Capitals vs. Bruins: Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Analysis from Game 7

For the 14th time in as many seasons, there will be a new Stanley Cup champ in the NHL.

The seventh-seeded Washington Capitals knocked the defending-champion and second-seeded Boston Bruins out of the playoffs with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 7. It was the third road win of the series for the Caps, who rode another gutsy performance by rookie goaltender Braden Holtby to a 1-1 tie through regulation before Joel Ward closed it out on a rebound from Mike Knuble in the extra period.

Tweets of the Night

Nothing like Boston sports fans. Always class acts when it comes to cheering on their teams in crucial games. Bruce Arthur of TSN would tend to agree...not:

"

Bruins fans booed the home team after one. They won a Cup last year. It's Game 7. You could be mistaken for Canadians right now, Boston.

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 26, 2012"

The Stanley Cup playoffs carry a ton of cross-sport cachet. Don't believe me? Just ask Cleveland Browns tight end Dan Gronkowski, brother of New England Patriots Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski:

"

The NHL playoffs r insane. The hockey playoffs r the best sport action to watch!Watching game 7, Bruins and Caps.

— Dan Gronkowski (@DGronko) April 26, 2012"

Heck, even Sports Illustrated college hoops guru Seth Davis has taken a rooting interest. But, to be fair, he has plenty of free time on his hands now that March Madness is over:

"

Third period underway. Tied up at 1-1. Let's go Caps!!!!

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) April 26, 2012"

Must-See Highlight

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how the Caps felled the reigning champs:

Grades for Key Capitals Players

Alexander Ovechkin: B-

Caps coach Dale Hunter has done a remarkable job of marginalizing Alex Ovechkin, though often for the better as far as Washington's hopes as a team are concerned. Ovi registered a mere 16:25 of time on the ice, during which he made merely a marginal impact, with two shots and three hits.

It's tough to fault Alex too much for his production (or lack thereof) in limited action in Game 7, though he deserves all the blame in the world for putting himself in that position in the first place. 

Nicklas Backstrom: B

The stats don't quite do Nick Backstrom's performance justice. Granted, he wasn't great for the Caps—with two shots, two takeaways, one hit and an even rating.

But the D.C. center was surprisingly solid defensively, disrupting the B's buzzing attack to keep the Caps in the contest.

Grades for Key Bruins Players

Tyler Seguin: A-

Tyler Seguin was all over the ice for the Bruins...in a good way, of course. The swift, young center scored Boston's first (and only) goal of the game to even the score in the second period and led all skaters with seven shots on the evening.

Tim Thomas: B+

It's almost passe to say that Tim Thomas stood on his head in Boston's net in a Game 7. He wasn't quite as good as he was in the last two clinchers of the B's Cup (each of which were shutouts), though stopping 25 of the Caps' 27 shots ain't too shabby, either.  

As for giving up the game-winner...well, not much he could do with Mike Knuble in his grill.

Deciding Factor: Toughness

Throughout this series, the Caps displayed the sort of toughness that they'd long lacked (and been criticized for lacking) during their prior run as one of the top regular-season teams in the NHL.

The B's are as intimidating a team as any in hockey—what with Zdeno Chara stalking the blue line and all—but could never quite knock D.C. off their skates, try as they might.

It's a testament to Dale Hunter's ability as a coach that he's been able to bring the team together under a more cohesive, playoff-friendly style after so many years of scoring and doing little else.

Game MVP: Joel Ward

If you score the game- (and series-) winner, then, by default, you're the MVP.

So...congratulations to Joel Ward! 

What's Next?

The B's will spend the rest of the spring and summer stewing over this defeat, while the Caps will wait and see what happens in the two remaining Game 7s on tap in the Eastern Conference.

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