Teammates surround Bruins right wing Craig Smith after his game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during a second overtime period of Game 3 Wednesday, in Boston. The Bruins won 3-2 and took a 2-1 series lead. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
BOSTON — It was a play that almost never works.
A goalie usually stops the puck on long clear-ins behind his own net and holds it long enough to give it to one of his defensemen to start the breakout.
Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov looks back at the puck after Criag Smith scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period, Charles Krupa/Associated Press
Pressuring the puck in that spot is usually a waste of energy for the forechecking forward. But in the closest game of a very close series, Bruins right wing Craig Smith kept bearing down. Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov didn’t wait long enough and left the puck for Justin Schultz while casually returning to his crease.
But Smith beat the Washington defenseman to the puck. He grabbed it behind the net, took a quick stride and then used his long reach to hook the puck around the front of the net and pull it just inside the far post, beating Samsonov’s desperate late skate by a mere instant to give the Bruins a 3-2 win and a 2-1 lead in the series.
“You don’t expect to get those,” Coach Bruce Cassidy said. “But if you keep playing behind their D and forcing them to break pucks out, you will get some breaks like that. He stayed on it and good for him to have the recognition to stuff it.”
Once he saw an opening, Smith visualized his chance in a split second.
“I just tried to jump on it and see if I could create a turnover. They gave me just enough time to get in there and get it,” Smith said. “It was a great feeling. … His ankle just didn’t get back there in time.”
Smith had a huge grin as he skated toward the Boston bench. He pantomimed Clark Kent opening his shirt to reveal the Superman suit underneath as his teammates mobbed him in celebration.
While Taylor Hall’s acquisition at the trade deadline has certainly given the Bruins a shot in the arm, Smith has been an underrated piece for the newly formed second line.
“That goal tonight was a classic example of him putting pressure on a guy with his speed and physicality then making a play for a goal afterward,” Hall said. “He’s probably one of the most well-liked guys I’ve ever played with as a teammate.”
TAYLOR HALL’S got the inspiration for his second-period goal that tied the game 1-1from, of all places, a goalie coach. At morning skate Wednesday, Bob Essensa pulled the new Bruins forward aside. What he said stuck in Hall’s mind Wednesday when he got the puck in front of the net.
“He skated by me and made a comment on a shot I had last game where I probably could have pulled it around instead of just shooting five-hole quick,” Hall said. “That was on my mind as the game went on.”
Rather than trying a quick backhand when he caught the puck with his back to the net, Hall spun like a post player after catching a basketball on the low block and kept the puck on his forehand allowing him to flip it by Samsonov.
“I’m starting to get some confidence goal-scoring-wise since I’ve gotten here,” he said. “That’s probably a good example of that.”
Hall now has two goals in three postseason games with Boston matching his total in 37 regular-season games with Buffalo.
Boston defenseman Kevan Miller, left, drops Washington right wing and Kennebunkport native Garnet Hathaway to the ice after goaltender Tuukka Rask, right, lost his helmet. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
TUUKKA RASK was the latest Bruin frustrated by Garnet Hathaway, the Kennebunkport native who has been an effective agitator all series for Washington. With the game tied 1-1 with 6:11 left, Hathaway collided with Rask and appeared to pull his goalie mask off.
Kevan Miller pushed Hathaway down in the crease and Rask swung angrily and landed two quick right hands. Neither player was called for a penalty.
“I was just protecting myself,” Rask said. “I figured I’d let him know if he comes close, maybe I’ll give him a couple, maybe too many.”
OVERTIME OVERKILL: Boston and Washington have become the most reliably tight postseason rivalry in the NHL with 12 consecutive games decided by one goal in the playoffs.
On top of that, this year neither team has even led by more than one goal in the three games which have all gone to overtime. This is actually five straight overtime games between them as their best-of-seven series in 2012 had four OT games including the last two.
GAME 3 ON WEDNESDAY was the first time the Bruins had played a home playoff game since the Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Finals nearly two years ago. There was still only 25% of capacity of the Garden allowed (if the Bruins should advance, they could have full capacity for the second round) but the 5,000-plus have made their presence felt.
“It’s nice to be back, there’s no doubt about that. I think everyone would say that after the bubble experience,” said Cassidy. “We had to do what we had to do, but it’s nice to be back in your familiar surroundings. I see a lot of Bruins merchandise I see around town. It’s that time of year. A little later than normal. We always want to be playing at this time of year, but the playoffs are pushed back a bit, but still great weather for it and a great atmosphere being back here.”
THURSDAY’S GAMES
PANTHERS 6, LIGHTNING 5: Ryan Lomberg scored on a breakaway 5:56 into overtime to cap a furious comeback as visiting Florida won Game 3 of the first-round Central Division playoff matchup.
The Panthers cut the Lightning’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series by scoring twice in the third period before Lomberg won it in overtime.
PENGUINS 5, ISLANDERS 4: Brandon Tanev scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:36 left and visiting Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Jeff Carter scored twice, Kris Letang had a goal and two assists, and Jason Zucker also scored for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots.
CANADIENS 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1: Paul Byron broke a tie with a short-handed goal from his knees with 7:16 left and Montreal won Game 1 of the first-round series in Toronto.
The game was marred by an early collision that sent Toronto captain John Tavares off the ice on a stretcher to a hospital.
Tavares crashed into Montreal’s Ben Chiarot 10:29 into the first period and was hit in the head by Corey Perry’s knee as he fell. Tavares gave a thumbs-up as he left the ice. Toronto newcomer Nick Foligno then fought Perry immediately after the faceoff.
Game 2 is Saturday night in Toronto. The teams last met in the playoffs in 1979.
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