Capitals at Blue Jackets
After failing to earn a point in back-to-back games for the first time since mid-November, the Washington Capitals look to get back on track when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night in the front end of a home-and-home series. The Capitals have only two wins in their last seven games (2-3-2) but own a four-game winning streak versus Columbus.
Washington has been pierced for 11 goals in consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and Vegas, marking the first time it has dropped two straight in regulation since Nov. 14-16. “We’re just giving up too (many) good chances right now,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said after the Capitals allowed two goals in the final 11 minutes in Sunday's 4-3 home loss to the Golden Knights. The Blue Jackets also could not protect a third-period lead in Saturday's 4-3 setback at the New York Islanders -- their third defeat in a row and sixth in the last eight games (2-5-1). Despite the loss, Columbus coach John Tortorella said his team "took a huge step in the right direction" by unleashing a season-high 49 shots on goal.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (30-17-5): Forward Chandler Stephenson has scored three times in the past three games following a 28-game goal-less drought. "I'm just finding that chemistry with the guys that I'm playing with and just trying to have some fun," said Stephenson. "I'm playing more and getting some bounces. It's good for the confidence." Special teams have dragged down the Capitals in the past two games -- they killed off one of five penalties while going 0-for-5 on the power play after scoring eight times with the man advantage in the previous four games.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (27-21-4): Right wing Cam Atkinson has collected a point in all four games since returning from the lineup after missing more than a month following foot surgery. Atkinson notched his eighth goal Saturday and is looking more like the player who led the Blue Jackets in scoring last season. “I just feel confident, with and without the puck, like my old self -- not afraid to make mistakes, going hard to the net, shooting as much as I can, making plays when they’re there, playing my style of hockey,” Atkinson said.
OVERTIME
1. Capitals captain Alex Ovechin scored against the Blue Jackets on Dec. 2 -- his 15th goal in 27 games against them.
2. Columbus has surrendered seven power-play goals in the past five games.
3. Capitals G Braden Holtby is 12-3-2 lifetime against Columbus.