Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 (OT) Thursday night at Capital One Arena. Evgeny Kuznetsov stole the show in the opening frame, scoring two goals to give the Caps a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Blue Jackets scored the only tally of the middle frame, making it 2-1 at the second intermission. The Jackets would quickly tie it up early in the third period, but Devante Smith-Pelly would give the Caps a 3-2 lead early in the third. The Jackets would rally with a power play goal late in the final frame to send the game to overtime.The Jackets would win it in overtime with a goal from Artemi Panarin. The two teams are back at it for Game 2 of the series on Sunday. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
STARTERS
Philipp Grubauer (15-10-3, 2.35 GAA, .923 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky (37-22-6, 2.42 GAA, .921 sv%) started in goal for the Blue Jackets. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Forwards
Ovechkin-Kuznetosv-Wilson
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Smith Pelly
Connolly-Stephenson-Chiasson
Defense
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Jerabek
Scratches: Jay Beagle (Injury), Pheonix Copley (called up on Thursday), Shane Gersich, Christian Djoos, Madison Bowey and Travis Boyd.
FIRST PERIOD
After a fairly spirited first half of the opening frame, the Capitals opened the scoring with a power play goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov at 17:52 of the first period. The power play was initiated by a game misconduct on the Blue Jackets Josh Anderson, who boarded Michal Kemnpy. Kempny would leave the game.
The Capitals would continue to take advantage of the five-minute penalty, as Evgeny Kuznetsov would light the lamp again at 18:21 of the first period.
The period would conclude with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Capitals led in shots on goal 9-4 after the first 20 minutes. The Capitals were 2 for 5 and the Blue Jackets 0 for 1 on the man advantage.
SECOND PERIOD
The Blue Jackets extinguish the remainder of the Capitals five-minute power play, and quickly cut the Capitals lead in half with a goal from Alexander Wennberg at 4:48 of the middle frame.
That would be all of the scoring in the middle frame. The Capitals outshot the Blue Jackets 16-12 for the second period. The Capitals were 2 for 6 and the Blue Jackets 0 for 1 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Blue Jackets would quickly tie the game with a power play goal from Thomas Vanek at 1:31 of the final frame.
The Capitals would re-take the lead with a goal from Devante Smith-Pelly at 5:12 of the final frame.
The Blue Jackets would tie the score with a power play goal from Seth Jones at 15:34 of the final frame. The game would go to overtime.
OVERTIME
The Jackets would win it in overtime with a top shelf roofer from Artemi Panarin at 6:02 of the extra frame..
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals outshot the Blue Jackets 30-27.
- Michal Kempny left the game in the first period with a head injury and did not return. He will be re-evaluated on Friday.
- The NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT