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Bruins try to stay hot against visiting Caps

Mar 10, 2012 - 3:35 PM (Sports Network) - Fresh off posting consecutive wins for the first time in nearly two months, the Boston Bruins will try for their first three-game winning streak since December when they host the Washington Capitals today at TD Garden.

The Capitals, meanwhile, are coming off a dramatic victory and will try to help their push for the playoffs in today's matinee.

Boston used a strong third period on Thursday against visiting Buffalo to posted a 3-1 decision. The victory came two days after the Bruins ended a two- game slide with a 5-4 win in Toronto. It marked the first time the B's were able to string together two consecutive victories since beating Winnipeg and Montreal on January 10 and 12, respectively.

The Bruins, who are leading Ottawa by three points for the top spot in the Northeast Division, haven't won three in a row since a seven-game tear from Dec. 10-28.

Johnny Boychuk and David Krejci scored within three minutes of each other in the third period on Thursday to lift the Bruins to the win. Boychuk scored 12:56 into the period on a shot from the far right side to snap a 1-1 tie and Krejci's goal in transition at 15:54 gave Boston its 3-1 lead.

The Bruins scored three unanswered goals after falling behind late in the first period. Tim Thomas had 19 saves for Boston and Gregory Campbell scored the other goal.

"We worked hard tonight, even in the final minutes to finish it off and get the two points," said Thomas.

Boston played without defenseman Andrew Ference (lower body) and forward Daniel Paille (left arm) on Thursday and both players are questionable for tonight. Brad Marchand left the Sabres game late in the third period after a collision with Buffalo's Tyler Myers, but the Bruins pesky forward is expected to play today.

The Bruins are 20-12-2 as the host this year and will begin a three-game road trip when they visit Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon.

The Capitals have earned points in two straight contests, losing an overtime decision against visiting Carolina on Tuesday before earning Thursday's home win against Tampa Bay after regulation. Alex Ovechkin netted the game-winner with 51 seconds left in OT to lift the Capitals to the 3-2 decision over the Lightning.

Keith Aucoin and Marcus Johansson scored in regulation for Washington, which snapped a three-game slide to end a five-game homestand with a 2-2-1 record. Tomas Vokoun made 24 saves in the win.

"We just had to get the puck in deep and work," Capitals head coach Dale Hunter said. "It creates scoring chances."

Washington is locked in a tight battle for the last playoff spot in the East and enters today's action tied with Winnipeg for the conference's eighth and final postseason berth. The clubs are just two points in front of 10th- seeded Buffalo and three behind Florida for first in the Southeast Division.

The Capitals, who are playing five of their next seven games away from D.C., have lost five of their last six road games and are just 11-18-3 as the guest this year.

Washington will not have defenseman Mike Green today, as he will serve the first test of a three-game suspension. Green was sanctioned by the league for elbowing Tampa's Brett Connolly in the head on Thursday.

Green will forfeit $85,135.14 in salary which goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund, and he will not be eligible to return until March 16 when Washington plays at Winnipeg.

Washington and the Bruins have split a pair of meetings this season, but Boston has won five of seven overall in the series. The Caps have also lost two in a row and seven of their last 10 games in Beantown.