If the Caps didn’t deal from strength, they would get crushed every time, that’s what I always say. Facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in enemy territory, Washington clinged to their guns, you betcha, refusing to lead from behind and definitely not pussy-footing around. Although they allowed the first goal, the Caps fought back their sovereignty. Evgeny Kuznetsov mastered the art of the deal, and Nick Backstrom made hockey great again.

To be sporting, Washington let Columbus score first, giving Kerby Rychel his first career NHL goal. Then it was the Caps’ turn. Nick Backstrom finished an impressive passing sequence by the first line, then Jason Chimera got served a tasty meal by Marcus Johansson.

Up a goal in the second period, the Caps kept pressing. On a four-minute power play, they struck twice– first by Alex Ovechkin from the Ovi spot and then from Nick Backstrom tipping in Kuznetsov’s pass. Boone Jenner scored, but we didn’t care because Andre Burakovsky struck back right after.

Ryan Murray scored in the third and I don’t care I don’t care I don’t care. Marcus Johansson got an empty-netter with 30 seconds left.

Caps beat Blue Jackets 6-3!

Bullets, sure, but first we dance.

• Braden Holtby actually played this whole game, thereby recording his 30th win of the season. Thirty wins! That’s twenty more than weakest competition yet has up in Philly.
• I thought Jason Chimera was hurt. I really did. Pucks are hard, so is Jack Johnson’s shot, and so too are the bones in Jason’s wrist. But then Chimera came back and redefined the whole “hands of stone” thing. Marcus Johansson‘s expert read of the Blue Jackets defense was the first of many wow-caliber things he did this game.
• Less impressive than the takeaway and assist, Marcus Johansson absorbed a high stick from Justin Falk, which put the Caps on a four-minute power play. Or two two-minute power plays as Pat insists on phrasing it because he’s a pedantic jerk. Anyway, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice. La dee da the Caps are invincible.
• Equal time for criticism: Kuznetsov’s 5v5 line continues to have trouble ending opponent possession, making long defensive-zone sessions frustrating and tedious for a player who is super fun to watch in the o-zone.
• Oh wait, back up real quick: Alex Ovechkin‘s power-play goal puts him tied with Peter Bondra in all-time goals (except for playoffs and shootouts and preseason and all the goals that got washed out because refs are dumb and Justin Williams is evil.)
• I’m not writing about the Michael Latta/Justin Falk fight. No, it’s not a principled stand against a terrible ritual. I just don’t understand what happened. How did this fight start? How did Falk not get an instigator? How was Marcus Johansson involved?
• Justin Falk’s percentage of Columbus penalties: 100.
• Karl Alzner became co-owner of Washington’s longest consecutive game streak at 422, tying Bobby Carpenter, whose wikipedia page contains a weird brag about all his kids being excellent at sports. Whatever. Were they on academic team? I thought not.
• Alex Ovechkin got a shootout attempt halfway into the third, but he very charitably telegraphed his deke to allow Sergei Bobrovsky to save some face. This was Bob’s first game since early December, and it was not exactly a sterling outing for the best cop on the force.
• A goal, an assist, and a holding is as close to a Gordie Howe Hat Trick that Marcus Johansson will ever get.

Joe B suit of the night

I want to talk about the fourth line. Brooks Laich, Mike Richards, and Michael Latta. Two of those guys are former top-sixers, and one of them is a future middle-sixer. They took only 15 shifts, but that bottom line looked solid every time their skates hit the ice. For multiple reasons I don’t think those three will remain together for long, but it was pretty cool to watch ’em tonight. Dudes from different spots in their careers and different tax brackets hanging out and doing work.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Blue Jackets