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Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Craig Smith nets double-OT winner as Bruins win Game 3, take 2-1 series lead over Capitals

Author Matt Dolloff
May 19, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; After stealing the puck from Washington Capitals defenseman Justin Schultz (2), Boston Bruins right wing Craig Smith (12) celebrates his winning goal on goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30) during the second overtime in game three of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Craig Smith picked the Capitals’ pocket and netted the game-winning goal in the second overtime, as the Boston Bruins beat Washington 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their Stanley Cup Playoff series.

Boston swarmed goaltender Ilya Samsonov in the first overtime, out-shooting the Capitals 17-5, but to no avail. Ultimately, a miscommunication between Samsonov and Caps defenseman Justin Schultz allowed Smith to scoop up the loose puck and wrap it around and into the net.

The scoring started in the second period, with a goal for each team within a span of 56 seconds. First, after Brad Marchand went to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct, Alex Ovechkin buried an open one-timer from the slot to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead. But less than a minute later, Taylor Hall gathered a heady backhand pass from Smith and made a highlight-reel finish over the shoulder of Samsonov to tie it back up.

Nic Dowd put the Caps back on top late in the second period with a redirected pass through Tuukka Rask. The play started after David Pastrnak mishandled the puck at his own blue line and turned it over.

It wasn’t until more than halfway through the third period that the Bruins found another equalizer. This time it was Marchand redeeming himself for a bad penalty for the second straight game, as he whacked a floating puck out of the air on a power play to knot the game back up, 2-2.

In all, Rask made 35 saves, including 14 in the second period. Samsonov made 40 stops for the Capitals in his playoff debut.

The Bruins and Caps get back at it in Game 4 on Friday night at TD Garden.

PHOTOS: Bruins-Capitals, Game 3

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].

Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

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