Can the Bruins get one past Braden Holtby tonight?

We didn’t get enough shots on net and didn’t get enough players in that area to score a few goals.

Holtby had three shutouts in three games against the Bruins last season, becoming the second goalie since 1967-1968 (the expansion era) to record three shutouts vs. one team in a single season, with Cristobal Huet in 2005-2006 the other. He is 2-2-1 with a 2.94 GAA against Washington, but Rask is 1-6-3 with a 3.00 GAA.

So, with Holtby expected in net for the Capitals on Thursday night at the Verizon Center, something has to change for the Bruins. But a year ago is a long way gone and it’s a new season, so obviously we’ve been feeling pretty confident up front. “We definitely got to be a lot better”.

After being a healthy scratch as of late, Randell rejoined the Bruins lineup with a bang.

Holtby spoke on the defense in front of him after the Caps took the lead, “I think our forecheck was really good in the third period”. However, Tuukka Rask showed up to play.

Boston became the last National Hockey League team to lose on the road, dropping to 5-1-0 on the season away from home.

“I still consider myself a two-way player, not just a penalty killer or defensive-assignment player”, he said.

“I thought when we scored that goal, we took our foot off the gas and let them get themselves back into the game”, said B’s coach Claude Julien.

“That doesn’t always lie on us, more than you run into a hot goaltender”. “You’ve just got to learn how we have to play and learn something from every game”.

“We have to work harder around the net and in the offensive zone and it didn’t happen”.

The Caps will receive a visit from Toronto on Saturday, before heading off on a two-game road trip to Detroit and Philadelphia next week.

■ TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM (98.5).

Center Brooks Laich ended a 16-game streak without a goal and left-winger Alex Ovechkin found the back of the net as well for Washington, which has now earned a point in 19 straight contests against Atlantic opponents, compiling a 16-0-3 mark during that stretch.

■ Assists: Kuznetsov 8, John Carlson 8, Justin Williams 7, Ovechkin 7. Braden Holtby has allowed 20 goals on 219 shots faced and Philipp Grubauer has given up five goals on 50 shots.

Gustavsson won each of his first three while allowing six goals and making 64 saves.

■ Miscellany: If the October 2 preseason meeting is any indicator, things might get a little rough between the teams; Tom Wilson and the Bruins’ Kevan Miller had a couple of beastly throwdowns in the game…

After Rask followed up a kick save on Oshie by gloving the rebound big, Marchand punched Oshie in the back of the head.