Photo: Jamie Sabau
Braden Holtby earned his league-leading 30th win as the Capitals beat the Blue Jackets 6-3 on Tuesday night. Nicklas Backstrom scored twice, with Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johansson, Jason Chimera and Andre Burakovsky also scoring. Evgeny Kuznetsov once again starred with a career-high four assists.
By Hana Imiolczyk 7 years ago
The Washington Capitals are the league’s best team and lead the Eastern Conference by 16 points halfway through the season. They are dominating for a lot of reasons. You could point to the Caps’ league-leading power play and fifth-rated penalty kill, Braden Holtby and Alex Ovechkin being Braden Holtby and Alex Ovechkin, the rise of Evgeny Kuznetsov, or Brian MacLellan’s ace offseason acquisitions of Justin Williams and TJ Oshie.
I think one thing that sets this Caps team a part is the selfless brand of hockey they play.
We got another glimpse of this Tuesday during the second period of the Caps-Blue Jackets game. With the Caps up 5-2, future Lady Byng candidate Marcus Johansson forechecked in the corner with Blue Jackets defenseman Justin Falk. Falk, potentially trying to spark his terrible team in a hopeless game, began mauling the peaceful Swede. Then suddenly, Falk’s gloves were off. He wanted to fight Johansson. I’m not sure why. Johansson has zero career fights.
And that’s when fourth liner Michael Latta sprung into action.
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!
By Peter Hassett 7 years ago
Jason Chimera blocked a shot with his hand during a first-period penalty kill. Jack Johnson’s blue line slapshot hit Chimera right around the wrist. Chimera retreated to the locker room, but instead of leaving the game he came back to score.
Photo: NHL.com
The Caps visit Columbus for the second time in 2016, hoping for a better result this time around. Proving that hockey is random as all get out, the Caps lost to the Blue Jackets 5-4 in their meeting earlier this month.
The Jackets are still bad, the Caps are still good. The Jackets still have a terrible coach and that awful cannon whenever they score. Actually, the canon is objectively cool, but not tonight. Not against our Caps. Mute the cannon.
The game is at 7 on CSN. Someone, and by someone I mean Chris or Peter, will have your recap for you at the buzzer.
| Team | Record | Possession | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Washington Capitals | 34-8-3 | 52.0% | 102.1 | 26.1% | 85.2% |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 17-25-4 | 46.9% | 99.3 | 17.5% | 81.5% |
By Patrick Holden 7 years ago
