An improving Bruins defense under Joe Sacco delivered a masterclass vs. Capitals

By Conor Ryan The Bruins have long forged an identity as a hard-nosed defensive unit operating at their best when herding opponents out of Grade-A ice and clogging up shooting lanes, even at the cost of a stinging salvo struck off a shin pad.

But no Boston roster helmed by defensive pillars like Zdeno Chara or Patrice Bergeron painted the same muted and effective canvas as the one crafted by the 2024-25 Bruins on Monday night.

At least, such was the sentiment after glancing over the Capitals shot map at TD Garden.

Washington has emerged as one of the top surprises in the league this year thanks to a suffocating forecheck and a propensity for peppering the net from high-danger ice.

The Capitals rank third in the NHL in goals scored per contest (3.68) and sixth in high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.39) .

Even with top triggerman Alex Ovechkin on the mend due to a fractured leg, Washington has still scored four-plus goals in six of their last 16 games.

But on Monday, Washington generated next to nothing against a suffocating defensive effort from Boston.

Not only did Boston limit the Capitals to just one tally, Washington only managed to muster 11 total shots on goal in the Bruins eventual 4-1 win.

Monday marked the first time that the Bruins have limited an opponent to 11 shots on goal or fewer since Dec.

18, 1993, against the Tampa Bay Lightning as well as just the seventh time in the franchises 100-year history that it held a team to 11 shots or fewer.

What they end up with, 11 shots? Thats pretty good, Charlie Coyle said postgame.

I think any time you give up 11 shots, youre probably having a decent game.

Whether its blocked shots, [Jeremy Swayman] doing his job when it gets to him, and maybe its clogging up the neutral zone and just playing good hockey and good support.

Coyle is one of just three Bruins on the active roster who was alive the last time Boston limited a team to such a minuscule shot total, joining Brad Marchand and Jordan Oesterle.

For Joe Sacco, Mondays defensive showcase was the most tangible piece of evidence yet that his team is buying into a simplified, stingy approach that has lifted Boston to an 11-4-1 record since he was handed the reins of the roster.

Theres been a commitment from our players.

Theres been a buy-in, Sacco acknowledged.

We have a process that we go through every game, and theyre checking most of the boxes.

...

I like the mindset of the group where were at right now.

I like the way were defending.

As a revamped line of Coyle, Brad Marchand, and Elias Lindholm eventually broke through with three third-period tallies to help the Bruins pull away, the Caps found themselves stuck in the neutral down the other end of the frozen sheet.

At even-strength play, Washington only generated seven shots on goal.

Boston blocked 17 shots in the win, headlined by Charlie McAvoys four.

Washington landed zero shots on net over Lindholms 12:28 of 5-on-5 reps , with sound puck protection from the pivot and his new-look linemates routinely killing plays in Bostons end.

Much like Bostons showing against a quick-strike Edmonton team last week (where the Oilers 2.33 expected goals rate was their fourth-lowest total of the year) , Saccos players negated odd-man rushes via simple, smart plays with the puck and tenacious work along the boards.

Bostons best stretch of play came seconds into the third period after Oliver Wahlstrom was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding.

It served as an optimal spot for Washingtons power play which entered Monday operating at 32.1 percent since Nov.

9 to break what was a 1-1 stalemate.

But Washington didnt even land a single shot on goal over that five-minute man advantage, with Boston blocking three shots over that stretch and even attempting two shots of their own over the extended penalty kill.

We were blocking shots, winning faceoffs kept them on the outside, Lindholm said.

I dont think they had a single shot during the five minutes.

So thats the way we had to play, to be dialed in the details.

It hasnt always been perfect for Boston when it comes to committing to Saccos rigid system as evidenced by an 8-1 blowout loss to Winnipeg on Dec.

10.

But Saccos emphasis on clamping down in high-danger ice has resonated in Bostons underlying numbers.

Since Saccos first game as bench boss on Nov.

21, the Bruins are behind only the Panthers for 5-on-5 high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes (7.75).

Over these last 16 games, Boston has generated 139 high-danger looks at 5-on-5 action while only relinquishing 101 in its own zone.

This Bruins roster still has its fair share of warts, with concerns over scoring hovering over a team that also lost David Pastrnak to injury Monday night.

But even if the personnel in Boston arent realistically going to light the lamp four times a night, they have the system and structure in place to make life miserable for the opposition.

It certainly wont equate to 11 shots allowed, night in and night out.

But its a winning formula for a Bruins team that has started to find its identity amid a once-rudderless season.

We didnt force anything, Marchand said.

We were really detailed defensively, and obviously capitalized on a couple turnovers.

Thats the way that weve been preaching to play in this room.

...

Thats a very good team, and we didnt give them a whole lot.

Conor Ryan Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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