After a 5-3 setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Washington Capitals are back on the ice to take battle against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Logan Thompson will back in the net despite giving up four goals on six shots on Saturday night. Elvis Merzlikins will get the start at the other end.

The Capitals will be without Nic Dowd again, who is missing his fourth-straight game.

Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7:00 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. See you in the comments.

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More Info

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Strome

Beauvillier

Duhaime

McMichael

Leonard

Columbus Blue Jackets

Voronkov

Fantilli

Chinakhov

Aston-Reese

Gaunce

Lundestrom

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Puck is dropped. Leonard-Duhaime-McMichael and Roy-Chychrun get the start.

Nice opportunity for Sourdif, but he misses with his backhanded shot near the net.

Acrobatic save by Merzlikins to stop Rasmus Sandin at the post.

Jakob Chychrun scores his 7th goal of the season, beating Elvis Merzlikins from the left circle. He’s on pace to score 25 goals this season.

🚨

1-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Jakob Chychrun (7). Assists: R. Leonard (6), H. Lapierre (5). Time: 6:05

The Duhaime-McMichael-Leonard line is dominating early. It feels like they have high-danger chances every shift.

Wilson collides with Merzlikins in front of the net. Do you remember their last battle?

At intermission: The Capitals lead what was a sleepy first period, 1-0. They outshot Columbus 10 to 8. They lead in 5v5 shot attempts 21 to 19.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Chychrun’s hand is ailing as he returns to the bench.

Justin Sourdif is off for tripping Sean Monahan at 1:32. The Blue Jackets get their first power play.

Caps kill the penalty and keep everything for the Blue Jackets to the outside.

Ryan Leonard is down on the ice and slow to get up at 4:29. Very woozy. He appeared to take a shoulder to the head from Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger in the neutral zone. Seemed unintentional. Ryan’s going down to the runway to the locker room.

Aliaksei Protas rings one off the post after a two-on-one break with Sourdif.

Nice passing play by Sourdif–> Protas-> and then Wilson buries it. Great to see Sourdif starting to make some hands plays after a brutal start to the year.

🚨

2-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Tom Wilson (12). Assists: A. Protas (8), J. Sourdif (2). Time: 16:29

Ryan Leonard is back presumably from concussion protocol.

Brendan Gaunce to the box for hooking Jakob Chychrun at 19:09

A power-play goal? In this economy? Jakob Chychrun immediately scores from the point after replacing John Carlson on the first unit. He’s got a two-goal night.

🚨

3-0 Washington Capitals

PPG: Jakob Chychrun (8). Assists: T. Wilson (11). Time: 19:45

Two goals in 13 seconds. Wow. Carlson with a huge clapper off a setup feed from Alex Ovechkin.

🚨

4-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: John Carlson (12). Assists: A. Ovechkin (11), J. Sourdif (3). Time: 19:58

At intermission: The Capitals lead 4-0 after another Elvis Merzlikins meltdown but this time just playing goalie bad. Caps outshooting Columbus 22 to 14.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Zach Werenski is not out for the Blue Jackets in the third period. He’s their best D.

Fehervary with a great shot and score. Merzlikins isn’t looking NHL quality tonight.

🚨

5-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Martin Fehervary (12). Assists: C. McMichael (9), J. Carlson (16). Time: 4:05

Breakdown in front of the Capitals net leads to a Mateychuk slap-shot goal

🚨

5-1 Washington Capitals

Goal: Denton Mateychuk (5). Assists: B. Gaunce (1), J. Christiansen (1). Time: 5:50

https://x.com/BlueJacketsNHL/status/1993140496735387903

Damon Severson to the box for holding Ryan Leonard at 6:30.

Caps first power play unit is humming. Quick puck movement. Carlson off the unit has made a huge positive difference.

Ooooo. Jake Christiansen to the box for hooking Ryan Leonard at 7:47. A brief 5v3.

Caps can’t score on the 5v3.

Jakob Chychrun trips Kent Johnson on a failed poke check. Blue Jackets with a power play opportunity at 13:28.

Yegor Chinakhov rings a shot loudly off the post. That kind of night for the Caps.

Capitals win 5-1. This was the most sleepy, quiet 5-goal game I’ve ever watched, but Caps need more performances like this.

Caps beat Blue Jackets 5-1, plus one of the goals was a power-play goal!

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