Washington Capitals Beat Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1 (OT); Aliaksei Protas Scores Twice, First Career OT Winner

by

Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 2-1 in overtime at Nationwide Arena on Thursday to extend their point-streak to eight games (7-0-1) and road winning-streak to 10, where they have outscored opponents 48-21. Washington improved to 20-6-2 (.750 points percentage) this season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 32 saves in his fourth consecutive win.

Washington’s Lines

Aliaksei Protas — Pierre-Luc Dubois — Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael — Dylan Strome — Taylor Raddysh
Hendrix Lapierre — Lars Eller — Andrew Mangiapane
Brandon Duhaime — Nic Dowd — Ivan Miroshnichenko

Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun — Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Logan Thompson

Scratched

  • LW Jakub Vrana
  • D Dylan McIlrath
  • D Alexander Alexeyev

Injured

  • Ovechkin (fractured fibula)
  • LW Sonny Milano (upper-body)
  • C Nicklas Backstrom (hip)
  • RW T.J. Oshie (back)

Columbus’ Lines

James Van Riemsdyk — Sean Monahan — Kent Johnson
Dmitri Voronkov — Cole Sillinger — Kirill Marchenko
Zach Aston-Reese — Adam Fantilli — Mathieu Olivier
Mikael Pyyhtia — Sean Kuraly — Kevin Labanc

Zach Werenski — Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Jack Johnson

Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins

Scratched

  • D Jordan Harris
  • G Daniil Tarasov

Injured

  • RW Justin Danforth (lower-body)
  • RW Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body)
  • D Erik Gudbranson (upper-body)
  • RW Boone Jenner (upper-body)

First Period

Scoring

Stats

  • 11-6 Washington in shots
  • .579 Washington on faceoffs
  • Columbus did not score on the only power play
  • 9-2 Columbus in hits
  • 7-7 in blocked shots
  • 8-4 Columbus in giveaways
Graphics: Natural StatTrick

Second Period

Scoring

  • 14:12, 1-0 Columbus (PPG): Werenski wristed one from the top past the glove of Lindgren with Voronkov screening Lindgren in front after Kent Johnson fed him from the right half-wall. Werenski became the first Blue Jackets defensemen to score 100 career goals.

Stats

  • 25-22 Washington in shots
    • 16-14 Columbus in the second
  • .643 Washington on faceoffs
  • Columbus converted on one of their five power plays
    • Washington did not on their first
  • 12-8 Columbus in hits
  • 11-10 Columbus in blocked shots
  • 14-5 Columbus in giveaways
  • 5-1 Washington in takeaways

Third Period

Scoring

  • 0:31, 1-1: Protas ripped one past the glove of Greaves after Dubois entered the zone, took three Blue Jackets defenders with him, and fed Protas across the ice with no one covering him. Protas has recorded four points (two goals) in his last three games. Dubois extended his point- and assist-streak to three games (1-3-4). Strome has recorded at least one point in 21 of Washington’s 28 games.

Stats

  • 36-29 Washington in shots
    • including 12-7 in the third
  • .613 Washington on faceoffs
  • 19-12 Columbus in hits
  • 16-14 Columbus in blocked shots
  • 16-10 Columbus in giveaways
  • 6-3 Washington in takeaways

Overtime

Scoring: Protas ripped a wrist shot over the blacker of Greeves from the high slot after Chychrun dropped the puck for him for his first career overtime winner.

Shots: 36-33 Washington but 3-1 Columbus in overtime

Washington remained a point ahead of the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Metropolitan Division with four games in hand and rose five ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes (who have played one more game).

The Capitals are the second team in the NHL to reach 20 wins (Winnipeg Jets: 21 wins) this season and have tied the franchise record for fewest games to 20 wins in a season. The Capitals have a road record of 12-2-0 (.857) this season and own the highest road point percentage in the NHL. Washington is 11-1-1 in their last 13 games against the Blue Jackets dating back to the 2021-22 season and have won six-straight games at Nationwide Arena.

Next game: Saturday vs. Buffalo Sabres (7 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market)

By Harrison Brown

About Harrison Brown

Harrison is a diehard Caps fan and a hockey fanatic with a passion for sports writing. He attended his first game at age 8 and has been a season ticket holder since the 2010-2011 season. His fondest Caps memory was watching the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and hanging out with his two dogs. Follow Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonB927077

Leave a Comment