The Washington Capitals have won 7 of 9 and are now looking to take over first place from the New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division with another W.
Today’s challenge comes in the form of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have an over .500 record early in the season (5-4-1) despite some suspect five-on-five play (44.88 xGF%). The team is led by Kirill Marchenko who has 12 points (4g, 8a) in 10 games and leading goal-scorer Sean Monahan (6). Goaltender Danill Tarasov has won 3 of his first 5 games in net. The Blue Jackets are coming off a game last night, where they played the Winnipeg Jets at home and lost 6-2.
The biggest change for Washington comes with Hendrix Lapierre returning to the lineup while Logan Thompson will get the start in goal.
Stories you should like totally read
- Capitals recall Vincent Iorio from Hershey Bears after placing Jakob Chychrun on injured reserve
- Matt Roy and Jakob Chychrun will not play this weekend, could dress against Predators on Wednesday
- Alex Suzdalev plays on first line and records first ECHL point in Stingrays 3-0 win
- NHLPA forms CTE Advisory Committee
- Alex Ovechkin is off to the fifth-best start in NHL history for a player age 39 or older
- RMNB Investigates: Why did Alex Ovechkin yell ‘Heinz 57’ at Andrew Mangiapane after his first goal as a Capital
The Capitals-Blue Jackets game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 5:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets
Tunnel Shenanigans
Dudes just goofin'#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/xpcIkEmGCD
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 2, 2024
1st Period
2 shifts, 2 goals! Electric start, folks.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (4). Assists: D. Strome (11), A. Ovechkin (6). Time: 0:56.
Ovechkin springs Strome and Protas on a two-on-one. After some great passing back and forth, Protas slams home a layup. Ovi nets career point no. 1561 with the secondary assist.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (6). Assists: R. Sandin (5). Time: 01:42.
McMichael hits the far corner on a huge shot. Mikey has five goals in his last five games now.
🚨 3-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Andrew Mangiapane (3). Assists: J. Vrana (2), H. Lapierre (1). Time: 07:28.
That’s Hendrix Lapierre’s first point of the season. The Capitals have scored on three of their first four shots.
The Caps are dominating in every facet of the game. Columbus has no answers early.
🚨 4-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Alex Ovechkin (6). Assists: D. Strome (12). Time: 14:34.
Ovi’s slap shot hits off Tarasov and squeaks through the five hole. That’s career goal no. 859 and point number 1562.
Alex Ovechkin scores on Daniil Tarasov for 859th career goal, now trails Wayne Gretzky by 35
🚨 5-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Nic Dowd (4). Assists: T. van Riemsdyk (7), B. Duhaime (2). Time: 14:58.
They are pouring it on. All 4 of the Capitals’ lines have scored in the first period alone.
The Capitals have scored on 5 of their first 7 shots against Tarasov in the first period – a 71.4% shooting percentage.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 2, 2024
At intermission: On the scoreboard that was a beatdown of EPIC proportions. But in process not so much. Capitals lead in shots 8 to 5. Somewhat surprisingly, the Blue Jackets are leading in 5v5 attempts 20 to 17.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 5-1 Washington Capitals. CBJ Goal: Damon Severson (3). Assists: A. Fantilli (3). Time: 0:49.
Forty-nine seconds into the period, the Blue Jackets score after an Adam Fantilli faceoff win in CBJ’s offensive zone. Severson’s shot from the top of the circles squeaks through Logan Thompson’s five hole. Craig Laughlin calls it a “leaky goal.”
🚨 6-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (7). Assists: T. Wilson (3), P. Dubois (5). Time: 04:51.
Connor McMichael has 2 goals and leads the team with 7. He finds a rebound and banks it in off a sharp angle to make it 6-1 Caps.
McMichael nearly had the hat trick but Tarasov makes a save while laying on his back in the crease.
🚨 6-2 Washington Capitals. CBJ Goal: Kevin Labanc (1). Unassisted. Time: 14:36.
A scramble in front with the puck loose, Labanc shoves the puck just over the goal line. In real-time, the play was not a goal. Officials reviewed video and called it a good goal a few minutes later. Spencer Carbery considered challenging the call for goaltender interference (he may have won) but opted not to.
At intermission: Score effects but the Blue Jackets lead in shots 24 to 17 and in 5v5 attempts 53 to 30. Guessing Carbery may not be happy with this postgame though.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Dylan Strome on a 2-on-1 with Alex Ovechkin, is forced to shoot and hits the pipe loudly.
🚨 7-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (4). Assists: A. Ovechkin (7), T. Raddysh (3). Time: 18:34.
Ovechkin has another three-point night. Every member of the Capitals first line scored in the game: Strome, Ovechkin, Protas.
Capitals win 7-2. Blue Jackets outshoot the Capitals 36 to 22 (score effects) and out-attempt them 74 to 44 at 5v5.
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.
