Bruins vs. Capitals: Game 1 Preview, Live Stream, Start Time, TV Schedule & More

The Boston Bruins will begin their Stanley Cup defense on Thursday night at TD Garden against the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals were picked by many experts and fans before the season to finally reach the Cup Final, but Washington struggled throughout the year and limped into the playoffs.

The Capitals are good enough to upset the Bruins, but their problem is they have trouble putting four good games together because of their inconsistency.

It's going to be a great series no matter what, and hockey fans can expect a lot of hard hitting and offense in this battle. 

Let's look at everything you need to know for Game 1.

When: Thursday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network, NESN, CBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports (Select Games)

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Key Injuries

Bruins (via WCVB Boston)

D Johnny Boychuk is a game time decision

G Tuukka Rask is doubtful

D Adam McQuaid is out

Capitals (Via Washington Post)

LW Alexander Semin and G Michal Neuvirth practiced on Tuesday

What They're Saying

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is looking forward to playing against the NHL's best offensive players in the playoffs.

Chara recently spoke about playing against elite players like Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin, saying via CSNNE.com:

"

“It’s something that motivates me,” said Chara. “It’s something that . . . I enjoy competing against the best players. Obviously they have a few great players on their team. Sometimes the matchups are hard to get, especially on the road. But when you do get them, you want to make the best of them. Overall, I love to compete, I love to work hard against whoever I’m playing against.”

"

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, who is the probable starter between the pipes for Washington in Game 1, recently offered his opinion on goalie interference between the NHL and AHL.

Via NBC Sports:

"

“To tell you the truth, the NHL game in front of the net is a lot easier than the AHL game. The refs are a lot more precise in their calls. That’s obviously why they’re in the NHL,” Holtby said, as per the Washington Post. “The AHL there’s a lot of stuff that goes that should be penalties and it isn’t. So that’s one thing that I think I do have to my advantage is that I’ve learned to deal through that…..People always come up saying that it was really physical and it wasn’t. It didn’t seem that way for me. So I think that’s an advantage.”

"

Holtby was in the AHL for a good portion of this season but is the goalie of the future in Washington.

Key Matchup: Ovechkin vs. Chara/Seidenberg

If Alexander Ovechkin doesn't play well in this series then the Capitals have no shot at upsetting the Bruins. Ovechkin has to prove that he can carry the Capitals offensively against the best competition.

If he can be effective against Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, arguably the best shut-down defense pairing in hockey, then Ovechkin's confidence will skyrocket.

With center Nicklas Backstrom just starting to find his game after he recently returned to the Capitals lineup following a concussion recovery, Ovechkin will need to provide the scoring Washington needs to be successful.

Prediction: Bruins win 3-1

The Bruins have a huge goaltending advantage against the Capitals, and will wear down Washington with their physical play to take Game 1 in Boston.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and covered the team first hand throughout the season. He was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.