Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the division-leading Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Saturday night in the District. The win raised the Capitals record to 15-11-1 on the season. The Caps are back at it Monday night when they host Joel Ward and the San Jose Sharks at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is 7:00 PM. 

Braden Holtby (13-6-0, 2.61 GAA, .919 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky (14-5-0-1, 1.92 GAA, .935 sv%) started between the pipes for the Blue Jackets.

Taylor Chorney and Tyler Graovac were the healthy scratches for tonight’s game.

Aaron Ness was waived this week, cleared waivers and reported to Hershey. Nathan Walker was waived this week and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals wasted little time in lighting the lamp when Brett Connolly snapped a wrister home from the top of the slot just 1:03 into the contest. The goal was setup by a beautiful centering pass from Lars Eller along the right wall.

Radio call by John Walton:

Alex Chiasson would make it 2-0 just 1:03 later as the bottom six would give the Caps an early two-goal lead at the 2:06 mark of the opening frame.

John Walton with the call:

The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Blue Jackets outshot the Capitals 8-6 for the opening frame. The Capitals won the faceoff battles 46-44%. There were no penalties in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
The Blue Jackets came out on fire to start the middle frame, and they would eventually get on the scoreboard. Artemi Panarin would notch their first goal at 3:51 of the second period.

The Capitals would be awarded the game’s first power play at the 15:12 mark of the middle frame. However, it would be the Blue Jackets who would notch the tying tally with a short-handed goal by Matt Calvert at 16:28. This was the Caps 5th shorthanded goal allowed this season.

The Capitals would be awarded the game’s second power play, and this time time the Capitals would cash-in. Alex Ovechkin would net the Caps third goal on the power play, giving the Capitals a 3-2 lead at the 19:22 mark of the second period.

John Walton with the call:

The Capitals would take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. The Capitals outshot the Jackets 14-10 for the middle frame and led 20-18 after two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 4-2 early in the final frame on a pretty give-and-go from John Carlson to Evgeny Kuznetsov at 1:08 of the third period.

John Walton with the call:

The Blue Jackets would close the gap to 4-3 on a close-range shot by Zach Werenski at 16:58 of the final frame.

The Capitals would hang on for the 4-3 win.

SHAVINGS

• Alex Ovechkin recorded his NHL-leading 19th goal of the season on a power play in the second period. That marked Ovechkin’s 218th career power play goal, which passed Mike Gartner and Jaromir Jagr for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time power play goals list.
• Additionally, Ovechkin tied Mark Recchi (577) for 20th place on the all-time goals list.
• Evgeny Kuznetsov has three goals in his last two games and four in his last five.
• With a pair of primary assists tonight, Carlson now has 20 points on the season, including 13 (2g, 11a) in the last 15 games.
• Chandler Stephenson did not play in the third period.
• Tonight’s attendance was 18,506, the Capitals 377th consecutive sellout at Capital One Arena.
• The NHL box score is here.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcOEh0EhDxg/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcOKn4pBXm9/