Need to Know: Bruins at Capitals | Game 1

WASHINGTON - The Bruins will begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Saturday night when they visit the Washington Capitals for Game 1 of their first-round series at Capital One Arena. Charlie Coyle will be back in the lineup after missing the final four games of the regular season with an upper-body injury.
"It's just fun to be a part of and work towards that ultimate goal," Coyle said on Saturday morning. "There's highs, there's lows and it's about staying even keel even with all the excitement going around. That's a skill in itself. We're so happy to be here again and really looking forward to the challenges that are in front of us right now."
Coyle will be back in as the third-line right wing alongside Nick Ritchie and Sean Kuraly, reuniting a trio that, somewhat unsuspectingly, came together late in the regular season with some quick chemistry to form a heavy combination with a scoring threat.

"I think we were doing some good things: puck possession, three big guys who can really possess that thing down there and make it tough on opposing team and D-men," said Coyle. "We saw a little bit of that. It took some time, too, where we're gonna be, our tendencies together.
"But we've done a lot of talking since. Still some things that you feel went well looking back on the short time we played together. Looking to build off of that."

A Bit of Normalcy

Last summer, when the National Hockey League returned from its COVID-19 pause, there was, of course, a heightened level of excitement.
But with the postseason taking place in the bubble in Toronto - in the midst of a raging pandemic - the buzz was hardly the same without fans, home rinks, and everything else that normally comes with playoff hockey.
Nearly eight months later, with the pandemic beginning to loosen its grip, restrictions loosening, and fans back in most buildings - albeit at limited capacity - the start of the playoffs feels far more familiar.
"Last year, it definitely didn't feel like a normal playoffs, a normal situation," said Brad Marchand. "Obviously, we were very fortunate to be able to play last year considering what was going on in the world. But it didn't feel like playoffs, by any means, when you're up there.
"But this year, we're right back at it. It's normal again, for the most part. We get to travel and be in hotels for an extended period of time and be in the opposing buildings. That all adds to the playoff atmosphere, being in the opposing team's arenas.
"They're all starting to fill up more which is great. You need that atmosphere in playoffs. It's part of the home-ice advantage…it makes it so exciting. The fans love being there. We feed off the atmosphere and the momentum swings because of that.
"It does feel great to be able to come into an opposing team's building and start playoffs here."
Marchand will be suiting up for his 122nd career postseason game on Saturday night, some 10 years after his first taste of the playoffs during Boston's 2011 Stanley Cup run.
"It's always an exciting and nervous time. I was excited this morning waking up," said Marchand. "Very excited. Almost giddy…having the opportunity to play again. We've waited for this all year…I think we're just all excited for this moment."

Opposing View

Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said T.J. Oshie (lower-body) is a game-time decision. He did not name his Game 1 starter in goal, though the Washington Post reported that Vitek Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate.
For the first time since 2006, Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara will play a postseason game for a team other than the Boston Bruins. But the B's former captain said he is hardly viewing this series as any type of revenge tour.
"No, it's all about the team. It's nothing personal. It's just the way it worked out," said Chara, who has 195 playoff games - 150 with the Bruins - to his name. "It's playoff hockey. The teams that are in the playoffs battled hard throughout the whole season to get to the playoffs. The matchups are matchups. It's an exciting time of the year. We have all battled hard to get to the playoffs. Now it's the time."

By the Numbers

• Patrice Bergeron will tie Chara for second overall on the team's postseason games played list with his 150th playoff game.
• David Krejci will move into sole possession of fourth place on that list with his 146th postseason game (currently tied with Wayne Cashman at 145).
• Mike Reilly will suit up for his first Stanley Cup playoff game tonight.
• Marchand is five points shy of his 100th NHL playoff point.
• Boston is in the postseason for the fifth straight season and 74th all-time in their history. Their 74 postseason berths are second all-time in NHL history to Montreal's 85.

Saturday's Projected Lineup

BOSTON BRUINS
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Craig Smith
Nick Ritchie - Sean Kuraly - Charlie Coyle
Jake DeBrusk - Curtis Lazar - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly - Brandon Carlo
Jeremy Lauzon - Kevan Miller
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Jeremy Swayman
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
FORWARDS
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Anthony Mantha
Conor Sheary - Lars Eller - Michael Raffl
Daniel Sprong - T.J. Oshie - Tom Wilson
Carl Hagelin - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway
DEFENSEMEN
Dmitry Orlov - John Carlson
Brenden Dillon - Justin Schultz
Zdeno Chara - Nick Jensen
GOALIES
Vitek Vanecek
Craig Anderson