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BOSTON -- The first two games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the Bruins and Capitals has been a lot more physical than many expected. That has been the key to the Capitals being able to bring the series back to Washington tied at two games a piece after a 2-1 double overtime win in Boston on Saturday afternoon.

But are the Capitals crossing a line and getting away with some dirty plays? In Game 1, David Krejci needed stitches above his lip for what he said was an uncalled crosscheck.

On Saturday, after watching Washington's Alexander Ovechkin hit defenseman Dennis Seidenberg high in a first-period scrum and not get sent to the penalty box, Bruins coach Claude Julien voiced some frustration with the referees and said he hopes the league steps in.

“This is the second crosscheck in two games,” Julien pointed out. “Krejci got cut below the nose by the crosscheck in Game 1, and now that one, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it except that there’s no call on it. Whether they missed it or not, it could be. Then the league has a second opportunity to review it, and you’ve got to let them do their jobs.

"But those hits to me are extremely dangerous things that we keep talking about wanting out of the game, and I’ve seen suspensions from that before. We’ll the let the league take care of it, and we’ll focus on what we have to do to win next game.”

Seidenberg seemed fine after the game and did not share his coach's outrage. As far as he’s concerned, it’s playoff hockey and there will be more of that to come as this series moves to Washington for Games 3 and 4.

“Stuff like that happens so it’s for the refs to call and I don’t really care,” Seidenberg said. “It’s a tight game and I think worse things have to happen for them to call it.”

Seidenberg has been doing a good job of frustrating Ovechkin, who got his first point of the playoffs by assisting on Troy Brouwer’s second-period goal, but credited Ovechkin for playing hard.

“It’s just about us shutting him down and playing him tight and not giving him any opportunities,” Seidenberg said. “He was on his game today. He skated hard and we did our best to try and stop him."

BOSTON -- Nicklas Backstrom scored 2:56 into double overtime and Braden Holtby made 43 saves to lead the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, tying the series at one.

The Bruins' Benoit Pouliot scored 12:13 into the third period to send the game to overtime, and Troy Brouwer scored the Capitals' first goal. Tim Thomas made 38 saves for the Bruins in the losing effort.

The series now shifts to Washington for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Thursday.

Third line playing like top line -- Heading into the playoffs, Bruins coach Claude Julien said his team would need scoring depth to make another run at the Stanley Cup, and he is getting just that from the third line of Pouliot, Chris Kelly and Brian Rolston. With Pouliot’s game-tying goal in the third period, this trio has accounted for all six points and both goals by the Bruins in the series. The unit has been not only a reliable defensive line, but a scoring threat as well.

Goalies duel again -- Thomas and Holtby again were stellar between the pipes. While Thomas had a playoff shutout streak of 161:37 snapped with Brouwer’s second-period goal, the Bruins netminder did what he had to do to keep the Bruins in the game. Likewise, Holtby was very solid and extremely well positioned to the shooter. But both goalies probably would like the first goals they let in back. Thomas failed to cover up the puck (and didn’t get proper assistance from defenseman Greg Zanon) on the Brouwer goal, and Holtby came out to play a loose puck and was beaten by Pouliot, who barreled over him in the process. In overtime, both goalies were great but Holtby made one more big save than Thomas. Holtby has been the story of the series, making 72 saves in his first two career playoff games.

Capitals aren’t backing down -- One of the question marks heading into Game 2 was whether the Capitals would change up their approach of playing a tight defensive game and applying plenty of physical pressure up front on the forecheck, and instead open up their game with their offensive skill. In Game 2, they did open up a bit but they did so by feeding off their forecheck. The Caps were very aggressive and physical, which allowed them to play both styles. Coach Dale Hunter apparently has decided that if his team is going to upset the Bruins in this series, his team will beat them at their own game.

Power failure again but PK comes up big -- This has been a series of inches, and every chance the Capitals or Bruins get has been crucial. That’s why it is essential the Bruins get their power play going. Boston was 0-for-2 on the man-advantage in Game 2 and was 0-for-6 in the first two games. But the penalty kill has been clutch and again held the Caps’ power play off the scoreboard. Washington was 0-for-3 in Game 2 and is 0-for-5 in the series.

Krejci plays; Rask and McQuaid still out -- Bruins center David Krejci was back in the lineup after he was hit by a pane of glass that fell from the Garden boards during the celebration following Game 1. Krejci, who said he had a sore neck from the strange incident, was back between Milan Lucic and Rich Peverley. Defenseman Adam McQuaid (upper body) and goalie Tuukka Rask (groin) remained out.

Here’s what the lineup looked like to start the game:

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Rich Peverley
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Brian Rolston
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Johnny Boychuk
Greg Zanon-Joe Corvo

Tim Thomas
Anton Khudobin

BOSTON -- As expected, Bruins forward David Krejci is in the lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals.

A pane of glass fell on Krejci during the postgame celebration after Game 1 on Thursday night. Krejci missed practice on Friday, but opened the game on a line between Milan Lucic and Rich Peverley.

The fifth-year center had 62 points on 23 goals and 39 assists during the regular season.

A pane of glass weighs about 30 pounds, according to a member of the Bruins' "bull gang," which maintains the ice at TD Garden.

"It was a fluke accident and we're fortunate it wasn't worse than what it is," coach Claude Julien said at Friday's practice. "With the weight of that glass it could've been worse and a lot more damaging."

To preview today's Game 2 between the Bruins and Capitals, we play a game of 2-on-2 with ESPN Boston's James Murphy and Joe McDonald:

1. While Alexander Ovechkin hustled hard and was very physical in Game 1, he was kept off the scoreboard. Will Caps coach Dale Hunter reunite him with the likes of Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and/or Marcus Johanssen in an effort to get 'Ovi' going?

Murphy: I think Hunter comes out with same lines but if their shot total is down and their offense is invisible after the first period, I definitely think he puts Ovechkin with any assortment of those players to try to jump-start him. The Capitals have too much offensive skill to waste and they don't want to go home in a 2-0 hole.

McDonald: Hunter will not make any lineup changes. It was a classic battle between the Bruins’ Dennis Seidenberg and Ovechkin in Game 1 and that intensity will increase in Game 2.

2. Braden Holtby was superb in Game 1. What can the Bruins do to not let him get in an even deeper zone and come away with a win this time?

Murphy: The Bruins need to have constant traffic in front and get in Holtby's face. They have to be relentless driving to the net and make life miserable for the rookie. He enters the game with renewed confidence. It is the Bruins' job to have him exit questioning himself.

McDonald: Holtby was good but the Bruins could have done a lot more against him. In Game 2, the Bruins will attempt to get more traffic and pucks to the net in order to disrupt his play. The problem, however, is that Holtby gained a lot of confidence with his performance in Game 1 and knows he can beat these guys.

BOSTON -- Prior to Game 1, Washington Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman told ESPNBoston.com that he’d love to beat his former Boston Bruins team in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Unfortunately for Wideman -- who was traded to Florida from Boston in June 2010 after a difficult season -- he feels he might have helped Boston beat Washington 1-0 in overtime to give the Bruins a 1-0 series lead.

Wideman pinched deep on a Capitals rush just prior to Chris Kelly’s winner 1:18 into the extra frame and was caught chasing Kelly as the Bruins center entered the zone and ripped a high shot past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. Wideman tried to knock the puck loose from Kelly just before the shot.

“Usually, you get your stick in there and it tips the puck over the glass,” Wideman told CSNWashington.com Friday. “That was one where I got a piece, but not enough and it spun off a little funny.”

Wideman second-guessed himself, wishing he hadn't followed the play up ice before Kelly brought it back the other way.

“If I don’t go so deep, I have Kelly in front of me on that and I’m not chasing,” Wideman said. “But it’s one of those plays where if I don’t put my stick in there and he scores, I’m wondering why I didn’t defend the shot. It’s just one of those plays.”

BOSTON -- Boston Bruins assistant captain Andrew Ference was a bit coy earlier in the week when asked if he planned on bringing back an item similar to The Jacket from the 2011 Stanley Cup season.

The worn, torn and discolored black, white and gold Boston Bruins jacket from the late 1980s or early '90s that Ference bought on eBay was a symbol of unity and togetherness late last season.

After each win, it was presented to a Bruins player who had a key role in that night’s victory. That player wore it in the locker room and kept it in his stall until the next win, when he would select a new teammate for the accolade.

The jacket was given to Mark Recchi at the Bruins opener this year when the team raised their Cup banner and also honored Recchi, who retired. Recchi had the jacket framed and it now hangs in the hallway that leads to the team’s workout facility behind the locker room at TD Garden.

After the Bruins’ 1-0 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Thursday night at TD Garden, Chris Kelly was sporting a chain and lock around his neck.

Kelly had netted the game-winning goal at 1:18 of OT and explained the new fashion piece after the game.

“It’s something, kind of like last year with the jacket, Andrew made something that symbolizes a team, a chain. Try not to be that weak link, and it’s one of those things that you pass out after a game. It’s one of those things that’s all in good fun. It just started for the playoffs.”

BOSTON -- After a pane of glass fell on him in the celebration following Chris Kelly's overtime winner in Game 1, David Krejci was absent from practice Friday as the Bruins prepared for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series with the Capitals.

While Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli described Krejci as day-to-day following the practice, the fifth-year center told the media that he thought he would be OK to play in Game 2. Krejci was third on the Bruins in scoring this season with 62 points (23 goals and 39 assists).

Defenseman Adam McQuaid (eye) also wasn’t on the ice for practice. McQuaid missed Game 1 with the injury, which was suffered on March 29 on a hit by the Capts Jason Chimera.

ESPNBoston.com's Joe McDonald and James Murphy break down the Bruins' 1-0 win over the Capitals in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup.

BOSTON -- On April 3, Boston Bruins second-year forward Tyler Seguin was awarded the Seventh Player Award by Bruins fans for being the team’s unsung hero. But following a 5-3 loss to the Penguins that night, Seguin told the media the real unsung hero on the Bruins this season was veteran forward Chris Kelly.

Kelly reached a career high in goals (20) and points (39) in his first full season with the Bruins after being traded to Boston just prior to the 2011 NHL trade deadline. In that short span he has been one of the most reliable players on and off the ice, and was named named an alternate captain this season. So it was only fitting that one of the Bruins who epitomizes the defense-first mentality and work ethic of Claude Julien's team would break a scoreless tie 1:18 into overtime of Game 1 and give the Bruins a 1-0 win and a 1-0 series lead over the Capitals in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.

“I think it’s fitting because to ask, I guess, our coaching staff, he was, without a doubt, our unsung hero this year, for what he’s accomplished, scoring 20 or some goals, something he’d never done before,” Julien said. “Look at how he’s handled the players that have been with him this year. He hasn’t always had the same wingers all the time, and still, that line’s always been good. We talk about Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] being a good two-way player and I think Kelly’s the same way. I mean, he’s producing this year more than ever, and he’s so reliable defensively. So it was nice to see. We talked about that line being able to hopefully get some secondary scoring like our third line did last year, and so far, they’re off to a good start.”

Brian Rolston echoed Julien’s sentiments and praised Kelly for embodying all that he believes this Bruins team stands for.

“I think that this organization, if you look at the centers they have, they’re all unbelievable defensively,” Rolston said. “These guys could probably score 40 goals if they were to cheat offensively and were on other teams. That’s no joke! But they don’t and Kells is a guy who it’s a pleasure to play with him because I know where he’s going to be all the time and I know the plays he’s going to make. It’s nothing extraordinary but [he's] just a quality player.”

Following the game Kelly addressed the media along with Tim Thomas at the main podium. Kelly was wearing the new version of “the jacket” -- the award that was given to the player deemed the team MVP by his teammates after every win in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. This season the jacket has become a junkyard chain. But the man with the chain wasn’t about to shower himself with praise. Instead, the always humble Kelly praised his teammates and linemates for his newfound offensive flair.

“I think I’ve had a great opportunity to play with some great players since I’ve been here,” Kelly said. “Obviously Michael Ryder last year, and Rich Peverley are both great offensive players. They’ve shown that this year and in the past and obviously playing with Benny [Benoit Pouliot] and Brian [Rolston], they’re great offensive players too that have proven that in the past. So, I’ve been really fortunate to play with some really good players and I try to play the game the exact same way every night and I’ve said it before, some nights those bounces go in and some nights they don’t. But, I think I’ve learned over the years you try to be as consistent as you can in every game.”

Kelly also admitted that as of now, his OT winner in Game 1 ranks as the biggest as of his career.

“I think pretty high. I think probably the biggest,” Kelly said. “I know I scored in the finals last year, but it was the seventh goal in, I think a [8]-1 game. You know, it’s probably up there. Obviously it’s great to score in the playoffs and even better to score in overtime.”

Right now though, the Bruins are simply happy they’re coming for their unsung hero.

“He deserves that and the credit he’s getting,” Rolston said. “He’s one of our hardest workers night in and night out.”

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins were able to win the 2011 Stanley Cup despite an anemic power play, but it seemed head coach Claude Julien had to answer a question about his team’s failure to score on the man-advantage after every game, win or lose.

It could be a case of déjà vu in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs as once again Boston pulled off a victory without a power-play goal, going 0-for-4 in their 1-0 overtime win over the Capitals in Game 1.

Following the game, Julien found himself in a familiar position he at the podium, explaining why the Bruins' power play couldn’t light the lamp.

“You’re right, it was asked a lot. So, probably a little bit too much,” Julien said with a laugh when reminded of the recurring question last spring. “We talked about that. We’re, our guys weren’t seeing much tonight. There was some openings we could have used, and we were dusting the puck a little bit too much versus shooting it, and, you know, when we made some of those passes, some of those guys should have ripped a shot right way, and instead, we stopped and we started looking for another play. It’s unfortunate, because at practice this week, I thought our guys were moving the puck well, and they were finding the openings that we didn’t find tonight. So, we’ll keep working on that and hopefully make it a better situation because there’s no doubt, if we don’t win the game tonight, we’d be talking a lot about that being the reason that we lost.”

During the regular season, the Bruins were 43-for-250 on the power play (17.2 percent, but the playoff hex seemed to be on when they had the extra attacker in Game 1. They failed to convert on a 4-minute power play in the first period, and a 4-on-3 and 5-on-4 in the second. In a 0-0 game with the Bruins controling most of the play, the power play could’ve broken the game open.

“We had some good opportunities but we need to improve and I’m sure we’ll be going over it because that could’ve given us a cushion,” forward Brian Rolston said. “It would’ve been nice to get that going because a bit of a cushion would’ve been nice.”

BOSTON -- Chris Kelly broke a 0-0 tie 1:18 into overtime as the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals to take a 1-0 lead in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. Tim Thomas came up huge in the third period with nine saves, finishing with 17 overall, while Braden Holtby was sensational for the Capitals in his first career playoff start, making 29 saves.

Thomas stays sharp, gives Bruins a chance to win: Tim Thomas faced only seven shots through the first two periods and only two in the second, but when the Capitals finally started to click on offense, Thomas was still up to the task. Any goalie deserves credit when he can remain focused through a lack of action, as Thomas did before the Bruins were outshot 9-3 in the third period. Thomas would need to make just one save in overtime -- and it was a good one on Alex Ovechkin -- before the Bruins rewarded him in the extra frame. Thomas finished with 17 saves and earned his sixth career playoff shutout.

K-E-L-L-Y: It seems everyone whom Claude Julien has put on a line with Chris Kelly this season has been successful, and that’s because of Kelly’s work ethic. Kelly scored a career-high 20 goals this season, but he probably would have traded all of those for the overtime winner he got in Game 1, breaking up a gem of a game by Braden Holtby. Kelly’s speed and hustle led to the goal, and following the game, the 17,565 fans in attendance were chanting his name.

Drayden Holtby? Almost! Older Bruins fans remember -- or, rather, try not to remember -- what Hall of Fame and former Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden did to the heavily favored Bruins as a relatively unknown netminder called up late in the 1970-71 season. Dryden, of course, stonewalled the then-defending Stanley Cup champions and led the Habs to the first of five Stanley Cups. Well, Braden Holtby may or may not go on to such success, but watching him in Game 1 against the 2011 defending champs, it was hard not to think of Dryden. Holtby was a wall for the Capitals until they finally woke up in the third period and had some offensive pressure. The unknown rookie Caps goalie stopped 26 shots through the first two periods as his team mustered just seven shots. Unfortunately for him and the Capitals, the only goal he allowed came in overtime as he let a floater from Kelly get by him for the winner. Holtby finished with 29 saves and proved he is ready for playoff hockey.

Power play struggles again: Last season the Bruins somehow made it through the Stanley Cup playoffs and hoisted the Cup despite a horrid power play. Thankfully they had a brilliant penalty kill, but it was an amazing feat that they were able to capture the Cup with such an anemic man-advantage. Well, the Bruins think they may be able to do it again. Their power play in Game 1 could’ve been the difference in breaking a stingy game open, but Holtby’s goaltending and the Bruins' failure to create chances meant they went 0-for-4. Boston failed to score on a four-minute man-advantage in the first period or on a 4-on-3 chance in the second period.

Boychuk returns and McQuaid remains out: Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk returned from an April 3 knee sprain that caused him to miss the last two regular-season games. However, fellow blueliner Adam McQuaid remained out with an upper-body injury. That meant Joe Corvo remained on the blue line and Mike Mottau was the healthy scratch on defense. Up front, Jordan Caron was a healthy scratch as well. Here’s what the lineup looked like for Game 1:

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Rich Peverley
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Brian Rolston
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Johnny Boychuk
Greg Zanon-Joe Corvo

Tim Thomas
Anton Khudobin

BOSTON -- With only a few hours until the puck drops on the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, here’s a little reminder of what happened on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

BOSTON -- Former Bruins and current Capitals Mike Knuble and Dennis Wideman are excited to be playing their former team in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. But both are approaching this series with different types of motivation and memories of their time in Boston.

After a 50-point season in the 2008-09 with the Bruins, Wideman struggled early in 2009-10 and was frequently booed by the fans at TD Garden. His confidence took a hit and so did his game, with too many turnovers and not enough of the solid two-way puck moving game he excelled at in 2008-09. He finished the regular season with just 30 points. While he had a strong playoff performance with 12 points in 13 games, it was clear that Wideman needed a change of scenery. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli dealt Wideman along with a first-round pick in 2010 to the Panthers in exchange for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell. Wideman would be dealt again to the Capitals late last season and he has found his game again this season, finishing with 46 points in 82 games.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Wideman said of playing his former team in the playoffs. “I still know a lot of the guys over there and yeah I’d love to beat them for sure. There’s still a few guys I talk to but when it comes playoff time, we’re not talking anymore and no more dinners.”

Wideman was asked about the way the fans turned on him and took the high road instead of airing his frustrations.

“Do I think I’ll be booed? Yeah of course but I’m the enemy now,” Wideman said. “I have no regrets from my time here. The first part of the last year didn’t go like I wanted, but I finished strong and I have no problem with the city of Boston or the Bruins.”

Knuble left Boston on much different terms than Wideman. As a key part of the Bruins’ offense on a line with Glen Murray and Joe Thornton, Knuble helped lead the Bruins to the No. 1 seed in the East. But Boston lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens, blowing a 3-1 series lead. The 2004-05 season was wiped out thanks to the lockout and Knuble, current Bruin Brian Rolston and other key free agents were not re-signed. But Knuble harbors no hard feelings.

“There’s an urgency I guess with me that you never know if it’s your last chance,” said Knuble who had just 18 points in 72 games and was a frequent healthy scratch down the stretch. “I know what it’s like to win and I want to taste that again.”

But Knuble said seeing Rolston and other familiar faces Thursday morning had him feeling a bit of déjà vu.

“It’s like a time warp for sure but even more so I think in the playoffs and now this season with ‘Rolli’ here, it’s crazy!” Knuble said with a big smile. “It brings back lots of great memories. I was out in the hall and I saw Rob Zamuner who is a NHLPA division rep, I saw (Bruins trainers) Johnny Whitesides and Donny Del Negro and I was like ‘Hey all we need is ‘Jumbo Joe’ and we can get the band back together! But it’s great and it should make for a fun series. I just want to win because I don’t have much time left not because I have animosity here.”

BOSTON -- Since the Boston Bruins are attempting to become the first team since the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998) to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, we’ll take a look back and relive each playoff game from 2011 on each game day of the 2012 postseason.

Here’s the first one: On April 14, 2011, the Bruins hosted the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The Canadiens’ Brian Gionta scored two goals, while goaltender Carey Price made 31 saves en route to a 2-0 victory at TD Garden.

“They played extremely well,” recalled Bruins forward Chris Kelly. “They got an early goal and it wasn’t the start we were hoping for, and not the results we were hoping for. Give them credit, they played a great game and followed that up with another good game. Hopefully this year goes a little different than last year.”

Boston will host the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the quarterfinals Thursday night at TD Garden.

BOSTON -- To a man, the Boston Bruins seemed focused and relaxed following the team’s morning skate on Thursday in preparation for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals.

Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron talked about the importance of shutting down the potent Capital offense, and how the Bruins are feeling heading into the game: