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Thomas, Top Line Lead Bruins Past Capitals, 3-1

Streaks are made to be broken, and that’s just what the Bruins did Tuesday night in Washington.

Coming into the game, the Capitals were riding a four-game win streak, not to mention being unbeaten in regulation by Boston in their last nine meetings (7-0-2 in that time). But Tuesday night is why betting on hockey games is so foolhardy, as Tim Thomas and the Bruins left the nation’s capital with a 3-1 victory over Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals.

The scoring for the B’s got going early, as Boston finally was able to light the lamp in the first period of a game, something they hadn’t done yet this season. The top forward line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Nathan Horton continued to power the offense, with Krejci getting the B’s on the board first. The team’s top centerman delivered the puck past Washington’s starting goalie Michal Neuvirth, completing a two-on-one break with Horton midway through the first period.

Lucic would double the B’s lead less than three minutes later, banging home the rebound of a shot by Johnny Boychuk, to give the Bruins a two-goal advantage.

That would be all we’d see of Neuvirth, as he would make an early exit from the game, dealing with flu-like symptoms. Semyon Varlamov would come in for relief, for his first action of the young season.

Rookie Marcus Johansson would score his first goal of the year for the Caps in the second period, beating Thomas to cut the Bruins lead to one, heading into the final 20 minutes. But a Matt Hunwick goal early in the third would help seal the win for Boston, with Boston wrapping up their long road trip with a 3-1 win and a 3-1 record.

It was the first regulation win in Washington since 2006 for the Bruins, while Thomas improved to 6-2-0 all-time against the Caps. David Krejci (1G, 1A), Milan Lucic (1G, 1A), and Nathan Horton (1A) all continued their season-long points streak, now four games deep.

The Caps won’t have to wait long to get their chance at revenge, as these two squads will meet again Thursday for the Bruins’ home opener at TD Garden.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Boston Bruins, David Krejci, Matt Hunwick, Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, Tim Thomas, Washington Capitals