John Erskine.

Washington goalie Jose Theodore only had to make 19 saves in the win.

Boston and their fans can act like this game never happened by showing up to play tomorrow night against the Hurricanes.

Alexander Ovechkin is not impressed

It was bound to happen sooner or later, the Boston Bruins after all cannot win every game (like the Celtics).

The B's (19-5-4) fell 3-1 to the Washington Capitals (16-10-3) last night at the Verizon Center in D.C.

Washington snapped the Bruins' five-game winning streak and truth be told, Boston didn't play that bad.

Caps goalie Brent Johnson (8-4-2) made 33 saves and outplayed Boston goaltender Manny Fernandez (23 saves).

Washington jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Nicklas Backstrom (9th goal of the season) scored on the power-play, 3:53 into the game (from Alexander Ovechkin and Viktor Kozlov).

Alexandre Giroux (1st of the season) doubled the lead at 4:52 in the second with a goal from Kozlov and Tom Poti.

The B's finally got on the board with 35 seconds left in the second. Just like the game before, Phil Kessel found Milan Lucic (his 8th of the season) parked right in front of the net for an easy one-timer. Zdeno Chara also assisted on the goal.

Ovechkin (15th) iced it with an empty-net goal with 52 seconds left in the contest. Alexander Semin-Washington's other superstar and Backstrom assisted.

The B's head to Atlanta tomorrow night to face the Thrashers, one of the worst teams the NHL has to offer. Atlanta will then come to Boston on Saturday night. Needless to say, Boston should take both of those games.