After two off days, the Bruins should be rested and ready for the Washington Capitals when the two teams clash at Capital One Arena on Saturday night (7 p.m.)
They’d better be.
The last time the B’s faced the Caps, it was back on February 10 at the Garden – and it wasn’t much of a contest. The Caps blanked the B’s, 3-0, to end what was a six-game losing streak for them, helping Washington to take the first baby step toward climbing into a playoff spot.
“They embarrassed us on our home ice,” coach Jim Montgomery told reporters in Washington. “So what we learned is it’s a team that’s really committed to checking. It’s a team that plays the right way and that we better be ready to go tonight if we want to have a chance of success.”
The B’s will have to match the Caps’ desperation, especially after Washinton lost in Toronto on Thursday. The Caps are in a playoff spot, but not by much. They’re currently in the second wildcard spot, with a two-point advantage over the Red Wings with a game in hand. They’re also within striking distance of the Flyers for third in the Metropolitan Division, trailing Philadelphia by a point with two games in hand.
After the B’s 3-1 loss in Tampa on Wednesday, Montgomery is tweaking his lineup, as expected. Kevin Shattenkirk will go in for Parker Wotherspoon on the back end and Jakub Lauko will replace James van Riemsdyk up front.
Jeremy Swayman, who had some shaky early moments against Florida but was solid down the stretch in closing out that big win on Tuesday, will be back in net.