Capitals edge Bruins in Chara’s return to Boston

Jakub Vrana scored the only goal in the shootout and the Washington Capitals beat the Bruins 2-1 Wednesday night in Zdeno Chara’s return to Boston.

Lars Eller also scored for the Capitals, who improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine games. Vitek Vanecek made 18 saves in regulation.

The 43-year-old Chara, the Bruins’ captain for his 14 seasons with the club, signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Capitals in the offseason. He helped Boston win the 2011 Stanley Cup, and was a key part of its runnerup teams in 2013 and 2019.

David Pastrnak scored for Boston. Tuukka Rask stopped 27 shots and was denied in his bid for the 300th victory of his career.

Vrana, the Capitals’ second shooter, shifted around Rask and tucked the puck inside the left post.

Vanecek robbed Jake DeBrusk in the final minute of OT, after Rask made a pair of nice stops on redirect chances by Dmitry Orlov and Nicklas Backstrom.

Boston took a 1-0 edge early in the third when Brad Marchand broke down the left wing and sent a crossice pass to Pastrnak, who redirected it past Vanecek 1:19 into period.

Washington tied it when Eller scored from the edge of the crease just under five minutes later.

The Bruins played a video tribute for Chara on the Jumbotron during the first TV stoppage. With fans unable to be in the building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were messages thanking him.

It was Chara’s first time playing in Boston as an opponent in nearly 15 years; the last coming with Ottawa on March 16, 2006.

Washington had T.J. Oshie’s apparent goal with 9:16 left in the opening period overturned after the Bruins challenged that the play was

offsides.

MAPLE LEAFS 6, OILERS 1 >> Jimmy Vesey scored twice and goaltender Frederik Andersen made 26 saves in his return after missing four games to lead visiting Toronto over Edmonton Oilers — its third straight road win in the clash of North Division heavyweights.