By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent

While one game certainly doesn’t determine a season, the Bruins have their work cut out for them after a shockingly one-sided 4-1 loss to the Capitals on opening night at the Garden.

After ten minutes of close, up-tempo hockey, the remainder of the contest was all Alexander Ovechkin & co. The Russian superstar finished the night with a goal and two assists, out-skating and out-muscling the Bruins in their own zone to create ample scoring opportunities. The Capitals cashed in twice on the man-advantage, outshooting the Bruins 34-20 overall.

Patrice Bergeron accounted for the Bruins’ lone tally, scoring on a breakaway midway through the third period. Other than that, Boston’s supposedly well-balanced offensive attack didn’t put much of a scare into Washington netminder Jose Theodore. The Bruins managed just three shots in the third period, and the power play was abysmal, registering just one shot over the course of five attempts.

This offensive ineptitude is certainly unfamiliar to the Bruins, who led the Eastern Conference in scoring last season. Timing is partly to blame; key offensive cogs Marco Sturm and David Krejci are returning from injuries after minimal preseason participation. However, it’s still disconcerting that Boston’s top three lines appeared lackadaisical for long stretches of play, failing to get the puck to the net or put pressure on in the corners. Perhaps the lone bright spot, aside from Bergeron, was the fourth line’s gritty play.

Tim Thomas made 30 saves, but clearly wasn’t in midseason form, allowing an uncharacteristic number of rebounds. Brooks Laich also scored twice for the Capitals, and Nicklas Backstrom added three assists.

The Bruins now seek their first win of the season tomorrow night at home against the Hurricanes.

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