Gameday: at Boston, Apr. 14 - Round One, Game Two

I can has clutch playoff performance?

The Washington Capitals are in Boston, Massachusetts, this afternoon to take on the Bruins in game two of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.  The Bruins lead the series 1-0, having won game one on Thursday night in overtime courtesy of a long goal from Chris Kelly.  This afternoon's game, being played on the 100th anniversary of the RMS Titanic hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic, is a huge contest for both teams, as the Capitals look to steal home ice advantage heading home to the Verizon Center and the Bruins look to place a stranglehold on the series.  Perhaps the Capitals can be the iceberg that is the Black and Gold Titanic, hmm?  A little history lesson?

Claude Julien will roll with Tim Thomas in nets after he shut out the Capitals by stopping all 17 shots he saw during Thursday's game one victory.  Thomas leads all playoff goaltenders in GAA (0.00), save percentage (1.000), and shutouts (1), and played on Thursday exactly like he played all of last spring when he led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup and won a Conn Smythe Trophy to go with it.  Outside the crease, center David Krejci is questionable after a pane of glass fell on his head during the Bruins' celebration on Thursday, while forwards Marc Savard and Nathan Horton have concussions and are out.  Defenseman Adam McQuaid (face/head) is questionable as well.

After his very good performance in game one, Braden Holtby is expected to start in goal for the Capitals in this game.  Holtby carried the Capitals on Thursday, making several brilliant saves and keeping his team in the game, but eventually was beaten by a long slapshot that was tipped by Dennis Wideman and fluttered through his seven hole.  He stopped 29 of 30 shots in that game, allowing one goal in 61:18.  On the injury front, both John Erskine and Jeff Halpern are not expected to play with what are being termed lower body injuries, though they have both skated extensively over the last two weeks.  Look for the lineup to remain the same as in game one, meaning Jeff Schultz in over Dmitry Orlov and Keith Aucoin in over Mike Knuble, Mattias Sjogren, and Cody Eakin.

Puck drops 3:09-ish.  No recap from me today.  As always, follow me on Twitter here for news and updates.
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