Capitals blank Bruins, 2-0

With just one game to go in the regular season, there’s one thing that’s becoming clear for the Bruins. The Washington Capitals would not be a fun playoff opponent for them.

The B’s had a chance to clinch the Atlantic Division title on Monday at Capital One Arena, but for the second time this season the Caps blanked the B’s, this time 2-0 on another strong defensive effort.

Goalie Charlie Lindgren came up with some good saves and John Carlson’s first period goal stood up as the game-winner, but the Caps limited the B’s to just 16 shots on net, a season-low. When they beat the B’s 3-0 on Feb. 10 at the Garden, the Caps allowed just 18 shots, the previous season-low.

When the Caps play their game, they can be stifling. And on Monday, the B’s did not seem to be in much of a mood to fight through it.

“They looked like a team that was fighting for a playoff spot. We looked like a team that was already in the playoffs. That wasn’t good. We didn’t have our sense of urgency that we usually have, winning loose pucks, winning our battles. We didn’t do nearly enough of that,” Charlie Coyle told reporters in Washington. “I just think they were more prepared and wanted it a little more than we did. That’s what it looked like out there. You never want to admit that. It’s a tough thing to say, but that’s what it looked like it. They were fighting for their lives and it looked like it.”

In the morning skate, coach Jim Montgomery made changes to his struggling power-play units, flipping Charlie McAvoy and Kevin Shattenkirk and separating Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. But the B’s didn’t have the puck enough to earn a single power play. With offense hard to come by, Montgomery jumbled all his forward lines starting in the second period and they did have some chances but it didn’t produce the equalizer.

“I thought (the Caps) played with a lot of desperation,” said Montgomery. “I thought their checking skills were good. They managed the puck well. I didn’t think we were at their level.”

The B’s will have one last chance to capture the division in the season finale against Ottawa at the Garden on Tuesday while the Florida Panthers, one point behind the B’s with the tiebreaker in their favor, take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The B’s could be shorthanded. Brandon Carlo left the game in the third period and there was no update on the cause of his departure.

The Capitals came into the game with their playoff lives hanging on a string. They held the second wild card spot due to the regulation win tiebreaker, though they were in a points tie with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers to start the night.

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