Oshie, Holtby lead Capitals to SO victory
WASHINGTON -- Capitals winger T.J. Oshie scored the only goal during a shootout, and Washington defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night at Verizon Center.
Oshie, who improved to 4 for 6 in shootout attempts this season, beat Sergei Bobrovsky through the five-hole on the first shot.
Braden Holtby denied Cam Atkinson, Sam Gagner and Alexander Wennberg to seal the win for the Capitals (48-17-8), who remain alone atop the Metropolitan Division.
Seth Jones made it 1-0 for the Blue Jackets (47-19-7) early in the third period before Dmitry Orlov got the equalizer.
Bobrovsky made a season-high 44 saves during regulation and the three-on-three overtime. It was his first loss after seven wins in the month of March.
The Capitals are 30-6-2 at home and earned a point in 24 of their last 26 home games.
Holtby stopped 29 shots through regulation and OT.
Columbus, playing the second of back-to-backs, took the lead at the start of the third period.
During a scramble in front of Holtby, Brandon Dubinsky hit the post. The puck bounded out to Jones, who fired from the right circle through a screen and past a sprawling Holtby at 41 seconds.
Washington finally got one past Bobrovsky on its 35th shot. After Justin Williams kept the puck in the zone, Marcus Johansson passed out to Orlov at the point, and Orlov's high slapper beat Bobrovsky to the glove side at 6:39.
The Capitals later killed off a penalty incurred by Brett Connolly at 11:42 of the third.
Washington had a number of good chances in the first period, and outshot the Blue Jackets, but Bobrovsky kept the game scoreless.
On the strength of three power plays, the Capitals built a 16-6 second-period shot advantage. However, they still couldn't get one past Bobrovsky, who made a great point-blank stop on Oshie during Washington's first power play.
Holtby held up his end with an acrobatic sliding blocker save on Boone Jenner about six minutes into the period.
NOTES: Blue Jackets F Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was boarded by Toronto's Roman Polak during Wednesday's game, did not travel to Washington and was replaced by Scott Hartnell in the lineup. Polak, who received a five-minute major, was suspended by the NHL for two games. ... D Ryan Murray, LW Lauri Korpikoski and D Scott Harrington were also scratched. ... D Taylor Chorney and D Nate Schmidt did not dress for Washington. ... Washington G Braden Holtby has 38 victories on the season and is two shy of becoming the third goaltender in NHL history to string together as many as three straight 40-win campaigns.