WASHINGTON — Vermont. Belfast. Prague. Jersey. D.C. That’s more than enough road bonding. Sure, it was a success, but it’s high time the Boston Bruins played a game at home.

The Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 Tuesday night, running their winning streak to three games as they prepare for their home opener on Thursday – also against the Capitals.

Additional Photos

Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth looks on Tuesday night as Boston left wing Milan Lucic, stick at left, scores during the first period of their game at the Verizon Center in Washington. The Capitals had won four straight. The Associated Press

“It’s going to be good to be home,” Boston Coach Claude Julien said. “We’ve had our fair share of road games.”

The Bruins spent a pair of days training in Brattleboro, Vt., before traveling to Northern Ireland for an exhibition. There was another preseason game in the Czech Republic before they opened the regular season there by splitting two games with Phoenix. Then they beat New Jersey on the road before arriving in Washington, where they snapped the Capitals’ four-game winning streak and held Alex Ovechkin without a point for the first time in the young season.

“It all goes back to that Vermont trip and the Europe trip, and that’s where we’ve been able to bond as a team,” said left wing Milan Lucic, who had a goal and an assist in the first period Tuesday. “We’re having a lot of fun out there, and everyone’s got each other’s back.”

So, does this mean the Bruins are going to lobby to go to Europe every year? Lucic chuckled at that suggestion.

“I think it would wear on us eventually,” he said. “It was a lot of fun, that’s why I keep bringing it up. We’re happy now to go home and have a home opener.”

David Krejci also had a goal and an assist in the first period, Matt Hunwick added a third-period goal and Tim Thomas made 35 saves to improve to 3-0 for the Bruins.

Rookie Marcus Johansson scored for the Capitals, whose high-powered offense has yet to catch stride – even as their penalty kill remains perfect. Washington held Boston scoreless on four power plays, leaving opponents 0 for 25 through six games.

The Bruins scored twice on Michal Neuvirth before he left the game in the first period with flu symptoms, keeping him from becoming the first netminder in Washington franchise history to play all of the team’s goalie minutes through the first six games of a season.

“He complained of dizziness and a headache,” Washington Coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Then he came off – first time I knew about it.”

Semyon Varlamov, who had missed the first few games with a groin injury, came on and stopped 13 of 14 shots.

FLAMES 1, PREDATORS 0: Rene Bourque scored at 2:10 of overtime to give Calgary a victory at Nashville, Tenn.

After winning their first three games of the season, the Predators have lost back-to-back games, both in overtime. Calgary has won two straight.

The victory was Calgary’s fifth straight in Nashville. It has not lost a game in Nashville since Jan. 18, 2008.

Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 34 shots for his first shutout of the season.

WILD 6, CANUCKS 2: Marek Zidlicky had a goal and two assists, and Minnesota scored three times on the power play to beat Vancouver in St. Paul, Minn.

Guillaume Latendresse, Cal Clutterbuck, John Madden, Andrew Brunette and Matt Cullen also scored for the Wild, who entered the game with the league’s best power play at 38.1 percent, and was 3 for 3 with the man advantage.

Daniel Sedin scored twice for Vancouver.

NOTES: Columbus placed defenseman Mike Commodore on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 9 with a chip fracture in his left thumb.

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