3 takeaways as Bruins close out 2024 with loss to Capitals [Video]

A week ago, the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals, 4-1, in what may have been their most impressive win of the season. They couldn’t make it two in a row over the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, though.

The Bruins closed out 2024 on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss in Washington in a New Year’s Eve matinee game. Justin Brazeau gave Boston a 1-0 lead just 1:21 into the game, but the Capitals answered with two goals later in the first period and then locked it down defensively before adding a late empty-netter.

The Bruins will now open up 2025 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden against the walking disaster that is the New York Rangers.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s loss:

1. They played well

The Bruins have had more than their fair share of ugly losses to good teams this season. This was not one of them. For the most part, this was a tight-checking, pretty …