After two days off, the Bruins should be well-rested and prepared for the Washington Capitals when they play at Capital One Arena on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
They should be ready.
The last time the B’s played the Caps was on February 10 at the Garden, and it wasn't a close match. The Caps defeated the B’s 3-0, stopping a six-game losing streak for them, which helped Washington move closer to a playoff spot.
“They made us look really bad on our home ice,” coach Jim Montgomery informed reporters in Washington. “We learned that they are a team that's really focused on defense. They play correctly, so we need to be prepared tonight if we want to have a chance at success.”
The B’s will need to match the Caps’ urgency, especially after Washington's loss in Toronto on Thursday. The Caps are in a playoff spot, but it's not a secure one. They are currently in the second wildcard spot, with a two-point edge over the Red Wings with a game in hand. They are also close to catching up to the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing Philadelphia by a point with two games in hand.
After the B’s 3-1 loss in Tampa on Wednesday, Montgomery is making changes to his lineup as anticipated. Kevin Shattenkirk will replace Parker Wotherspoon on defense and Jakub Lauko will take the place of James van Riemsdyk up front.
Jeremy Swayman, who had a few uncertain moments early in the game against Florida but performed well toward the end in securing the win on Tuesday, will be back in goal.
