IT'S A [neutral zone] TRAP!: Bruins/Caps Stats Through 4 Games

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Through 4 games, the Bruins and Capitals are tied with 2 wins apiece. A quick recap:

Game 1: Bruins 1, Caps 0 (OT)
Game 2: Bruins 2, Caps 1 (2OT)
Game 3: Bruins 4, Caps 3
Game 4: Bruins 1, Caps 2

The key to winning games, based on basic stats, is to take fewer penalties, win more faceoffs, and outhit the opponent, as the team that has done all those things in each game has won. The pattern for Boston has gone Win-Loss-Win-Loss. Every game has been a 1-goal game, with 2 being decided in overtime. The Bruins have scored only 1 goal in 2 games. Each team has 1 win at home and 1 win on the road.

A quick look at the goals of each game:

Game 1

OT: Chris Kelly (Pouliot, Rolston)

Game 2

2nd: Troy Brouwer (Ovechkin, Alzner)
3rd: Benoit Pouliot (Rolston, Kelly)
2OT: Nicklas Backstrom (Johansson)

Game 3

1st: PPG Alexander Semin (Laich, Ovechkin)
2nd: Rich Peverley (Chara, Ference)
2nd: Alex Ovechkin (Laich, Alzner)
2nd: Daniel Paille (Zanon, Campbell)
3rd: Brian Rolston (Kelly, Chara)
3rd: Brooks Laich (Backstrom, Green)
3rd: Zdeno Chara (Bergeron, Seidenberg)

Game 4

1st: Marcus Johansson (Laich)
1st: Rich Peverley (Campbell)
2nd: PPG Alexander Semin (Aucoin, Ovechkin)

Each team has scored a total of 7 goals. Washington has 2 power play goals (both by Semin) and Boston has none. Washington has scored 1st in every game excepet for game 1, in which only 1 goal was scored. By period:

3 goals have been scored in the 1st (2 by Washington, 1 by Boston)
5 goals in the 2nd (3 by Washington, 2 by Boston)
4 in the 3rd period (3 by Boston, 1 by Washington)
1 in overtime and 1 in double overtime.

The 3rd period is the only period the Bruins have outscored Washington, and they have done so with a 2-goal margin total through 4 games, which is more than the difference in any other period. The only time a team has scored two goals in a row in the same game was in game 3 when Paille scored in the 2nd and Rolston in the 3rd.

Each team has 6 different goal scorers and 1 player with 2 goals. In goal scorers, 6 players have scored for Washington (Brouwer, Backstrom, Semin [2], Ovechkin, Laich, Johansson). 6 have also scored for Boston (Chara, Rolston, Kelly, Pouliot, Peverley [2], Paille).

Penalties, including matching minors and majors, have been even at 16 each. Boston has taken 6 in the 1st, 6 in the 2nd, and 4 in the 3rd while Washington has taken 5 in the 1st, 6 in the 2nd, and 5 in the 3rd.

Goaltenders

Tim Thomas has played a total of 263:02 through 4 games, with 7 total goals against, 109 total shots against, 102 total saves, 1 shutout, a save percentage of .936% and a GAA of 1.60.

Braden Holtby has played 263:05 through 4 games, with 7 goals against, 148 total shots against, 141 total saves, .953 save% and a 1.60 GAA.

Holtby's save percentage is higher than Thomas', although he has faced a great deal more shots, although not necessarily quality shots. They have the game GAA.

Notable Stats