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Krejci nets game-winner as Bruins edge Capitals

Jan 28, 2009 - 4:52 AM By Tony Lee PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Bruins have accomplished plenty this season. They now can add a win over the Washington Capitals to the list.

David Krejci scored a power-play goal at 1:55 of overtime when a pass glanced off the skate of Washington defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, lifting the Bruins to a 3-2 triumph over the Capitals on Tuesday.

Boston (35-8-5) - which welcomed back forwards Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic and defenseman Andrew Ference from injury - also received goals from All-Star Marc Savard and Shawn Thornton in defeating Washington (30-16-3) for the first time in three tries this season. The Bruins extended their lead over the Capitals atop the Eastern Conference to 11 points.

"If you want to be on the top, you've got to beat the best teams, and I wouldn't feel very comfortable if we lost tonight," Krejci said. "But we deserve to be up there."

Each of the teams' meetings this season have been decided by a goal. Despite finally surrendering one to Boston and seeing its deficit in the East grow, Washington still considers itself the team to beat.

"They are a good team, but I don't think they are the best," said Capitals All-Star Alex Ovechkin, who was in the locker room to close the second period after Bruins All-Star defenseman Zdeno Chara hooked the Russian and caused him crash into the boards.

"They have solid defense and a good goalie, but I think we dominated them in today's game. This loss is not good for us."

It also dropped Washington to 11-13-2 on the road.

After over 27 scoreless minutes following Savard's game-tying tally at 14:12 of the second, the Bruins capitalized on a power-play chance in overtime. Savard found Krejci to the right of Jose Theodore, and when the 22-year-old Czech tried to send a pass back across the crease, the puck glanced off Morrisonn and past the goaltender.

It was the 18th goal of the season for Krejci, who knew he was fortunate.

"It was lucky," Krejci said. "I tried to pass it to (Savard), but it hit (Morrisonn's) leg and went in."

According to Ovechkin, Boston first was fortunate on the hooking call against Nicklas Backstrom that set up the winning goal.

"(Backstrom) didn't even touch Chara, he just fell," Ovechkin said. "We couldn't do nothing. It's good for us to get one point in Boston, but I think we deserved to win."

All-Star Tim Thomas made 34 saves - including a big one moments before the overtime penalty - for Boston, which had plenty of contributions from its returning skaters. Chief among them was Bergeron, out since December 20 with his second concussion in just over a year.

In his first contest back, Bergeron helped set up a power-play goal that tied it, 2-2, late in the second.

The 23-year-old first dived toward the boards to prevent the puck from clearing the offensive zone, then quickly rose to his skates and made a cross-ice pass to Savard. Upon receiving the puck, Savard double-clutched and beat Theodore for his 17th tally.

"If (Bergeron) doesn't keep it in, it's a 2-on-none and very easily could've been 3-1 rather than 2-2," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "He played without fear. It was nice to see him back."

Bergeron, who missed most of last season with a concussion, said it was a good sign his instincts took over on the play.

"I didn't think. That was a good thing," Bergeron said.

Lucic had missed seven games with a shoulder injury and Ference was out since mid-November with a broken right tibia.

Washington sandwiched a pair of goals around one by Boston in the first. Ovechkin spearheaded the first tally of the night.

Thomas poked aside a drive by Ovechkin near the tail end of an early power play, but the reigning Hart Trophy winner scooped up the rebound and calmly circled the puck back to the point. Defenseman Mike Green was waiting to fire a shot through traffic and past Thomas at 2:08 for his 13th goal.

Thornton later picked off a cross-ice pass and did all the work himself to get Boston on the board. Skating in unchecked, he veered to Theodore's left, past two defenders untouched and lofted in a backhander at 9:26 for his fourth goal.

Boston's failure to clear a rebound again helped Washington take the lead with 21 seconds left in the first. Bruins defenseman Shane Hnidy fanned on the puck after Thomas blocked a shot, and a pair of Capitals pushed it toward the slot, where Michael Nylander one-timed it by Thomas for his fifth of the season to make it 2-1.

Theodore made 25 saves for the Capitals, who have scored just eight goals in their last four games.