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The Boston Bruins have simply come too far for Game 81 to be the one where everyone loses their marbles about the on-ice results.
And Monday night in Washington saw the Bruins go against a Capitals team that simply needed it more than they did. Sure, the Bruins had a chance to win their second straight Atlantic Division crown with a victory, but they also couldn't lose that ability that night. The Capitals, meanwhile, were fighting for their playoff lives in a way-too-crowded wild card race that could very much come down to a sixth tiebreaker between the Flyers and Capitals should full chaos engulf this race by the end of the final game of the regular season.
The desperation meter played out in Washington's favor, too, as the Capitals took control of their own destiny with a 2-0 victory over the Bruins.
“I think the word ‘struggle’ is a compliment with the way we played tonight,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery offered after the loss. “I thought Washington… their desperation, how well they defended, [and] how well they hung onto pucks in the offensive zone, that’s how we want to play.”
It was an undeniably frustrating night for the Bruins, who were held to just 16 shots in the losing effort, which was their longest output in over 11 years. But Montgomery was also quick to make this anything bigger than a late-season loss, with the second-year B's coach noting that his team has risen to the challenge of late and that his team remains confident.
Bruins finish with just 16 shots in loss. Tied for team's single-game low in post-2005 NHL, and lowest since a 16-shot loss against Pittsburgh back on Mar. 12, 2013.
In fact, the only thing that truly matters about this game is that it came with a loss on the backend, as the Bruins' Brandon Carlo departed from this contest with an undisclosed injury. Montgomery was not asked about Carlo's status by those in attendance following the game, and his situation is certainly worth monitoring as the B's enter Game 82 on Tuesday.
Even with the loss, the Bruins do remain in control of their destiny in the Atlantic Division.
Should the Bruins close out their regular season with a win over the Sens on Tuesday night, they will lock themselves into first place in the division and into a first-round date with the Lightning. A loss of any sort coupled with a Panthers win, meanwhile, would drop the Bruins into third place and set the club for a first-round date with the Maple Leafs.
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