Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals concluded their annual fathers and mentor’s trip with a 2-0 loss the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena for their first road loss since November 20 and shutout loss all season. The Capitals are now seven points ahead of the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division, though the Islanders have four games in hand. Goaltender Braden Holtby made 18 saves in the loss, the Capitals’ fourth straight against the Blue Jackets (0-3-1) and sixth in seven games (1-5-1). Capitals’ Lines at Blue Jackets

#Caps‘ lines at CBJ:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 72-Boyd, 21-Hathaway

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
34-Siegenthaler, 33-Gudas

Holtby vs. Korpisalo. #CapsJackets

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 16, 2019

Center Travis Boyd drew in for Nic Dowd on the fourth-line but no other changes were made among the Capitals’ skaters from their 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

First Period

Forward Eric Robinson tapped one through Holtby’s wickets at the crease after forward Alexandre Texier backhanded a feed around a lying Capitals forward Tom Wilson to open the scoring for the Blue Jackets at 11:32.

The Capitals only had two giveaways while the Blue Jackets had four in the first.

The Blue Jackets led 14-8 in shots, 7-5 in hits, 6-2 in blocked shots, and 5-1 in takeaways after one. They won 59% of the draws.

Each team went 0-for-1 on the power-play in the first.

Second Period

Captain Alex Ovechkin fired five shots on goal in the period, a single-period high among Capitals’ skaters this season.

The Capitals led 8-2 in second-period shots, had only four giveaways while the Blue Jackets had eight, won 53% of the draws, and went 0-for-4 on the power-play through 40 minutes.

The Blue Jackets led 11-5 in blocked shots and 10-2 in takeaways after two. They went scoreless on two power-play opportunities in the first two periods.

Each team recorded 16 shots and 10 hits in the first 40 minutes.

Third Period

Forward Oliver Bjorkstrand chipped the puck past Holtby’s blocker, stashing it at the doorstep after getting fed by forward Gustav Nyquist from the wall to double the Blue Jackets’ lead 32 seconds into the third.

Bjorkstrand added another, pulling the puck to the far side on a breakaway to beat Holtby by the right pad and make it 3-0 Blue Jackets at 8:46.

Forward Tom Wilson dropped the mits with Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard in an even bout with 2:08 left after he laid out defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov along the wall.

The Capitals led 30-21 in shots, including 14-5 in the third period, 21-13 in hits, had only eight giveaways while the Blue Jackets had nine, and went 0-for-5 on the power-play.

The Blue Jackets led 15-5 in blocked shots, 12-2 in takeaways, and won 52% of the draws. They went scoreless on two power-play opportunities.

The Capitals are off until Friday, when they visit the New Jersey Devils. Action from Prudential Center can be seen on NBC Sports Washington beginning at 7 PM ET.

By Harrison Brown