The Washington Capitals will fight jet lag and the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Capital One Arena.
After playing three games on the West Coast, the Capitals returned home in the early evening last night.
They’ll be without two comrades who got hurt at the end of their trip: Ryan Leonard and Charlie Lindgren. Bogdan Trineyev and Clay Stevenson are here from Hershey but neither will play. The Capitals will also be without John Carlson.
Logan Thompson will get the start in net and will oppose Jet Greaves.
Puck drop for today’s game is scheduled for a little after 7:00 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Beauvillier-Dowd-Frank and Fehervary-TvR get the start.
Jet Greaves with already two big saves in the first 49 seconds. A lot of missed assignments and standing around by the Blue Jackets who look asleep.
Justin Sourdif with a heads-up play in the defensive zone, clearing a puck away from the crease and saving a goal.
Tom Wilson misses on a high-danger chance in front of the net. Just shoots the puck wide.
Hendrix Lapierre skates the puck into the offensive zone and then just forgets to keep the puck on his stick blade and that’s a turnover.
Blue Jackets hem in the Capitals in their zone for about a minute.
Blue Jackets top line overpass themselves out of a high-danger chance.
Jet Greaves with a huge save on Dylan Strome who was waltzing into the slot with his left pad. Whoa.
Huge Ovechkin one-timer from the left circle with about 30 seconds left, but he misses the net.
At intermission: The game’s tied 0-0. Shots on goal are 12 to 9 Blue Jackets.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Chychrun with another huge ripper and scores from the top of the left circle.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Jakob Chychrun (11). Assists: T. Wilson (15), A. Beauvillier (5). Time: 0:50
Kirill Marchenko trips Justin Sourdif at 4:27 of the period. Capitals going to their first power play.
The Caps don’t score.
Huge save by Logan Thompson at the other end.
Ethen Frank draws a penalty again with his speed.
Caps can’t score on the power play.
Tom Wilson takes an elbow to the face as he guards Kirill Marchenko skating down the left wing. Marchenko threw his right elbow out as he was in stride, but still should be a penalty.
He giveth. Dylan Strome draws a penalty at 19:01.
He taketh away. Dylan Strome takes a hooking penalty at 19:13. 4-on-4 hockey.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 1-0. Shots are 28 to 23 Caps.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Huge chance for Connor McMichael but Greaves makes another huge save 59 seconds into the period.
Hendrix Lapierre double minor for high-sticking at 9:25. Looks like Brendan Gaunce might have lost a tooth. He was bleeding.
Logan Thompson with several huge saves on the penalty kill. He’s single-handedly keeping the Capitals in the lead here.
Capitals kill the entire 4 minute CBJ power play. Wow. Standing ovation from Caps fans.
And Ethen Frank draws another penalty with his speed. Brendan Gaunce trips him at 13:53.
Referees whistle play dead. Wilson thinks he scored, but he kicked it and it was stopped on the goal line as Greaves hit it back with his stick.
Blue Jackets pull Jet Greaves with under three minutes remaining.
Big Pro scores the empty-netter. Huge.
2-0 Washington Capitals
ENG: Aliaksei Protas (10). Assists: M. Fehérváry (8). Time: 18:34
Greaves is off for an extra attacker again. Could we have an Ovi goal coming?
Capitals win 2-0. LT gets a shutout. Blue Jackets outshoot the Capitals 39 to 38.
Logan Thompson triumphant in goalie duel: Caps beat Blue Jackets 2-0
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