Photo: Jamie Sabau
After defeating the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets looked to down one of the league’s top two teams for the second night in a row. They got right on that as Jack Johnson fired a power play marker from the Ovi spot just 1:32 into the game, the second quickest goal the Capitals have allowed this year.
The Caps evened up the score under six minutes later, when TJ Oshie converted on a slick pass from behind the net eight seconds into Washington’s opening power play. Forty-four seconds later, the Jackets took the lead again, with the Caps allowing a quick response goal like it’s 2014 all over again. Brandon Saad was all alone in front. But after Rene Bourque, who’s a jackass, took a phantom holding call, Washington’s power play got back to work. Evengy Kuznetsov did his thing, passing the puck off Jason Chimera’s stick and into the goal. Silly business.
In the second, the Capitals got another power play, but it was the Blue Jackets who converted. Brett Leonhardt, though, saved things from on high. The Capitals successfully challenged that ‘Lumbus was offside on the marker, the first time they’ve won a challenge this season. Later in the period, some great forechecking gave Tom Wilson the puck in the corner, who plopped it in Marcus Johansson’s lap for the go-ahead.
In the third, the power play struck again — this time for Columbus as Johnson added his second PP goal of the game. Just 40 second later, however, Kuznetsov converted on a two-on-one with Wilson to put the Caps back on top. It looked like the Caps were ready to start a new winning streak until Saad added his second of the game with just 1:08 to go. Uh oh.
After a flurry of OT PPs, the game went to a shootout.
Cam Atkinson was stoned by Holtby.
Oshie went slow-mo NHL 16 on Columbus’s ass.
Brandon Dubinsky fired a laser past Braden.
Ryan Johansson stopped and started and went top shelf on Braden Holtby.
Nicklas Backstrom was Washington’s last chance, but reserve netminder Anton Stralman closed the door for his first NHL win. Jackets beat Caps 5-4 (SO).
- The Caps had zero power plays in Thursday, finishing with two goals after 60 minutes. After 20 minutes Saturday, Washington had already matched that total thanks to three power plays in the period. The league’s second best man advantage converted twice in the first, thanks to sublime precision passing from Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Caps had more goals on the PP versus Columbus than in their previous five games combined.
- Thanks to Kuzy, Jason Chimera has four goals in his last seven games. It was Chimera’s 11th goal of the season. He finished with five shots on goal Saturday, second only to Alex Ovechkin. Look for Brian MacLellan to overpay the pending UFA this offseason.
- At five-on-five, Chimera was part of a new third line with Johansson. Mojo hasn’t played pivot since the Dale Hunter era, but he was great Saturday, with three shots on goal. The trio was Washington’s best as Johansson and Chimera led the teams’s forwards even-strength shot attempt differential. Two goals and five points for trio.
- Thursday, Tom Wilson took two penalties, increasingly his PIM total to 96, third in the league. Tonight was a different story as Wilson draws two penalties, using abrasiveness for good. Wilson got had two nice assists.
- After looking rather like burning rubber on Thursday, the second line was a bit better tonight. They were underwater in shot attempts, but Kuznetsov’s individual plays saved them. Andre Burakovsky was forgettable in his return to the top-six.
- Jack Hillen is a good dude. I enjoyed covering him during his time in DC. Now his career has come to an end. And yes, all my t-shirts come from the Kettler Capitals Iceplex team store clearance rack.
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- Yesterday, the Caps sent down Connor Carrick. That made me sad. Now 21, Carrick looked at home on Washington’s third pairing. While he was on the ice for a couple goals during his stint with the big club, Carrick was very solid in the main.
- In his place, Aaron Ness took over Jeff Schultz’s 55, which for some reason is not retired. Barry Trotz said before the game that the Capitals are trying to “get a good gage on the depth defensemen in our organization” with their opening night top pair of John Carlson and Brooks Orpik both missing in action for the fourth game in a row. Ness, who appears to be 12, acquitted himself well in his Capitals debut.
- Meanwhile, Matt Niskanen and Karl Alzner were brutal again. Nisky had to log 32 freaking minutes. Alzner had 25:42 in TOI. The D corps needs some relief. Putting Talib (?) Chorney on the ice for 10:32 and Ness on the ice 8:49 was a mistake. I would have played the third pair, which was pretty solid, over the gassed Niskanen and Alzner at the end of the game.
- It was a nice game for Dmitry Orlov though. Dima delivered crushing checks, jumped up in the play, and was robbed by Curtis McElhinney on a slot from the high slot.
- Sergei Bobrovsky was actually supposed to be in net tonight, but he re-injured his groin and was placed on IR.
- And then McElhinney got hurt in the extra frame, forcing Anton Forsberg (no relation) into the game. Forsberg didn’t even have his own pads at the morning skate. He ended up winning the game for Columbus. Wild.
- In the DC net, Braden Holtby still has point in 18 straight decisions, the first goalie to do that since Roberto Luongo in 2011-15.
The Capitals hadn’t lost back-to-back games or blown a lead after 40 minutes so far this season. Now they have — against the league’s worst team. Washington will leave Ohio with the loser point.
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