Don't let the final score fool you, tonight's affair between the Boston Bruins and visiting Washington Capitals was about as listless as a hockey game can be for the opening 56 minutes plus. But with a chance to clinch a playoff berth on the edge of their blades, needing just two points to solidify their spot among the East's top eight, the Bruins came out fast and dangerous in the first period.

Unfortunately for Boston, so did Washington's Jason Chimera.

Absolutely pasting B's defensemen Adam McQuaid as he turned behind the net, charging him into the boards behind Tim Thomas, the (livid) 32-year-old Chimera was given the gate with a game misconduct, putting Boston on the power-play for a good five minutes.

Held at bay by Washington's goaltending tandem of Tomas Vokoun (who'd leave with 35 seconds left on the kill with an injury) and Michal Neuvirth, it was a seven-shot first that'd leave the Bruins with nothing on the board.

Yet, it wasn't a lack of trying that kept the Bruins off the score-sheet, attempting 25 shots in the first frame, but rather the Caps' ability to clog the shooting lanes. "It was great," Washington head coach Dale Hunter said about his club's ability to weather the first period storm. "Both goalies had to be very good in the first because of the five-minute major, and penalty killers were blocking shots."

As a sleepy second period would play out in Boston with the Black-and-Gold and Caps combining for 15 shots, Washington would strike with two goals separated by just 115 seconds to establish a lead that seemed insurmountable for a lethargic Boston club.

Forcing fans to head for the exits (yes, really) when Dennis Wideman's marker got insurance from Marcus Johansson's tally, it was a late third period effort from Boston's blue-line that brought a sellout crowd to their feet in the Hub.

Cutting the deficit to one when Zdeno Chara's wrister got redirected by David Krejci for his 21st goal of the campaign, leaving him just one away from matching his career-high 22 tallies set back in 2008-09, the Bruins struck again, this time off the stick of Andrew Ference. Firing it on net and through Neuvirth for his first goal since Feb. 15, the eco-friendly equalizer from No. 21 was enough to propel the Bruins towards overtime, giving them at least one of the two points they need(ed) to clinch.

But not even an overtime frame of offensive prowess from Johnny Boychuk could guide the Bruins to the elusive extra point, as shootout tallies from Matt Hendricks, Alexander Semin, and Brooks Laich did the job for Hunter's Caps.

"[Assistant Coach] Dean Evason said he is a veteran guy," Hunter told reporters when asked about his decision to go with the gritty Laich in the shootout. "'He can do it under pressure.'"

Hanging on to the crucial second point that nearly escaped their grasps, Boston couldn't hang their hats on a night that very well should have ended with zero points on the board for the Bruins.

"I liked the way we came back," B's center David Krejci, who finished the night with two points, said after the overtime loss. "We kind of dug ourselves a hole in the third period, but we battled through it and came back but too bad we didn’t get it done. We just try to take the positive out of this game and move on."

Corvo returns to lineup

Taking in the sights and sounds of NHL action from the press-box since a disaster of a game against the Florida Panthers, the 34-year-old Joe Corvo returned to the Boston lineup tonight thanks to an infection to the leg of Dennis Seidenberg.

Skating in 20:03 minutes of time-on-ice, and finishing with an even rating, Corvo talked about his hiatus from game-action.

"Nobody likes to not be able to contribute to the team and just practice every day and not get to play in games," he admitted after the game. "I’m just trying to battle harder and just boxing guys out. Just battles in the corner, one-on-one, trying to get better at that."

Given the loss of McQuaid, it appears that Corvo will continue to see ice-time if Boston is without No. 54 for the foreseeable future.

Ty's Take: Chimera on McQuaid -- Both parties to blame

Let me preface this by saying that Jason Chimera is not a dirty player, and I can confidently say the same after Chimera's 659th game in the National Hockey League. Leveling McQuaid late in the first period with a clear-cut charge, while the veteran winger undoubtedly charged, the Bruins knew that there was little to no intent.

Hell, if anything, this one was caused by an awkward body movement by the Boston defensemen factored in with a charge that honestly wouldn't have been anywhere close to bad if he didn't turn his back.

"If the guy turned at the last second, it’s tough on the refs, I know that," Hunter said, adding, "But it’s one of those things that, it’s tough for Chimmer to stop."

With Julien adding that his player 'put himself in a vulnerable position', it's clear that Chimera isn't a monster cheapshot artist. Was it a charge? Absolutely, I mean goodness, look at the number of strides Chimera takes.

But did McQuaid put himself in a weird spot? Definitely. As fo the damage, well, the B's will know more about that one tomorrow.

"He suffered a cut over the eyebrow, and, you know, he wasn’t feeling quite right," Julien told the media after the game. "The doctors didn’t want to take a chance of sending him back. So we’ll probably learn more the following day, find out a little more about it."

This isn't the first head injury for McQuaid this year.

By the numbers

4-for-41 - The Bruins' power-play in their last 41 attempts. Yikes.

0-2-1 - The Bruins' record this year when tied 0-0 after two periods. The overtime loss (obviously) came tonight and the regulation losses to Colorado (Oct.) and the Florida Panthers (Dec.) make up the other two.

Up next

The Bruins head to New York for a weekend getaway that'll see them play the New York Islanders on Saturday followed by a Sunday night affair in Manhattan against the Rangers. Both games will wrap up the season series with the two clubs, as Boston's 2-1-0 against the Isles this season and 0-2-1 against the Rangers.

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