Caps at Bruins

This preseason presentation of the Bruins game blog on Rink Rap will be a little more random today/tonight and a little less concerned with covering the bases.

Here are the lineups:

Couple of goals already on the board, as Morgan Geekie scored from left of the slot – go figure – and shortly thereafter Sonny Milano (who barely played last season) made a beautiful backhand from the slot over Michael DiPietro’s glove. Later in the first period, Hendrix Lapierre cashed in on a broken play that eluded both prospect defenseman Viktor Soderstrom and Elias Lindholm, finding Lapierre’s stick in the slot area. 2-1 Caps.

The Bruins get their first powerplay after Ryan Chesley was whistled off for kneeing Matt Poitras. A momentary scrum ensued but left no gloves on the ice.

Right after the PIM expired, Milano got behind Nikita Zadorov and buried his chance, making it 3-1 Capitals.

Jeffrey Viel gets a shift with Tanner Jeannot, and the two got a little feisty, but again, they didn’t force it.

Mason Lohrei, who just signed his RFA contract at two years times $3.4 million, got beat out of the corner, leading to Washington’s fourth goal of the opening period, as this has become a bit of a hazing for starter Michael DiPietro. (He received his first Bronx cheer on a routine stop that followed.)

So, OK, a horrible first period from a defensive standpoint, Milano’s first goal (a brilliant backhand shot from the slot, somewhat covered, notwithstanding). But it’s nothing to be concerned about, except perhaps for Lohrei’s minus.

SECOND PERIOD

If anyone other than Patrick Brown scored the goal that made it 4-2, it would be widely celebrated as a statement play because Brown is a classic tweener whose services will be summoned in Boston upon emergencies only. He, and Michael Callahan for that matter, are going to be leaders for the Bruins’ AHL team. Both will be needed in their roles.

Massive uptick in tenacity by the Bruins, who played the first period like they’d come straight from the Sunday dinner table and sat in traffic until two minutes before the opening faceoff. Now the game has energy.

Nice backcheck by Jeannot to eliminate a rebound try following a Caps scoring chance.

This second period, by the way, now has to chance for DiPietro to leave the building tonight with a better taste in his mouth.

I’m watching Fraser Minten forecheck, puck-protect and backcheck and absolutely cannot imagine the Bruins assigning him to Providence. He belongs in the NHL.

Viel wants a bout, officials don’t want it. No word from Don King or Bob Aram.

DiPietro turns away Ethen Frank at the goalmouth.

Back to a 3-goal game after Alex Steeves’ good work is wasted. Steeves won a race to cancel an icing, recovered the puck and got a backhand onto Logan Thompson, who would come out of the game moments later after the Capitals countered with a pretty pass from Milano, setting off a 2-on-1 finished by defenseman Ryan Chesley.

Viel got a partial breakaway, but his hampered attempt was snuffed out by replacement goaltender Gavin Bjorklund.

Simon Zajicek has taken over the net from DiPietro 10:14 into the second period. So both teams splitting the duties in goal.

A handful of Bruins make sure to give Zajicek the bump of approval after his bellyflop denial of a cross-ice play, the execution of which could only have been improved with elevation on the shot (easier said than done on those fast, cross-ice passes without perfect, rehearsed positioning).

5-2 after two. If this were a 7 pm game, I suspect some families would be heading home in recognition of the school night. The vibe of 2011 is ichabod, and the Bruins are back to earning everything they get.

THIRD PERIOD

There will be a shootout after the game (points are double … kidding about that last part).

Solid containment shift for Lohrei against Milano.

Poitras takes a stick in a face from Henrik Rybinski, Bruins get a powerplay midway through the third.

Riley Duran signifies goal, referee says no way Jose. Overhead video supports the stripes. Duran must have seen hockey tape and thought it was the puck.

Steeves and Blumel both had looks early in the third period. Blumel is a little more stealth, but he’s got to get his shots on net. It looks like he’s trying to hit the posts and he’s hitting the glass. Steeves is a more-upright player whose stops and starts elude checkers and help sustain possession. He’s crafty.

Fabian Lysell has put on some muscle, but he doesn’t seem fully adjusted to it vis-a-vis his trademark speed and elusiveness. I don’t know the weight gain stat, just going on looks in the locker room and on the ice. This kind of thing has taken players a half season of adjustment.

Arvidsson gets behind the D, gets hassled but gets his shot away, taking a hard fall onto his tail pad at the left post. I anticipate a penalty call here, but we already know it’s not a penalty shot. (If Arvidsson wasn’t on Marco Sturm’s shootout list, maybe he is now.)

5:15 remaining, 5-2 Caps.

No penalty on the Arvidsson play. Same for Blumel, who cut around the D but couldn’t muster a formidable backhand.

Zadorov and Jeannot throwing the body in the D zone. Jeannot again on the forecheck.

Under three minutes, we’re going to shut this down and bid you adieu.

Drive safely.

Gotta go talk to some wanna-B’s…