Atkinson, Blue Jackets clip Capitals in OT
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In come-from-behind fashion, the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Washington Capitals in overtime 2-1 on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.
Just 37 seconds into overtime, Cam Atkinson buried a wrist shot off the faceoff in the Capitals zone for the game-winning goal.
Rookie Zach Werenski scored his fifth goal of the season and now has points in all eight Columbus home games.
Washington's Nicklas Backstrom broke the stalemate at 15:43 of the second period, after coming across the blue line and firing a snapshot from the top of the left circle that beat Sergei Bobrovsky. Brooks Orpik and Taylor Chorney were credited with the assists.
Both teams used a "feeling out" approach to the first period, with neither asserting themselves over the other. Neither did they generate much offense, with the Capitals favored with six shots on goal to Columbus' five.
Washington was the more dangerous team in the middle frame, generating more offensive chances with the help of an aggressive forecheck.
The Blue Jackets' power play had three opportunities against the Capitals, but were unable to convert on their chances.
Columbus tied the score at 13:02 of the third period, as Werenski came off the bench and across the Capitals blue line with speed. He received a cross-ice pass from William Karlsson, before firing the puck past Philipp Grubauer.
Less than one minute later, Washington thought it had scored the go-ahead goal after a scramble in front of the Blue Jackets net.
Columbus head coach John Tortorella challenged that T.J. Oshie was offside as he entered the Blue Jackets zone. After the officials reviewed the play, the call on the ice (goal) was overturned and it remained tied at 1-1.
There was a late flurry in the Blue Jackets zone as the final horn sounded to end regulation.
In overtime, Atkinson scored the game-winning goal from between the circles with a shot that got past Grubauer.
NOTES: Capitals G Philipp Grubauer made his second consecutive start. ... Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin, C Evgeny Kuznetsov, D Dmitry Orlov and Blue Jackets G Sergei Bobrovsky were Russian teammates at the World Cup. ... Columbus D Scott Harrington made his Blue Jackets and season debut. ... Capitals D Taylor Chorney, who made his season debut in Chicago on Friday night, was back in the lineup against the Blue Jackets. ... Washington scratched RW Brett Connolly and D Nate Schmidt. ... Columbus scratched D Dalton Prout (upper-body injury).