Blue Jackets 5, Capitals 4 (SO)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Center Brandon Dubinsky and center Ryan Johansen scored shootout goals and rookie goaltender Anton Forbserg survived in a tough spot to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night in Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets got two goals and an assist from defenseman Jack Johnson in regulation, and left winger Brandon Saad also had two goals.
Jackets goaltender Curtis McElhinney had 23 saves but left the game only 55 seconds into overtime when he fell and twisted his left knee beneath his weight. He was replaced by Forsberg, who was called up earlier in the day from the minor leagues.
Forsberg made six saves in overtime and stopped two of three Capitals attempts in the shootout to win.
Left winger Marcus Johansson and center Evgeny Kuznetsov each had a goal and an assist for Washington, and right winger T.J. Oshie and left winger Jason Chimera also scored.
Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby finished with 24 saves.
The Capitals, who lost in Carolina on New Year's Eve, are one of only two clubs -- Dallas is the other -- to not lose consecutive games this season. They're now 9-0-0 in games after losses.
The Blue Jackets are on the other end of the spectrum. They've won two straight games only once since Nov. 21.
The teams emerged from a wild first period in 2-2 tie.
The Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead only 1:32 in the game and just seven seconds into a power play.
Johnson, sneaking in from the left point, gathered a loose puck low in the left circle and buried it past a diving Holtby.
The Caps need only eight seconds on their first power play to tie the score at 1.
Oshie was alone in the slot when Johansson fed him from the below the goal line for a one-timer.
Only 44 seconds after the Caps tied it, the Blue Jackets regained the lead when Saad scored his 15th goal of the season.
The play was created by Blue Jackets second-year center Alexander Wennberg, who found Saad alone in the slot with a blind saucer pass from the half-wall for a 2-1 lead.
The Caps cashed in on the power play again later the period to tie it at 2. This time, Chimera, a former Blue Jackets player, redirected a centering pass from Kuznetsov for his 11th goal of the season.
Washington broke through at even-strength to take a 3-2 lead late in the second period.
After a turnover behind the net by Blue Jackets defenseman Justin Falk, Washington right winger Tom Wilson whipped the puck to Johansson for an easy finish.
The Blue Jackets made it 3-3 at 4:47 of the third period on Johnson's power play goal from the top of the point. It marked the first time in Johnson's 607-game NHL career that he has scored two power play goals.
But there was little time for the Blue Jackets or their fans to celebrate.
Only 40 seconds after the Jackets tied it, Kuznetsov skated away from Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout to get an easy look at McElhinney.
The Blue Jackets rallied for the tying goal with only 1:02 remaining in regulation. Saad slipped behind the Washington defense and flipped the puck over Holtby's stick to force overtime.
NOTES: Blue Jackets G Sergei Bobrovsky was activated from the injured list on Dec. 29 but landed back there Saturday after aggravating a groin injury. Bobrovsky has been out of the lineup since he was injured Dec. 8 vs. Los Angeles. ... The Blue Jackets activated D David Savard (ankle) from injured reserve. ... Capitals RW Jay Beagle had hand surgery on Saturday and is expected to miss at least six weeks. He was injured Thursday in a loss to Carolina. ... With growing injuries at forward, the Capitals have moved F Marcus Johansson from left wing to center, the first time he has played in the middle since 2011-12. ... Capitals D Aaron Ness made his Washington debut and played his first NHL game since the 2013-14 season. He previously played in 29 games for the New York Islanders during 2011-12 (nine games) and 2013 (20).