Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Friday night at Capital One Arena. John Carlson notched the game’s first tally early in the first period, but the Jackets would quickly respond to tie things up. Evgeny Kuznetsov would find the back of the net with less than two seconds remaining in the opening frame to give the Caps a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. After a quick game-tying goal by the Jackets just 27 seconds into the middle frame, Jay Beagle and Lars Eller would register goals to stretch the Caps lead to 4-2 by the second intermission. The third period would go scoreless. The Capitals return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Mike Green and the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM. 

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (27-10-2, 2.76 GAA, .915 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky (22-17-4, 2.48 GAA, .920 sv%) got the start in net for the Blue Jackets. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Chiasson
Stephenson-Beagle-Smith-Pelly
Defense
Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey

Scratches: Andre Burakovsky and Taylor Chorney were the healthy scratches for the game.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals would strike first with a door-step goal by John Carlson at 5:09 of the opening frame. The goal was setup beautifully by a nice centering pass by Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Blue Jackets would quickly tie the game on the end of a Capitals turnover in their own defensive zone. Pierre-Luc Dubois would provide the equalizer at 6:28 of the opening frame.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would give the Caps a 2-1 lead just before the first intermission with a sharp angle shot from the left corner at 19:58 of the first period. Kuznetsov had just left the penalty box before his tally.

Shots on goal were 9-8 in favor of Columbus. Washington won the faceoff battle 63-37% for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Jackets would quickly tie the game with a goal by Artemi Panarin just 27 seconds into the middle frame.

Jay Beagle would get the lead back for the Caps with a tally at 4:38 of the second period.

Lars Eller would stretch the Caps lead to 4-2 with a power play goal at 6:06 of the second period.

The second period would end with Capitals leading 4-2. Columbus outshot Washington 12-5 for the middle frame, and led 21-11 after two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period started with plenty of end-end action but no scoring. The Capitals had registered a total of 12 shots on goal for the game by the 10-minute mark of the final frame. The Capitals would hold on for the win.

SHAVINGS

• Jay Beagle recorded his 50th career goal.
• Jay Beagle scored his sixth goal of the season. It also marked his 50th career goal. The Capitals improved to 40-1-5 all-time when Beagle scores a goal. Beagle was credited with the game-winning goal.
• The Caps 17 shots on goal for the game tied a season low.
• The Caps have scored nine power play goals in their last 10 games.
• The Capitals are 20-8-1 at Capital One Arena this season. Washington is tied with the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins for the most home wins in the NHL (20).
• Tonight’s attendance was 18,506, the Capitals 393rd consecutive sellout at Capital One Arena.
• NHL box score is here.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

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My first game of the new year #GoCaps #rockthered #capitals #hockey #nhl #washingtondc #fridaynight

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