How to watch Capitals vs. Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Even in the absence of captain Alex Ovechkin, center Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and goalie Ilya Samsonov, the Capitals (5-0-3) keep rolling, sitting atop the East Division with 13 points.
That’s in part thanks to the play and veteran leadership of Zdeno Chara, who nabbed his first goal for the Capitals in Thursday’s comeback victory over the New York Islanders. The Capitals struggled mightily at the start of the second meeting of the season with the Islanders, conceding three goals in the first period. But they showed great resilience to claw back with the help of a blistering slap shot from their 43-year-old defenseman point.
Chara will see across some familiar faces Saturday when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins in Capital One Arena. He spent the previous 14 seasons in Boston, and when it seemed like his time on the ice was going to come to a close, he shocked the hockey world by signing a one-year deal with Washington.
It’s been strange seeing him in the sweater of a team other than the Bruins, but it’ll be even more disorienting to watch him compete against the team he captained for so many years. Nonetheless, he and the Caps are keen to keep this run of form going in the first leg of their double header against the Bruins.
Here's everything you need to know about the game.
CAPITALS VS. BRUINS HOW TO WATCH
What: Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
When: Saturday, January 30, 2021, at 7 p.m. ET
TV Channel: Capitals vs. Bruins will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington (NBC Sports channel finder)
Live Stream: You can live stream Capitals vs. Bruins on NBC Sports Washington's live stream page and on the MyTeams app.
CAPITALS VS. BRUINS TV SCHEDULE
6:00 PM: Capitals Pregame Live (LIVE)7:00 PM: Capitals vs. Bruins (LIVE)9:30 PM: Capitals Postgame Live (LIVE)
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CAPITALS VS. BRUINS WHAT TO WATCH
- The Capitals have missed their Russian stars through the previous four games after they were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absence list. As of Friday, they are considered day-to-day and it remains to be seen whether they’ll be available to skate against the Bruins on Saturday night. Justin Schultz is day to day after Thursday’s 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders, when he took a puck to the face.
- The Caps have taken a point from each of their 8 games so far and Boston (5-1-1) are hot on their heels with a game in hand in the East Division standings. They’ll look to exploit a depleted Capitals lineup and add a fifth straight win to their record with their Rocket Richard Trophy winner David Pastrnak reportedly ready to make his season debut return after undergoing offseason hip surgery.
- The reunion between Chara and his former teammates makes this deep-seated rivalry even more exciting. Ahead of their matchup, Chara has lauded his former teammates and they have shown tremendous respect for their former captain. But at the end of the day, it’s hockey and the Bruins know better than most that this giant isn't gentle.
CAPITALS VS. SABRES PLAYERS TO WATCH
Capitals: Nick Jensen, D (5 games, 4 blocks, 1 assist): If Justin Schultz is unavailable, Peter Laviolette could call on right defenseman Nick Jensen who has been a healthy scratch the last three games. Laviolette paired Chara and Jensen to start the season and was impressed by the duo. If he gets the nod, he’ll look to make his case for more ice time.
Bruins: Patrice Bergeron, C (7 games, 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points): The Bruins captain found the net twice in their 4-1 victory over the Penguins, and in his 10th season alongside left winger Brad Marchand, the chemistry between the two has proven deadly on the offensive end this year with the two combining for 18 points this season. The Bruins will rely on his play, but also his leadership when they face their toughest opponent yet.
