Bruins Cap the Captials in a shootout win, 3-2.

Sep 17, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Capitals forward Dane Byers (50) fights with Boston Bruins forward Bobby Robins (64) in the first period at 1st Mariner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins found themselves down for most of the last night’s pre-season game against the Washington Capitals. In the end, the Bruins used grit, determination, and Bobby Robins to battle back to take the game to overtime and a shootout.  It took the Bruins eight rounds for Carter Camper to get the winning shot for Boston.

“Yeah it was a tough night…pucks were bouncing everywhere, both teams didn’t seem to get any momentum going there,” Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien said following the game. “So it wasn’t the prettiest, it wasn’t as entertaining as you would probably like it to be, but at the end of the night it went into overtime and turned into a shootout and we found a way to win.”

The Bruins went down early when the Caps Tom Wilson snuck a shot by Tuukka Rask 2:42 in the first. (On the bright side, it was the only one Tuukka let in for his thirty minutes of net time. He finished with fourteen saves on fifteen shots.(.933 save%). The ice conditions seem to factor in heavy with the games’ play, as both teams seemed to have struggles controlling the puck. That continued after Rask handed the net over to last year’s best AHL goalie Niklas Svedberg. While Svedberg also let one through (in his defense, Casey Wellman fired a wicked wrister) but played the entire overtime and shootout. He finished with twelve saves on thirteen shots. (.923%)

The Bruins fought back the entire game, sometimes literally. Bobby Robins, the P-Bruins ‘enforcer’ got involved with Captials’ Dane Byers early in the first period. “It was a quick one,” said Robins after the fight. “Dane Byers is a worthy competitor and he battles and fights. We’ve battled against each other before and I figured we’d run into each other at some point and he came in and grabbed me.”

“It was just a quick one, I wish it would have lasted a little longer but everybody came out safe and sound – and nobody’s feelings were hurt – so it was a positive for everyone.”

Robins was everywhere the Bruins needed to be last night. Right after the Wellman goal, Robins took his line on the offensive. Robins got aggressive and got space for Justin Florek to get a goal with less than a minute to go in the second period. That got the Bruins within one going into the last period. In the third period, it was Chris Kelly who came through for the Bruins, getting in a one-timer that tied the game up at two.

“I thought the first period there was pretty scrambly but that was to be expected.” said Kelly to Boston Bruins.com “Everyone was excited to move their feet. But as the game went on it was a little more controlled and I thought we played much better in the last two periods.”

There were a lot of positives that came out of last night’s game. Fan favorite and Bruins blueliner Johnny Boychuk was wearing and ‘A’ on his jersey last night. (It appears the Bruins are looking to have some sort of leadership committee at the moment.) Chris Kelly has shown signs that he has shaken off last year’s troubles and is ready to go. Bobby Robins has made a strong case for himself to earn a spot on the Bruins roster.

The Bruins will attempt to continue their winning streak on Thursday night, when their next pre-season game finds them back at the TD Garden taking on new division rival, the Detroit Red Wings.