The Boston Bruins earned a gritty bounce-back win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.
David Pastrnak scored twice, Jake DeBrusk notched a go-ahead goal, and Charlie McAvoy put home the game-winner to seal a hard-fought 4-3 victory at TD Garden. It wasn't all good news, however, as forwards Anton Blidh and Brad Marchand were forced out of the game with upper-body injuries.
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Here are three takeaways from the Bruins' win, which brings them to 23-12-2 on the season. They'll take the ice at TD Garden again Saturday when they face off against the Winnipeg Jets.
Bruins refuse to back down
This was one of Boston's most impressive wins of the season as every time they were punched in the mouth, they punched back. After Blidh was hit hard by Tom Wilson, McAvoy responded with an equally big hit on Trevor van Riemsdyk. Shortly after Marchand was injured on a hit by Garnet Hathaway, Pastrnak scored his second goal of the night.
The Capitals didn't make it easy on the B's. They answered each of Boston's goals with one of their own, but McAvoy had the final word as he put home the game-winner with 45 seconds left in the third period.
Boston's defense also stepped up in this one after an awful loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Washington finished with a season-low 17 shots on goal.
Tom Wilson still public enemy No. 1 in Boston
Boston Bruins
It didn't take long for Wilson to draw the ire of the fans at TD Garden. The Capitals winger, who's had his fair share of questionable hits over the years, made his presence felt in the first period with a giant hit on Blidh.
That hit prompted some loud "f--- Tom Wilson" chants, but it's pretty clear that as brutal as it looked, it was a clean hit. Unfortunately for Wilson, he hasn't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt.
Blidh did not return to the game due to an upper-body injury.
Brad Marchand's injury puts a damper on B's win
As exciting of a victory it was for Boston, the focus afterward quickly shifted to the health of star winger Brad Marchand.
Marchand left during the second period after taking a hit from Caps forward Garnet Hathaway. He appeared to injure his right shoulder after banging it against the boards. He didn't return to the game due to what the team officially declared an upper-body injury.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was none too pleased with the way Marchand went down.
"You hate to see March go down on a cheap hit like that," he said during his postgame press conference.
The Bruins will hope to have Marchand back sooner rather than later as the veteran forward has been on a tear this season. Through 32 games, Marchand has tallied 20 goals and 23 assists.