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Game preview
Fans inside Nationwide Arena tonight, which will include a sizable number of Capitals fans, could be treated to hockey history. Alex Ovechkin is playing in what is the only currently guaranteed game of his NHL career, and doing so versus a Blue Jackets team he began his legendary career against on October 5, 2005.
While this game no longer means anything regarding the NHL’s playoff picture — the Flyers eliminated both teams with a win on Monday night — it could mark the end of an incredible era in Capitals hockey and the end of one of the most storied careers in sports.
Ovechkin has meant so much to the Capitals organization and, perhaps more importantly, to the team’s fans, so make sure to savor every single shift he plays in this game. There are only a few one-on-one athletes in a city’s history, and The Great 8 is atop that list for Washington, DC, so if this is truly the end, we have to send him on his way with as much fanfare as possible.
Fittingly, the potential final game of his career will also be his 82nd of this season, seeing a player so well known for his durability, play in his first full regular season since the 2017-18 campaign. At 40 years of age? He’s gotta have one more year in him.
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Lines
Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets
Goaltending matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Ovechkin’s line starts the game.
Mason Marchment gets a half-breakaway chance but puts the puck over the bar.
Kirill Marchenko steals the puck in the Capitals’ zone and is robbed by Clay Stevenson.
Alex Ovechkin’s first chance is a deflection try from the slot that leaks through Jet Greaves, but not over the goal line.
Marchment makes a move to the net and is stuffed at the post by Stevenson. This period has flown by, and nothing much of substance has happened.
Ovechkin throws a sturdy hit on Dante Fabbro, one of the first bits of body contact in this first frame.
At intermission: The game is tied 0-0. The Blue Jackets lead in shots 11-4.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Boone Jenner immediately snipes a wrist shot from the slot over Clay Stevenson’s shoulder to open the game’s scoring.
1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets
Goal: Boone Jenner (13). Assists: M. Marchment (26), D. Heinen (6). Time: 00:27
Penalty kill
Capitals too many men on the ice penalty at 06:50
Capitals kill off the penalty. Ovechkin served the bench minor.
The Capitals are being outshot 17-4. Yikes.
Against the run of play, Anthony Beauvillier breaks free on a breakaway and dekes Greaves out of his pants. Beauvillier now has 15 goals this season.
1-1 Tie
Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (15). Assists: T. van Riemsdyk (11). Time: 10:46
Great shift from the fourth line, with Ivan Miroshnichenko showing off some nice tenacity on the forecheck.
Cole Hutson shakes off a Blue Jackets defender at the blue line, but his eventual shot is blocked up into the netting.
Ivan Provorov breaks to the net but has no luck with a backhand on Stevenson.
Power play
Kent Johnson slashing penalty at 19:26
Several good chances at the end of the period on the power play, but nothing can beat Greaves.
At intermission: The game is tied 1-1. The Blue Jackets lead in shots 20-11.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Nothing doing for the Capitals on their power play chance.
Martin Fehervary draws a call on Marchment to put the Caps right back up a man.
Power play
Mason Marchment hooking penalty at 02:43
Dylan Strome turns the puck over twice on back-to-back rushes, and the man advantage ends.
Justin Sourdif tries a between-the-legs shot, but it’s shut down by the Columbus defense.
Cole Hutson absolutely drills Denton Mateychuk against the boards.
Miroshnichenko closes on a good chance but fires just above the net.
Power play
Miles Wood high-sticking penalty at 14:06
Jakob Chychrun rips a point drive past Greaves for a power-play strike.
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Jakob Chychrun (26). Assists: T. Wilson (32), A. Ovechkin (32). Time: 15:53
Capitals fans have begun chanting “One more year” for Alex Ovechkin.
The Blue Jackets net is empty.
Ovi had a few looks at the net, but no luck.
Capitals win 2-1.
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