The Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0 Thursday night at Verizon Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 24-9-5, and ended the Blue Jackets win streak at 16 games, one shy of the NHL record. The Caps next travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Saturday night. Puck-drop is 7:00 PM. 

Braden Holtby got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky got the start for the Blue Jackets.

Nate Schmidt returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last three games. Taylor Chorney was the lone healthy scratch for the Capitals in this game.

The Blue Jackets won 16 consecutive games heading in to their contest with the Capitals. The NHL record is 17 games.

QUICK NOTES

• The Capitals jumped to a quick start scoring two goals in the first 12 minutes of play, but the Jackets led in shots on goal 8-6 through the first 12 minutes.
• The “lunch pail” line of Winnik, Beagle and Wilson had another good game.
• John Carlson had another productive game with 1 goal and 1 assist.
• Nate Schmidt, who was a healthy scratch the last three games, had a goal and an assist.
• Andre Burakovsky had a goal, and now has 8 points in the 8 games since his benching.
• Justin Williams had another good game with a goal.
• Evgeny Kuznetsov had two more assists.
• The Capitals offense has exploded in the last two games, scoring 11 goals.
• Nicklas Backstrom had an assist, and sits just one assist shy of 500 in his NHL career.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals Daniel Winnik was the first to light the lamp on a gritty rebound goal at 5:06 of the opening frame.

Winnie cleaning up the crease #CapsJackets on @csnmapic.twitter.com/UgSxkxv2PI

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

John Carlson would stretch the Capitals lead to 2-0 on a deflection from beautiful setup passes by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson at 11:32 of the first period.

🔥 continues for @JohnCarlson74#CapsJackets on @csnmapic.twitter.com/u7gszl00Zp

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

The first period was fairly even through the first 10 minutes, but Columbus seemed to step up the attack after falling down 2-0, and dominated the last 7-8 minutes of the opening frame. The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Blue Jackets led in shots on goal 11-6 after one period of play.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would go on the penalty kill for the second time in the game when Tom Wilson was called for holding just 3:51 in to the middle frame, but the Caps would escape unscathed, allowing 0 shots on the Jackets man-advantage.

Nate Schmidt would stretch the Capitals lead to 3-0 on the end of a persistent surge by the Caps offense at 7:28 of the middle frame.

Schmidt happens #CapsJackets on @csnma pic.twitter.com/uCUmtRGgnm

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

Andre Burakovsky would increase the Capitals lead to 4-0 on a gritty follow-up shot at 16:27 of the second period.

Rippin’ wristers #CapsJackets on @csnma pic.twitter.com/YmSWwsLFhC

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

The second period would end with the Capitals leading 4-0 after two periods of play. The Caps outshot the Jackets 13-10 for the period. The Jackets led in shots on goal 21-19 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
Justin Williams would make it 5-0 on a nifty deke and wrister from close range at 5:36 of the final frame.

There’s just no way to stop that puck. #CapsJackets on @csnma pic.twitter.com/k4wModnwoy

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled from the game following the Justin Williams goal.

The Capitals would hold on for the 5-0 win.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

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Epic Mite Celly. #CapsJackets #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/mSDdLLtFNi

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 6, 2017

📸 warmups #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/cp1wVTFaqv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2017

Well, THIS procedure certainly doesn’t need to be reevaluated. #Caps #AtLeastItsNotCold pic.twitter.com/XMGBlFnj7j

— William Stilwell (@LoudGoat) January 5, 2017

@Capitals #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/rnvNDTYHhM

— Anne Kearns (@aekearns01) January 6, 2017

End the streak #CapsJackets #GoCaps pic.twitter.com/QDJapIxRJy

— Birthday Tickets (@birthdaytickets) January 6, 2017