The Boston Bruins dropped a hard-fought preseason game to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, 4-3, in a matchup that exposed some early-season vulnerabilities just days before the regular campaign kicks off. It was a ragged affair at Capital One Arena, where the Bruins' defense, still shuffling lines after a shootout loss to the Flyers earlier in the week, couldn't quite contain Washington's opportunistic attack. Alex Ovechkin, back from a nagging lower-body tweak, wasted no time reminding everyone why he's chasing records, netting his 891st career goal—though that tally came from back in April, his presence alone shifted the game's momentum late.
Indeed, the Capitals struck first through Ryan Chesley, a young defenseman making his case for a roster spot, before Boston clawed back with goals from Morgan Geekie and Patrick Brown in a frantic second period. However, Washington's Hendrix Lapierre and Bogdan Trineyev responded swiftly, capitalizing on turnovers that the Bruins' coaching staff will no doubt dissect come Monday. Jeremy Swayman stood tall in net for Boston, stopping 28 of 32 shots, but a soft deflection off the post sealed the visitors' fate in the third. Moreover, the Bruins' bottom-six forwards looked disjointed, with Alex Steeves logging his fourth exhibition outing but struggling to find chemistry on the wing.
Furthermore, this loss—Boston's second straight in the preseason—highlights deeper concerns for a team aiming to rebound from last year's playoff disappointments. The Capitals, meanwhile, showed poise under new blue-line stability, with Martin Fehérváry debuting smoothly after his own injury layoff. Ovechkin's return isn't just a feel-good story; it's a tactical edge that forces opponents like the Bruins to adjust their slot coverage on the fly. Preseason games like this one, broadcast on NESN and Monumental Sports Network, often foreshadow October realities, and Boston's penalty kill, at 78% through camp, faltered twice here.
Yet, with final cuts looming, coach Jim Montgomery has time to tinker. The Bruins' power play clicked once, converting on a 5-on-3, but consistency remains elusive. As the regular season dawns, one wonders if these tune-ups will sharpen the blade or merely dull it further.