The Washington Capitals are back after a long four-day break, which felt more like four weeks, and will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in the meh state of Ohio. The last time the Caps played the Blue Jackets, they scored five goals on them in the first period.
The first period of tonight’s game may not look as smooth though due to the long break.
“It’s going to be important to get re-engaged very quickly,” Spencer Carbery said pregame. “Because sometimes, with that much time off, it takes you a little bit to get going, and that’s what we’ll guard against tonight and making sure that our start is on time.”
Tom Wilson and his not-as-swollen-face will play. Charlie Lindgren will jump back in net and face Jet Greaves, who was sensational in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Hershey Bears last spring.
unleash the bubble pic.twitter.com/OQNNVvMSaH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 13, 2024
The Capitals-Habs game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets
Adidas primegreen jerseys are on clearance
Most NHL Adidas primegreen jerseys remaining are on clearance and $150 off
Tunnel shenanigans
Just super excited to be back#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/UuZwd4H6Du
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 12, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
“Sandin scampers in.” Sorry just needed to add this note because I love that Joe Beninati uses the word “scamper” in his play-by-play.
Jet Greaves already with some huge saves with his catching glove early on the Caps.
Capitals have 9 of the first 12 shots on goal in the first half of the game.
TVR to the box for holding at 14:13. Blue Jackets get the first power play.
At intermission: The game is a 0-0 tie. The Capitals dominated but were unable to score. The Capitals outshot the Blue Jackets 11 to 6 and out-attempted them 26 to 12 at five-on-five. The Capitals led in five-on-five expected goals 1.15 to 0.62
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Jakob Chychrun to the box at the 7:55 mark.
Nic Dowd gives the Blue Jackets a five-on-three after high-sticking Kent Johnson right in the face. It’ll be for 56 seconds.
Caps kill the five-on-three but they had to sweat that one out.
The Blue Jackets’ remaining power play for 48 seconds is over after Werenski trips Chychrun as he has a break up ice coming out of the penalty box. 4-on-4 now before an abbreviated Capitals power play.
Nic Dowd takes another high-sticking call. It’s his second of the period. He’s committing way too many penalties.
🚨 1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets. CBJ PPG: Zach Werenski (10). Assists: K. Johnson (8), S. Monahan (16). Time: 14:12.
Zach Werenski scores on the power play with a huge bomb from the top of the circles to give the Columbus Blue Jackets the first goal. Werenski is the first defenseman to 10 goals this season.
Martin Fehervary to the box for tripping Cole Sillinger at 17:10. Caps need to stay out of the box.
At intermission: The Capitals trail 1-0 after Dowd Penalty no. 2. The Capitals are outshooting the Blue Jackets 24 to 22 and are dominating in five-on-five shot attempts, 45 to 24. But the Blue Jackets have mucked this game up and the Caps have been unable to light the lamp yet.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-1 tie. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (10). Assists: P. Dubois (16), J. Chychrun (9). Time: 0:31.
Protas ties it on a one-timer from the high slot after a beautiful setup feed by Pierre-Luc Dubois skating hard down the left wing.
Marchenko has a wide open rebound but Lindgren stops it with his stick flat on the ice Holtby-The-Save style. Whoa.
Jet Greaves is stopping everything! There were 2 consecutive high-danger opportunities there he turned away from Chychrun in front of the net.
At the end of regulation: the game is tied 1-1. The Capitals are outshooting the Blue Jackets 36 to 29 and out-attempted them 65 to 37 at five-on-five. Jet Greaves is Columbus’s first star tonight. Kid can play. He made 35 saves in regulation.
Overtime
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-1 Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (11). Assists: D. Strome (27), J. Chychrun (10). Time: 02:23.
Big Pro wins it in OT with a big shot from the top of the circles. Fantilli appeared to screen Greaves view of the shot. That’s his first OTGWG.
Caps win 2-1. That’s 10 straight wins on the road for the Caps.
Caps beat Blue Jackets 2-1 in overtime to extend the road winning streak
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