• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Seguin lifts Bruins over Caps in OT to force Game 7

Apr 23, 2012 - 1:09 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Tyler Seguin lit the lamp just 3:17 into overtime, as the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins staved off elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Seguin also had an assist for the Bruins, who bounced back from a 4-3 loss on Saturday in Boston to force a Game 7. Rich Peverley, David Krejci and Andrew Ference all added a goal and an assist.

Tim Thomas made 36 saves for the second-seeded Bruins, who were in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the first time since losing to Montreal in the 2008 conference quarterfinals.

"I pride myself on doing the best I can every night and doing the best I can to help the team," Thomas said. "Our backs are against the wall so I was trying to help them out. Hopefully I did, but they [the rest of the team] stepped up and helped us out too - the whole team did."

Despite the win, Boston is still one setback away from becoming the second straight Stanley Cup winner to be eliminated in the first round the following season. Chicago was ousted by Vancouver in last year's opening round after winning it all in 2010.

Mike Green, Jason Chimera and Alex Ovechkin lit the lamp for the Capitals, who were trying to become the second Eastern Conference team to advance in the 2012 playoffs after the Flyers took down the Penguins in Game 6 of their series earlier Sunday.

Braden Holtby stopped 27-of-31 shots for Washington, which will head back to Boston on Wednesday for Game 7.

"Any experiences you get in the playoffs, it just adds to you," Capitals head coach Dale Hunter said. "You know what to expect. Game 7s are exciting games because it's do or die for both teams and they're awesome to play in."

Washington center Nicklas Backstrom, who had two assists in the game, committed a crucial turnover in overtime. Krejci stole the puck near center ice before passing off to Milan Lucic, who was positioned at the blue line. Seguin collected Lucic's pass and got Holtby out of position before scoring the game-winner.

"I saw the goalie challenging, so I just tried to make a quick move and got lucky it went in," Seguin said.

The Bruins jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 5:56 mark of the first period. Ference's shot from the point deflected off Peverley's stick and beat Holtby.

Green was able to tie the game near the midway point. His shot from the top of the left circle deflected off the side of Boston's Greg Zanon and got past Thomas.

Boston scored a power-play goal with 3:12 left in the opening frame to go back in front. Lucic's centering pass from along the left boards was tipped in by Krejci.

The Bruins had a golden opportunity to expand their lead early in the second stanza. Ovechkin was sent to the penalty box for four minutes after drawing blood on a high stick. Washington, though, killed off the penalty to keep it 2-1.

Marcus Johansson almost tied the contest midway through the frame, but Thomas made a great diving save.

The Capitals were able to make it a 2-2 game with just 41.9 seconds to go. Backstrom led an odd-man rush up the right side of the ice and put a perfect backhand pass on Chimera's stick. Chimera chipped the puck past Thomas from the side of the net.

The back-and-forth battle continued at the 11:57 mark of the third. Seguin stole the puck away from Alexander Semin and charged down the right side of the ice. His shot hit off Holtby's mask to set up a rebound in front. Ference put the disc into the open net to make it 3-2.

But Ovechkin tied it with 4:52 remaining. Backstrom won a right faceoff draw and the puck went to Ovechkin, whose slapper snuck through Thomas' pads.

Moments before the game-winner, Patrice Bergeron got a piece of Brad Marchand's shot and the puck hit off the post.

Game Notes

The Bruins were without defenseman Joe Corvo due to a bruised left knee... Each of the first six games of the series have been decided by just one goal. This is the first time in NHL history that the first six games of a series have been one-goal contests...The Bruins went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Capitals went 0-for-4 on the man advantage.