Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) – Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson each
scored twice to lead the Washington Capitals in a 4-2 win over the Columbus
Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Nicklas Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky each posted two assists, while Braden
Holtby stopped 24 shots for the Capitals, who have won three straight.
Cam Atkinson and David Savard lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets, who have
matched a franchise record by dropping their ninth straight game. Curtis
McElhinney allowed all four goals on 32 shots
The Capitals got on the board just 1:36 in as Johansson jammed in a bouncing
puck down low for his seventh of the season.
It was a 2-0 game at 7:49 of the first as Ovechkin’s one-timer from the left
circle beat McElhinney for a power-play goal.
Columbus made it a one-goal game halfway through the first as Boone Jenner won
a right circle faceoff back to Atkinson, whose shot made it past Holtby for
his sixth of the season.
Washington, though, took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission as Jay Beagle
left a drop pass in the slot for Ovechkin, who beat McElhinney with a heavy
wrister over the glove.
The only goal of the second came with just 56.8 seconds remaining when Savard
let fly with a shot that Holtby stopped, but it got behind him and he knocked
it in with his right skate.
Johansson scored on a wraparound from the right side off a feed from
Burakovsky with 5:21 to play to put the game out of reach.
Game Notes
Columbus plays in Philadelphia on Friday … Washington hosts New Jersey on
Friday … These clubs split four games last season … All but one of
Columbus’ losses during the skid have come in regulation.
