Capitals at Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are the hottest offensive team in the league and get a serious test Tuesday as they go after a sixth consecutive victory at home when the stingy Washington Capitals pay a visit. The Blue Jackets posted at least eight goals for the second time in five games Saturday in the victory over St. Louis and lead the league in power-play percentage while standing second in scoring.
“We’re not just a bunch of lunch-pail guys that grind it out all game,” Columbus captain Nick Foligno told reporters. “That’s the kind of work ethic that gets us going. But once we get going, we’re a team that has a lot of speed and can make some things happen.” The Blue Jackets are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and will face an angry team as the Capitals come in off a dispiriting 5-1 loss at Carolina on Saturday. Washington, which is eighth in the league in goals against (2.36), has managed only four goals in the last three contests after winning five in a row. Captain Alex Ovechkin is due for a breakout game after going without a point in three straight outings for the Capitals and is expected to play with a new center – hard-working Jay Beagle.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington), FSN Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (9-4-1): Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby (7-3-1, 2.16 goals-against average, .922 save percentage) is expected back in net after being rested Saturday in the second of a back-to-back, but his absence was not an issue. “We weren’t very sharp,” defenseman Matt Niskanen told reporters. “. … It seemed like every little play mattered a little bit more to them than it did to us.” Marcus Johansson leads the team in scoring with 12 points – one better than Ovechkin – and the Capitals need more from veteran forward Justin Williams (one goal).
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (7-4-2): Foligno has goals in the last two games to share the team lead with six overall – a plateau he did not reach until Jan. 5 last season. Free-agent signing Sam Gagner is tied with Foligno at six tallies while Alexander Wennberg tops the team with 13 assists and boasts an impressive plus-7 rating after being a combined minus-20 his first two years. Calder Trophy candidate Zach Werenski has made a major impact on the blue line with four goals and eight assists, and it needs to continue with fellow defenseman Seth Jones (foot) out.
OVERTIME
1. Washington F Evgeny Kuznetsov has managed only seven points in 14 games, but has nine in nine career contests versus Columbus.
2. The Blue Jackets have outscored opponents 27-10 during their five-game home winning streak.
3. The Capitals are 4-0-1 in the last five games against Columbus – 3-0-1 last season.