NHL Playoffs 2012: Players to Watch in Game 4 of the Bruins-Capitals Series

Nicklas Backstrom, arguably the Washington Capitals’ second-most reliable producer, will be unavailable Thursday night as his team tries to pull even in its Eastern Conference quarterfinal bout with the Boston Bruins.

After a rare two-day interlude between tilts, those eligible to compete in Game 4 will pick up from what may have been a complexion-altering Game 3, wherein 70 percent of the series’ scoring to date was cultivated.

Whether it’s the temporary suspension to Backstrom or the inexplicable muteness of leaned-on skaters, both teams still have some depth to dig for even in the wake of Boston’s 4-3 triumph on Monday.

Meanwhile, those who did make a tangible dent will vie to follow up. Conversely, the two goaltenders who have flexed more humanity in Washington than they did last week in Boston seek to refill their moat.

Each team’s three figures bearing the biggest pregame storylines are as follows.

Zdeno Chara

Even with the last-change advantage working in Washington’s favor in Game 3, Chara still managed to see substantial ice time while Alexander Ovechkin’s line was on the offensive.

As it happened, Ovechkin was on the ice for all three of his team’s goals Monday night, two of which were tallied on Chara’s watch. Yet the Bruins’ captain outscored his Capital counterpart with three points as opposed to Ovechkin’s two.

It would not be exactly shrewd to bank on another prolific night on the point for the towering blueliner―at least not right away. But it is perfectly reasonable for Chara to pledge a stingier outing in Game 4.

Braden Holtby

With each game comes a new breed of challenge for the Capitals’ rookie goaltender, who was pressed into service with the injuries to veteran colleagues Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth.

Coming off his first regulation loss and first multi-goal outing of the series, Holtby needs to respond with poise in what is now a second-degree must-win situation.

For Holtby and Boston counterpart Tim Thomas alike, Monday’s red-light eruption may have been a byproduct of working multiple overtime periods in the first two games. Accordingly, having three sleeps between games rather than two could be a key to replenishing one or both masked man’s stinginess.

Brian Rolston

The 39-year-old trade deadline import has openly relished his opportunity to play for a contender again, translating that vigor to a point in each of the first three postseason games.

Can he extend his streak in the midst of helping the Bruins push the Capitals to the precipice?

Mike Knuble

With Backstrom’s suspension, Washington’s own 39-year-old forward figures to suit up on Thursday.

Being one of four Capitals to have worn an “A” this season, Knuble’s leadership and peerless seasoning could make an impact, assuming he has enough of an ignition to flip on. But this will also constitute his first look at extramural game action in exactly two weeks, leaving the question of rust up in the air until faceoff.

The Entire David Krejci Line

After swapping positions with Patrice Bergeron on the depth chart, Krejci still could not make a splash in the scoresheet. Neither could his two new wingers, the sophomore tandem of Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin.

Krejci’s only shot on net, and only attempted shot, in Game 3 came on a power play. Marchand failed to reach Holtby on three attempts and Seguin is still arid despite bringing his series total to a team-leading 10 stabs at the cage.

The sooner Boston’s top six starts living up to its label, the sooner the Bruins can set themselves apart from the Capitals and draw an assertive discrepancy in the final upshot of the series.

Marcus Johansson

Backstrom’s linemate could face more responsibilities in his center’s one-game absence. Johansson already took two faceoffs in each of the first two games of this series and six in Game 3, and could be asked to take on that task full time on Thursday.

Johansson has also brought a noticeable physical element to this matchup with five hits apiece over the last two contests. Only Troy Brouwer and Ovechkin have bumped more Bruins in this series so far, and no one should be thinking about letting up at this point.

The only thing the likes of Johansson will want to change is getting more quantitative and qualitative puck possession. This means winning more draws and winning more battles than prospecting for promising opportunities.