The Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-2 in overtime at Nationwide Arena on Thursday to extend their winning-streak to three games. They are also 5-1-2 over their last eight and completed the sweep of Columbus in the regular-season series between the two teams. Washington, who improved to 17-9-4 overall (.633 points percentage), is 6-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs and 9-2-1 against Metropolitan Division opponents this season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 35 saves in the victory.
Washington’s Lines
Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Ivan Miroshnichenko — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Matthew Phillips
Aliaksei Protas — Hendrix Lapierre — Anthony Mantha
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson — Nick Jensen
Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Scratched: RW Matthew Philipps, D Alexander Alexeyev, C Michael Sgarbossa
Injured: LW Max Pacioretty (Achilles), C Nicklas Backstrom (hip), RW T.J. Oshie (lower-body), LW Sonny Milano (upper-body)
Columbus’ Lines
Johnny Gaudreau – Adam Fantilli – Justin Danforth
Yegor Chinakhov – Dmitri Voronkov – Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Emil Bemstrom
Brendan Gaunce – Sean Kuraly – Alexandre Texier
Zach Werenski – David Jiricek
Ivan Provorov – Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean – Erik Gudbranson
Elvis Merzlikins
Spencer Martin
Scratched: RW Mathieu Olivier, D Nick Blankenburg, G Daniil Tarasov
Injured: RW Patrik Laine (fractured clavicle), C Boone Jenner (fractured jaw), D Adam Boqvist (shoulder strain), D Damon Severson (oblique), CJack Roslovic (fractured ankle)
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring
18:24, 1-0 Washington (PPG): After getting set up by Carlson from the point, Ovechkin one-timed a shot from the left circle and Mantha tipped it through the five-hole of Merzlikins with him and Wilson in front of the cage. The goal marked Mantha’s fourth game-opening goal of the season, which leads the Capitals and ranks tied for the fifth most in the NHL. Washington has scored seven power-play goals in their last 11 games. Ovechkin has factored in on eight of Washington’s 10 power-play goals this season (eight assists).
#ALLCAPS 1-0. MANTHA TIPS IT ON THE PP pic.twitter.com/1stWNSARIC
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) December 22, 2023
Shots: 10-7 Washington
Other Notable Stats: 58% Washington in faceoffs, 5-4 Washington in blocked shots, 5-1 Columbus in hits
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring
15:18, 1-1: Bemstrom rifled a slapper past the blocker of a screened Lindgren after executing a give-and-go with Gaudreau, who was behind the net.
Emil Bemstrom ties it up for the Jackets at 1!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/XfR65Jt8oY
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 22, 2023
17:24, 2-1 Washington: Mantha roofed a wrister to the top left corner blocker side on Merzlikins from the slot after getting a feed from Protas at the goal-line to finish a three-way passing play. The 29-year-old recorded his second multi-goal game of the season and the 17th of his career. Protas (12 assists, 15 points in 29 games) has tied his single-season career high in points (2022-23: 11 assists in 58) in exactly half the amount of games. With the secondary helper, Carlson earned his fourth multi-assist game of the season, which tied him with Protas for the most on the team.
#ALLCAPS 2-1. MANTHA TWO GOAL GAME, AMAZING PASS FROM PROTAS!
Protas is so good man pic.twitter.com/ll8rjRrIOS— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) December 22, 2023
Shots: 23-20 Columbus, including 16-10 in the second
Other Notable Stats: Washington, who had two power plays up to this point, led 13-12 in blocked shots. Columbus, who had one, led 8-3 in hits.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring
12:49, 2-2: Chinakov released a wicked wrister past the glove of Lindgren from the slot after Voronkov set him up from the right half-wall.
Shots: 35-28 Columbus (12-7 in the third)
Other Notable Stats: 20-14 Columbus in blocked shots, 9-5 Columbus in hits
Overtime
Scoring
4:08, 3-2 Washington (PPG): Ovechkin wristed one past the blocker of Merzlikins from the left dot after getting a cross-ice feed from Carlson to end his 14-game goal drought. Including postseason goals, Ovechkin’s goal marks the 900th of his career (828 regular-season goals, 72 postseason goals).
Ovi wins it!! 🦅
Alex Ovechkin’s goal in the final minute of the extra frame is the @Energizer overtime winner! pic.twitter.com/PCsxkPN6uf
— NHL (@NHL) December 22, 2023
Shots: 37-33 Columbus (6-2 Washington in overtime)
Standings
Washington jumped a point ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference (but have three games in hand) and Tampa Bay Lightning (four). They are currently four in front of the New Jersey Devils (one) and Detroit Red Wings (three) in addition to being one behind the New York Islanders (four) and Philadelphia Flyers (two) in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Next game: Saturday vs. Tampa Bay (7 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market)
By Harrison Brown