The Washington Capitals were bounced out of second place in the Metropolitan Division for only a short period of time. But after their 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, they hopped right back into second place.
Hendrix Lapierre had three points (one goal, two assists) including the game-winner.
Charlie Lindgren was yet again sensational earning his second straight win. Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
Washington had some good sustained pressure and it resulted in a power play. It had a tough time setting up shop, and eventually came up empty once again. The Caps then took a penalty of their own but killed it off.
The Blue Jackets started to turn up the pressure and they got a lot of good looks, but Lindgren kept the game scoreless. Alex Ovechkin hit the post from the far side.
With 17.8 seconds left in the first stanza, the Caps got a late power play and had 1:43 of power play time headed into the second period.
The Capitals outshot the Jackets 9-7 through the first 20 and had four high-danger chances.
PERIOD 2
The Capitals began the period with 1:43 left on the Damon Severson penalty. They had one shot but failed to capitalize yet again. It was the 21st straight power play attempt that the Caps have not scored on.
The Blue Jackets were about to go on their second period play of the game, Johnny Gaudreau wired a slapshot past Lindgren giving Columbus a 1-0 lead.
However two minutes later, Sonny Milano would tie the game at one from a sharp angle. Aliaksei Protas tried to throw the puck on net but it ended up to Milano, who had a wide open net. Lapierre had the secondary assist.
Pro served this one up on a platter pic.twitter.com/08yHzfCjZ6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 19, 2023
The third line continued to buzz and eventually gave the Caps the lead. Protas went streaking up the rush and wissled a wrist shot past Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Lapierre had the helpers.
Bar. Down. pic.twitter.com/3mxrTRU6pO
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 19, 2023
The Caps had all the momentum after that goal and continued to pile on the pressure. Dylan Strome came up with the puck in the corner and found a wide open Alex Ovechkin in the slot extending the lead to 3-1.
O ain’t missing that pic.twitter.com/oAZ027fUNk
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 19, 2023
Columbus led in the shot category 11-10 in the middle frame.
PERIOD 3
The Jackets brought the game within one off a John Carlson turnover. It was a net-mouth scramble in front of Lindgren and Ivan Provorov eventually put it away. The Capitals challenged for goaltender interference but failed.
Provorov closing the gap with his 1st as a Jacket! 🚨@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/uT8ZyyrDkz
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 19, 2023
The Blue Jackets had the Capitals on their heels, but the third line came up large once again. Milano sent in a streaking Lapierre on a breakaway and he went top shelf on a backhand shot for his first goal of the season and third point of the night, which gave Washington a 4-2 lead. Protas had the secondary assist on the tally.
Got ourselves a backhand beauty pic.twitter.com/2rgj9HBb54
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 19, 2023
But Columbus refused to go away. The Caps broke down in the defensive zone and Justin Danforth was wide open in front of Lindgren, cutting the deficit to one.
Van Riemsdyk took a late holding penalty with 2:34 to go in regulation to put Columbus on its third power play of the evening.
Danforth makes it a one-goal game 🔥@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/UCIrAPPc25
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 19, 2023
By Jacob Cheris