Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - The Boston Bruins try to stretch their unbeaten streak to eight games tonight when they visit the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center.

Boston, which is 5-0-2 since a season-opening loss to Minnesota, toppled winless Atlanta, 4-3, at the FleetCenter on Saturday night. Brian Rolston scored two third-period goals, including the game-winner with 25.3 seconds remaining, to pace the triumph, while goaltender Steve Shields continued his strong play with 28 saves.

Marty McInnis and captain Joe Thornton also tallied for Boston, which capped off a two-game homestand.

Shields, acquired this past summer to essentially replace the unsigned Byron Dafoe, is 3-0-2 in five appearances thus far. He has recorded a 2.28 goals- against average and .921 save-percentage.

Rolston, meanwhile, is tied with Glen Murray for the team lead at four goals, and has found the net three times in the last two games. Rolston scored the equalizer in a 2-2 tie with Ottawa last Thursday.

The Bruins begin a stretch of three games in four nights this evening. They will host Anaheim on Thursday before welcoming the New York Rangers to Beantown on Saturday.

Washington, meanwhile, is winless in its last three games (0-2-1), and is 1-4-1 since opening the campaign with a three-match winning streak. The Caps concluded an eight-game road trip Monday night with a 3-2 loss to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Peter Bondra and Jeff Halpern scored for Washington, but a stitched-up Lemieux, who was cut by a puck in the first period, potted the eventual game-winner with 7:11 left in the second period. Jaromir Jagr, who faced Lemieux for the first time since the summer 2001 trade that sent him to DC, was held point-less.

Washington allowed two more first period goals against Pittsburgh to continue its trend of sluggish starts. The Caps have been outscored by a 10-2 margin in the first 20 minutes this season.

In addition, the Capitals, who allowed two power-play markers on seven chances, have gone eight straight games without scoring more than two tallies, and rank 28th in the NHL with 19 goals thus far.

Goaltender Craig Billington finished with 21 saves in the losing cause. Billington started in place of Olaf Kolzig, who suffered a hand injury at the morning skate. The injury was not believed to be serious at first, but Kolzig was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and will miss a minimum of three games.

Washington concludes a brief homestand on Friday against Tampa Bay.

The Bruins and Caps split four games last season, but Washington is 4-2-1 in the last seven meetings overall. Boston is winless in its last four trips to DC (0-3-1).