BOSTON -- Washington Capitals coach Jim Schoenfeld wasn't kicking any chairs in the visitors' locker room after his team's 1-1 tie with the Bruins yesterday at Boston Garden.
Though Washington's inability to win games, especially on the road, is probably beginning to eat away at the team, Schoenfeld chose to savor yesterday's hard-earned point.
"It was a great tie for us. We're playing real good hockey but we've been losing a lot of one-goal games. If we had let this one slip away, it would have really set us back," said Schoenfeld. "This is a real good Bruins hockey team, and they always play well in this building."
It is no mystery to Schoenfeld or his players why Washington is 0-4-2 on the road and 2-6-2 overall. The Caps simply can't score. They have 17 goals, fewest in the NHL.
"It is a matter of putting the puck in the net. We have people who can score," said Schoenfeld.
One of whom is left wing Dimitri Khristich, who gave the Caps a 1-0 lead 28 seconds into the second period when he knocked home a rebound of Calle Johansson's shot. But minutes later, he was bemoaning a call that cost him a second goal.
On a power play, Khristich wheeled into the slot and tapped the puck forward with his hand. As it rolled toward Bruins goaltender Vincent Riendeau, Khristich attempted to stab it in with his stick. Though the puck slipped by Riendeau, the goal was waved off because the television replay was inconclusive.
"It was awful. I don't even know if the officials really saw it," said Khristich.
But Schoenfeld stayed positive.
"Khristich played a really strong game and got himself a goal," the coach said. "He is over whatever was causing him to be fatigued over the last few weeks."
The Bruins' offense overcame its sluggish start when left wing Dave Reid rifled a shot past Caps goalie Rick Tabaracci, tying it at 1-1 at 15:55 of the second period.
After Bruins center Bryan Smolinski collided with Peter Bondra at center ice, Reid uncovered the puck and took a few strides forward before sneaking it into the upper left corner.
Aside from that, it was a flawless day for Tabaracci (25 saves). His best period was the third, in which he made nine saves that included deflecting David Shaw's point-blank shot with 4:08 left.
"We played pretty well," Tabaracci said. "The defense has been playing great, every game. The only bad period [the defense] had was two or three weeks ago in Quebec."
He could hardly say the same about the offense, which couldn't muster a shot in overtime. But Boston didn't get a shot off, either.
"When you're in a situation like we're in and the score is close or tied, you have a tendency to squeeze the sawdust out of your stick," Schoenfeld said.
But veteran Dave Poulin said there is more to it than that.
"The combinations haven't clicked," he said. "We've had our chances and had a lot of shots and it's not working. But I'd be more concerned if we were losing 7-5."
Though the Caps have more points than only the lowly Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference, the Bruins showed no lack of respect.
"They are a good team. They're just having difficulty putting the puck in the net," said Riendeau, who made 10 saves after relieving an injured Blaine Lacher early in the second period. "They aren't easy to beat. They could come back and win 10 in a row and no one would be surprised."
Especially not Schoenfeld. "If we ever get in a game where we get a lead and get comfortable, a lot of this burden will be lifted," he said. "It is going to take a win. Wins are great healers."