Bruins vs. Capitals Game 4: Preview, Live Stream, Start Time, TV Schedule & More

The Boston Bruins have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Washington Capitals with a win on Thursday night, and to earn themselves the opportunity to close out the series in Boston on Saturday.

With Capitals star center Nicklas Backstrom suspended for Game 4 after he received a match penalty for cross-checking Bruins forward Rich Peverley at the end of Game 3, Boston has no excuses if they lose on Thursday.

After the first two games of the series were physical, Game 3 injected a bit of nastiness into the series, which is exactly what the Bruins thrive on. The Capitals will need to play to their best to beat the Bruins without Backstrom in Game 4.

Let's look at everything you need to know about Thursday's showdown in Washington.

When: Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBCSN, NESN, CSN Washington

Live Stream: NBC Sports

Where: Verizon Center, Washington D.C.

Key Injuries

Bruins D Adam McQuaid is day-to-day but not expected to play in Game 4. He has not played in this series yet.

Capitals goalies Michal Neuvirth and Tomas Vokoun were on the ice for the morning skate on Wednesday, but Braden Holtby will start Game 4.

What They're Saying

Milan Lucic hasn't scored yet in the playoffs, but Bruins head coach Claude Julien liked his performance in the Game 3 victory on Monday.

"

CJ: "I liked Luch’s game yesterday; he was skating, he was physical, he was making things happen..."^BISH

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2012"

Capitals coach Dale Hunter isn't happy with the way Boston has treated center Nicklas Backstrom in this series, according to the Washington Post:

"

“Every scrum, Nicky comes out with no helmet on, he gets blockered to the head by [Tim] Thomas the game before. He’s protecting his head,” Hunter said. “He just came off for 40 games. You have to protect your head.”

"

Keys for Each Team

Bruins: Boston needs to be physical with the Capitals right from the start and score the first goal. In Game 3, the Capitals got sucked into the Bruins' trash talking and it rattled them pretty bad.

Scoring first and putting physical pressure on Washington would give Boston a huge advantage in this game. Look for Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara to set the physical tone early with a ton of energy in the first period.

Capitals: Washington needs their best players to show up in Game 4 without Backstrom in the lineup. Backstrom is the team's best playmaker; not having him will really hurt their offense. 

The Capitals need Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin to carry the offense and give the team some goals. In the playoffs, your stars have to carry you, but Ovechkin and Semin haven't done that thus far. They need to step up or the Capitals will head to Boston down 3-1.

Prediction: Bruins win 4-1

The Bruins have awoken and will play with the same passion and fire throughout Thursday's Game 4 that they had in the third period of Game 3. Without Backstrom, the Capitals will have a difficult time generating offense, and Bruins goalie Tim Thomas will bounce back with a better performance than he gave on Monday.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

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